Monday, September 9, 2013

Is "RADICAL" all that Radical?


     One of Crosspoint's Sunday morning Adult Bible Studies did a series based on the book by David Platt entitled, "Radical." The series featured a video presentation of Platt as he preached a series of messages that challenges the Americanized Christianity that we've become so comfortable with. I'd read the book and saw the positive results in other people's lives of how this teaching impacted their discipleship. I was very excited about the potential of this teaching being revolutionary to our family of faith.


    I wasn't prepared for the negative reaction that came. In the video's Platt makes his case well for what ought to define a fully devoted follower of Christ. It isn't what we typically think of as the American Dream. Rather it is about sacrifice, simplicity, generosity and just simply care for the poor and broken of this world.

    Where things seemed to have broke down in my expectations was that Platt evidently pretty plainly states that if you're not living this radical discipleship type of lifestyle then you really aren't a Christian and that you are going to hell. That didn't settle well with half the group. The other half were OK with it.

    A number of those who were offended by his stark statements, agreed with the basic premise. We aren't living the style of Christian life that Jesus and the Bible calls us to and the challenge is a right one. What was offensive was the manner in which it was said and the guilt and fear that Platt tried to drive his message on.

    This is a great example of the power of communication and the disaster of miscommunication. I'm not one who is motivated by someone trying to make me feel guilty. There are some that need that sort of leverage. I often wonder though, when the guilt is relieved if the person doesn't revert automatically back to his old ways. When the motivation is external and then removed, then there is not motivation. But when the motivation is internal it has been made a part of our soul and therefore it only needs to be maintained. Only the Holy Spirit can take teaching like the message of Radical and transform us to make it a part of who we are.

     Now here's the punch line of this post. I just read a blog that my daughter Rachel posted a couple of days ago about her first field trip with her third grade class in Jakarta. He experience reveals the powerful way the Holy Spirit can transform us through experiences and teachings that align with God's Word. I encourage you to read it and let it soak in. Click HERE to go to Rachel's blog.



    After reading her post I think you will agree that what we don't need is more guilt-trip sermons ... but field trips to the inner city and to the hurting people in our world. If we could just get the eyes of a third grader and quite trying to rationalize and defend our lifestyle, then maybe the Holy Spirit really could transform us!