Wrapping things up.

Radical, Chapters 8-9, by David Platt

I have finished the last 2 chapters. All I can say is that his teaching is so different from what we are used to hearing from most pulpits. His appeals more as a message of truth. Theirs is a message of comfort.

Why doesn't the world hate us? That is what Jesus said, isn't it? That if the world hated Him, we should expect it to hate us. And while we might take some comfort in that America as a nation is hated, and say that is the answer, I think that we are more hated because of our arrogance and hoarding of the earth's resources than it is that we are a Christian nation. Although one of the sad things about this is that sometimes our arrogance and gluttony is seen as a result of our being a Christian nation.

Dr. Platt states that the world likes it when we pursue what they pursue, when we look like them instead of Jesus. That is harsh. Does the church in America look more like America than Jesus? Let me get my mirror...

The American church has lots of fancy buildings, programs, presentations, etc. Mirror says that Americans pursue large homes, big screen TV's, and entertainment. Jesus had no place to rest his head.

The American church is budget driven, thinks nothing of spending money it does not have yet, and is concerned with growth, both financially and numerically. Americans may not be budget driven, but we do think nothing of spending money we don't have, and at least have the desire to see our incomes and bank accounts grow. Jesus had no budget that we are aware of, totally trusting in God to provide for his needs. He didn't go into debt that we know of (although having the ability to find coins is fish to pay taxes probably helped in that area). And He was not afraid to say things that would cause people to walk away.

The American church speaks of comfort and convenince. Our call to commitment is one from a God who loves us and calls us to go to church, give of our excess, and be good people. Amercians love comfort, from our blue jeans to our couches. Our towns are full of convenience stores. Our trash cnas are a great example of our excess, as each week we give away ridiculous amounts of goods to that large truck that collects them, and of course, Amercians overall think of themselves as good people. Jesus spoke and lived a life of suffering, including his sacrificial death on the cross. The only excess that Jesus gave was the excess of Himself and His love for us. And when the rich young ruler called Him good, Jesus responded by saying the God alone is good.

Which all leads me to one conclusion. I gotta get a new mirrior.

A no-brainer???

Chapter 7, Radical, by David Platt

It this chapter, Platt answers the question, "What happens to those who do not hear of or accept Christ?" The Bible's answer seems clear, but is unpopular. Without Christ, they suffer eternal damnation.

Is that a narrow-minded view? Yes, at least from a human perspective. But narrow-minded or not, what matters is, is it true? If you believe the Bible, you should accept it as truth.

As a result of that truth, the church has an obligation to declare Christ to the world. It should be a priority. More than having a nice building, or having the greatest speaker. Our passion should be to glorify God before the world as a result of the love that we have for Him. Somehow, showing up for a couple of hours on Sunday morning does not fit the bill.

Does your church have a passion for the lost? Do you? How it that passion expressed?

Objects in the mirror may be closer...

Radical, Chapter 6 (by David Platt)

Chapter 6 begins with a discussion of seeing our blindspots. The trouble with blindspots is that we generally can't see them, hence the name blindspots. The focus of this chapter is materialism, and is it a blindspot for the American Christian, especially are we turning a blind eye to the rest of the world.

I hate it when people are right.

The guilt of this falls both on the church and the individual. Jesus spoke to the Rich Young Ruler. He told him to sell all he had and give it to the poor. When he walked away sad, the Scripture says "Jesus looked at him and loved him." Jesus loves us, but I have to believe that our selfishness makes him sad.

He loved him enough to tell him the truth. He loved him enough to confront him. He loved him enough to let him walk away.

Why has God given us more than we need? Is it to use the excess to have a more comfortable life, or is it to use that excess to honor God? I think we already know the answer to that question. Now the next question, what are we going to do about it?

Welcome to the show...

Radical, Chapter 5 (by David Platt)

God blesses us so that His glory may be known in all nations. God does it for Himself. He loves us, and He knows that this is the best way to spread His renoun. He blesses us so that we will shine His light to others, knowing that we will not always do this. That is love.

Today the Gospel isn't spread,  it is marketed. Marketed so that we can grow. Marketed so that we can attract large numbers of people to impressive buildings and programs. Marketed. Is that how Jesus worked?

For Jesus, spreading the Gospel centered around investing Himself in a few men, while preaching God's message to the masses. Contrary to today's marketing plans, He shunned titles and popularity. He was the Christ, yet told His disciples not to tell this to others. How is that for shunning titles? When the crowds got too large, He often would introduce a new, difficult teaching, causing many ot leave.

In today's performance driven ministry, individuals are often left out of the picture. Instead of making disciples, we have a model of ministry where the many watch the few minister. A model where the masses are receivers rather than reproducers. A model where we attempt to attract people into the church rather than teach people to "go into all the world to make disciples."

Now there is risk involved in turning the the reins of disciple-making over to the masses. But if Jesus was willing to take that risk, why don't we?

Partial Credit???

Radical, by David Platt, Chapter 4

Does God give partial credit? If we get a part of the answer but not the whole idea, does it really matter? Do we really want to take that chance?

Here is the question: What is the message of the Gospel? If your answer is, "God loves us," you only get partial credit according to Dr. Platt. Answering "Why does God love you?" is also a crucial part of the answer to grasp the entire meaning of the Gospel. I would agree.

So why does God love us? Because it is to His glory to love us. The difference is subtle, but significant. If the gospel's whole message is that "God loves us," then we are the center of the gospel, and it terminates on us. If it terminates on me, then my obligation ends with my acceptance of the gospel, and anything I do beyond that should please God. If He does it because it is to HIS glory, then He becomes the center, and my response is incomplete unless I continue to make Him the center, by loving Him and sharing His glory to others.

The greatest commandments, to love God and to love others, show us that this love should not terminate on us. The great commission tells us of our obligation to share His glory not only with others, but throughout the world. In fact, I believe that every command given in the Bible needs to be interpreted in the light of this. If we are the center,

Giving your all

Radical, by David Platt, Chapter 3, Parts 3 and 4

I appreciate the author's honesty. He said that at one time, he thought about all that his church could accomplish with all of the resources they had at their fingertips. Then he rethought that, and realized that without the power of the Holy Spirit.

Isn't that the message of the Bible? Seldom does God choose those who have it together to get his jobs done. More often he chooses those who need to rely on him. It is not our strengths that show God's glory (even though those strengths ultimately come from him in the first place), it is our weaknesses. God is most glorified when we get a task done that on our own we could not have ever accomplished.

Why was the widow's mite such an incredible gift? Others gave much more, out of their abundance. Their gifts did not glorify God like hers did because their gifts did not depend on God's power and might. I am not talking about in the lives of those who would receive the gifts, but in the life of the one who gave it! I don't think the widow was thinking about what her gift would accomplish when she gave it. Perhaps she was thinking about where her next meal might come from. But her primary thought must have been that in this act she was worshipping God.

The author gives the example of George Muller, who started an orphanage for children. But his goal was not to feed children, it was to honor God. God has the resources, he does not need ours.

Which would impress you more, a from-the-free-throw-line dunk by Michael Jordan, or the giving of a mite by a widow? One requires God-given talent, the other requires absolute dependence on God. One requires grace on the court, the other requires the grace of God. One has little consequence for failure, the other is like a high wire act without a net. One is flashy and gathers ohs and ahs, the other is hardly noticeable. Which one impresses you most? Now ask, which one impresses God.

Yeah, this is a problem.

Chapter 3, Part 1 and 2

NOTE: The following thoughts are not in the book, but are on my heart after hearing this section of the book.

I am an American. First generation. My parents came over from Germany in 1956 to give their children a "better life." They are gone now, and things were good when they left. One son was a boilermaker, married, and had a nice house near theirs. Another son was a machinist, and lived about an hour away in a place on the river. A third son lived about 3 hours away, and was a teacher married to a teacher, with 3 children.

That picture is different now. The first son is divorced. The second committed suicide. One of the children of the third had a few run-ins with the law, but is thankfully now on a better track. The American dream...or is it the price we pay to live in America? And let's not even talk about all the unsettlement with the economy these days. Is the dream becoming a nightmare? If it is, perhaps that is God's grace, reminding us that He is in charge, and that this world does not hold the answers we should be chasing. Yet we still do. Hope of the economic rebound grow. The market is up. Maybe I can still retire...

And what of the church? 9/11 provided a wave of people seeking God. Many went to church, only to find that instead of God, patriotism was preached. I have no problem with being patriotic, but somewhere along the way patriotism became confused with self-sufficiency. God became a spectator and we became the instruments of success.

Church became a spectator sport as well. Some tired to the show, but others soon filled their empty seats. Those who left, often just traded one theater for another. No discipleship. No power of the Holy Spirit. No dependence on God, as budgets were met without a problem. And when budgets started to shrink, luckily we had all those missionaries on budget. We quickly and easily cut their funds, because after all, the show must go on.

Where is the desperation for God? Where is the yearning for His presence? Where is the power of His Holy Spirit? To quote Bono, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for!" But by his grace, I will.

A response

Chapter 2, Part 3

This section begins with a very loaded question, "How do we respond to Christ?"

Typically, a prayer, a moment of agreement, perhaps baptism. All ways of saying that we accept Him. But isn't that backwards? Isn't it all about Him accepting us?  Have people been led down a "religious road that makes grandiose promises at minimal cost?"

We are saved to know God. And to know His is to love Him. A full, no holes barred, abandon all else love that experiences the Sovereign God of the Universe. Somehow, just praying a prayer or taking a bath just doesn't seem enough.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe! (Nyuk nyuk)

Chapter 2, Part 2

A basic idea in math and/or science states that if your beginning theory is off, all subsequent theories based on that idea stand a high likelyhood of being off as well. To illustrate, if you were hitting a golf ball, and had all of the mechanics of a proper swing down pat, you still are not ensured of keeping the ball in the fairway if you do not aim in the right direction!

This section challenges much of what many evangelical churches hold dearly to, that God loves us, wants good things for us, and if we just follow some simple steps we are saved. But, the author says, the Biblical view is that we are an enemy of God, we are dead in our sins, and we are dependent on God to save us.

These are 2 very different perspectives. Both can preach, but can both save?

Hungering for His word (Can I get fries with that?)

Chapter 2, Part 1

The author begins this chapter referring back to an earlier mention of Christians in Asia who secretly met to worship. He had been at one of their meetings, and experienced their hunger and thirst for the word of God. He talks about how God's word is enough for millions who meet in such house churches, and hten asks, "but is it enough for us?" Or are we only content with supersize meals, complete with large fries and a drink? With all of our amenities, padded seats, air conditioning, indoor plumbing, would we be satisfied just to meet and hear God's word?

The 3 M's

We tend to misunderstand, misinterpret, and even manipulate the word of God to accomodate our assumptions and desires. We need to honestly explore how much of our gospel is Biblical and how much is American. He then goes on to say that the primary reward of the gospel is God Himself. I wonder how many people think this and would be satisfied with it. This stuff truly is radical. Maybe the world needs more radical thinkers. With fries, of course.

I opened my Bible and this Jesus popped out!

Chapter 1, parts 3 and 4 of Radical, by David Platt

In this section he talks about how we rationalize and redefine the tough teachings of Jesus. I cannot help but think of Aaron when Moses confronted him about the golden calf. "So they gave it (their gold) to me, and I threw it in the fire, and out came this calf." Do you think Moses was buying it?

And what of the Jesus that we have cast in our own image? Shall we answer God, "I opened up my Bible, and this is the Jesus that popped out!" Not even the best salesman could sell that one to God.

There is a tone to this section. A tone that says, "He is worthy." To be worthy implies that something has value. And it is only when we see the infinite value of Christ that we can truly worship Him. It is only when we see His infinite value that we can look at the things we hold on to and realize their worthlessness.

A thought occurs to me. If Jesus told the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, which one would we be?

Now that's radical...

I wasn't going to do another book thing, but I have begun listening to Radical by David Platt. (Apparently I orded the audio version from Amazon instead of the book. But that might actually be a good thing.) I have barely begun listening, and already I am touched by the author's message.

Chapter 1, part 1 of 4
The author is the pastor of a mega-church, but this is not a book about church growth. If anything, he comes out in the very beginning and challenges what he is doing and what American churches in general are doing, and contrasts that with what Jesus did. He compares and contrasts our choices with those of Christ, and contrary to what some might do, he does not downplay what Jesus did or explain it away through some kind of cultural excuse. He questions what we do. Jesus was not interesting in marketing his teachings. In fact, when the crowds got large, he would say things that would chase some away. Apparently, his invitiations were more costly than some were willing to accept, and he was okay with that. Quite the contrast to the invitation that we often hear today.

Chapter 1, part 2 of 4
"Somewhere along the way we have missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable." Those are hard words to hear. But when we look at the Jesus of the Bible, and really listen to his call, we do not hear a comfortable call or promises that all will be easy. That call that Jesus gave was full of difficult and challenging statements. Things like "carry your cross," "let the dead bury their own," "go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor," and the ever-popular "unless you eat my body and drink my blood, you have no part in me." When is the last time you heard those words in an invitation?

He mentions the story of the Rich Young Ruler in this section. Wouldn't most of us given anything to have such a person of power and prestige as a member of our group? Yet Jesus couldn't close the sale. Jesus called people to abandonment. Many of his followers did so at the cost of their lives. That is not easy to hear, so we water it down. But Jesus didn't. Did he know something that we don't?