Radical Review

It's that time! My very first official Waterbrook Multnomah book review! I am so excited about this opportunity to preview books, digest them and then share what I've learned. So very cool! I mentioned a few days back that I would also be doing a giveaway of the companion booklet - "The Radical Question" and I had every intention of doing so... until my 1 yr old found it and made it her own personal scribble journal. (mommy's fault for leaving it unattended!) But, GOOD NEWS... Waterbrook Multnomah is giving away FREE booklets HERE, so click the link and fill out the form to get one for yourself. :) See, it all works out! God knew my heart was spazzing out about just what to do. And now, onto the review.

"It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily... BUT WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? DO YOU? In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple - then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.

Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment - a one year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring."

David Platt is the pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, a four-thousand-member congregation in Birmingham, Alabama. Widely regarded as an exceptional expositor, David has traveled and taught around the world. He holds two undergraduate and three advanced degrees, including a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. David and his wife, Heather, live in Birmingham with their family.

So, what did I think?

David's passion is evident from the get go in this book. I wasn't expecting the pastor of a mega church to be so concerned with what is going on in the rest of the world - as he would obviously have so much responsibility with his own flock. His passion and drive to preach the Gospel to ALL nations was convicting and left little room for our all too common American excuses. In chapter one David says, "...we (American churches today) are starting to redefine Christianity. We are giving in to the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist him into a version of Jesus we are more comfortable with. A nice, middle-class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn't mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have..."
He goes on to share story after story of his experiences in other countrys with believers young and old. He gives poignant illustrations of the sacrifice and dedication of those who don't have it "so easy" in the faith. I was blown away by some of the experiences he had been able to have. Most of all I found great benefit in the challenge to look at scripture a little more closely to see what it really says about evangelism, spiritual gifts and following Christ, in general. Pastor Platt is down to earth, real, and shares a very contagious Christian faith. I found the general theme of the book to be very similar to that of Frances Chan's "Crazy Love" with the idea of just going, just doing, just giving. Very challenging and engaging from beginning to end. The book ends with the opportunity for you to fill out your own Radical Experiment and make plans for what you will do over the next year in service to God.

Radical can be purchased online at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/ and you can download chapter one as a preview here.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.