Radical

I'm really glad i bought it. I'm reading this book for a book club and found I was forgetting to read until the last minute. Then I had time for two options, read it slow and take notes or read it fast, get the main point of the chapter, and then forget most of the details by the time we discussed the chapter. And there are so many helpful and challenging points to each chapter. With the audio book, I've gotten to listen the chapter multiple times on my drive to work so that I can spend a little bit of time the day before taking notes on what impacted me the most. I've also been able to listen to previous weeks chapter as a reminder. This book packed a lot to think about in each chapter and I feel like the audio book has helped me get more out of the book. I'm not even done with the book yet and I feel like I've gotten my moneys worth

This is a topic I have read up on before in some other books, so a lot of what was said wasn't new to me personally, but I remember when this kind of radical Christianity was new to me and how it helped me come to an understanding of who Jesus really is and what Christianity should look like. If you have found yourself equating Christianity with the American dream, this will be a very helpful starting point and a convincing read to think differently. Consider challenging yourself with this book :)

This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. If you aren't looking for a book that will really challenge your relationship with Jesus Christ, don't read it. If you are interested in deepening your relationship with Christ, I would suggest reading this book. It's likely you will find yourself challenged at certain things Platt says, but don't get mad. Our shallow understanding and acceptance of the Gospel at times hinders us from the truth. I understand other's concerns about this book, but I mean every book will have it's harsh critics. I didn't let those things get in the way from really enjoying the book. I believe it completes what it sets out to do. If you don't believe me, just ask the Church at Brook Hills and how Pastor David's ministry has really helped radically change others' lives in the glory of Christ.

This book is in my opinion one of the most gut wrenching messages, and I mean that in a good way. Pastor David challenges readers to re-evaluate our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. "Radical" definitely lives up to it's title as it invites us to give up our lives for Jesus Christ. The only issue I had with this book is probably that I guess we kind of have to be careful over being to radical that say we get burnt out on the idea.. So just ask for guidance when you read this book.

I very rarely give books 5 stars but this one deserved it. The radical life following Christ described in this book seems to fit Jesus' "abundant life" much more than the American dream could ever provide. I guess normal has become now become radical.

In a day of mass apostasy in which everyone does what is right in his own eyes, David Platt bring his readers back to God's word as the final authority for all matters of faith and practice.

In this short book Platt, brings the true gospel into focus in a best seller, which is no easy task in a day like ours. Lenard Ravenhill once said that, "if Jesus had preached the gospel of the American pulpits he would have never been murdered by men." I am happy to find a faithful Christian author preaching the same gospel that Jesus preached.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul teaches that if we remove the offense of the gospel, we remove all saving power from the gospel and our preaching becomes nothing more than the vain philosophies of men. Praise God for Platt's little book in which the true gospel is presented clearly and boldly, empowered by the Spirit and word of God unto the salvation of men.

Mr. Platt is obviously sincere. I do not challenge that. And he has a few good ideas. Theologically, however, his book is “all over the map.” One minute he seems to be insisting that every Christian must go overseas for missions, and the next he’s backing off that and replacing it with “go outside your own context.” One minute he seems to say we ought to force our own lifestyles down to a level little above the poverty line, and the next tells us that his move in this direction consisted of downsizing to a smaller house (and not much else, as far as I could tell). He often (not always) seems unwilling to let the apostles comment on Jesus’ meaning about particular statements – that is, his preaching in this book is not Biblically full-orbed. (Indeed, the book evidences a rather immature view of both scripture and of life.) Ultimately, I think the book can be fairly well summarized as little more than, “Christians, don’t just stand there, do something!” If his goal is guilt-inducement, he probably succeeds. If it is actual motivation, I’m less sure. Is Mr. Platt, himself, radical? Well, he still pastors a megachurch. There’s nothing wrong with that (megachurches need pastors), but given the words of his book, why isn’t he living overseas with the poor?

Let’s start with his specific recommendations. The following seems to be Mr. Platt’s idea of becoming “radical.” He asks that all Christians commit to doing the following for one year (which will, hopefully, continue and deepen into something greater).

1. Pray for the entire world, specifically for a harvest of believers from every nation.
2. Read the entire Bible in a year.
3. Sacrifice money for God’s purposes. How much? As best as I can tell, “more than you can afford.”
4. Spend 2% of your time (about a week, that is) in a “different context.” What does that mean? Somewhere other than your own city (though preferably overseas).
5. Commit to a faith community. That is, don’t be a church hopper, but pick a spot and get involved.

Yes, seriously. This is “radical,” according to David Platt. If so, today’s church is in even worse shape than I thought. At some level (with reservations), I ask why shouldn’t this be simply the normal Christian life? Why wouldn’t every “real” Christian pray for God’s work in the entire world? Why wouldn’t we regularly read God’s word (though “whole Bible in one year” is somewhat arbitrary). Why wouldn’t we give our money in a true sacrificial sense? (By the way, “more than you can afford” is probably both not required, and meaningless. How much can you afford? That begs an objective standard, because a guy overextended with debt on his BMW, Mercedes and big boat “can’t afford” to give as much as a guy making half as much salary but living within his means.) Why wouldn’t we spend time outside our context? (And by the way, here, I am quite confident that one need not leave his own city, let alone go overseas, to find himself well outside his own context. As to whether everyone really ought to be going overseas, anyway, consider “When Helping Hurts,” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.) And why would a committed believer fail to commit to a particular church and get involved?

I suppose these things would be “radical” for a lot of people, but did any of them actually read this book? If so, I take back much of my criticism. If this book wakes the sleeping masses who call themselves Christians but previously evidenced very little life change, then I applaud loudly (though I would still submit that it would be much better had Platt’s book evidenced a more full-orbed Biblical message).

I’m certain Mr. Platt’s intentions were good, and it is clear from the general tenor of the reviews I’ve seen that more people “liked” his book than found themselves left cold by it. But from where I sit, it is, as I put it in my title, a muddled mess.

This is one of the most challenging books I have read. I mean that in the best way. It challenged my thinking, my life and the way I live. It calls to move from complacency to action. It does not leave you room to wiggle out around the fact the Jesus has called us to be more. It stands in your path and challenges you to be what He (God) wants you to be.

I wish there were more books like this. I wish there were more pastors like David. I couldn't agree more with David's call for radical transformation of our christian culture. Christianity today has only outer appearance with very little substance. We are not much different than pharisees of Jesus time... We have sophisticated rituals and traditions, without much love for God and our neighbors...

Should be required for every Christian who wants to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant," and wants to abandon the middle rather than be lukewarm.

powerful message

The content of the book is awesome but I was really bummed by the bad editing of the recording. most of the sentences were cut short so that what the reader was saying was cut short. The ending of words were cut off almost every sentence. "Disciples" became "Discipl", "Forgiveness" became "Forgivene", "Jesus" became "Jesu". It was distracting and at times made the statements confusing.

That being said I think this audio recoding is something that everyone should listen to. If it wasn't for the editing problems this would be a 5 star product.

(Update from christianaudio: We have run a complete quality check on our files for Radical, and this issue has been resolved.)

I'm getting tired of male preachers standing in their pulpits and/or writing in their books about how unwilling Americans are to serve and do the will of God. Tell me, Mr. Platt, is your wife any less willing to serve God because she has to sit in your shadow? Perhaps many women would stand up for Christ and do the ministry around the world if men wouldn't chain us to lives of childcare and housekeeping so they can be "humble" servants of Christ and try to shame everyone else with their fancy sermons and books if it wasn't that the women in their lives hadn't taken up the roles they had abandoned? My Bible indicates a man has no business being in a spiritual leadership role if he does not first take care of his family. Please stop acting like we must be unwilling if we are not on the field. Perhaps we cannot go for circumstances beyond our control. For some of us, the real sacrifice is staying in America, doing the menial and unseen things.

I am not exactly sure what God has for my life but I know it must be lived for Him. I heard the gospel as a young boy, went to Bible College but not for the right purpose. Did not finish Bible College and strayed from God & lived my live in sin. My body became very sick, to the point I wish it had ended. The Holy Spirit convicted me, through the physical pain, reached my heart. The Spirit of God led me back to a Bible believing church. It had the book Crazy Love, by Pastor Chan. Then a friend of mine from Bible College, found me on facebook and gave me, Radical by Pastor Platt. The Word of God has never become so clear & direct to me, after hearing these messages as well as, surrending my life over to the God I was made for. Who through His great love and by whatever means necessary, brought me back to Him. Has shown me what a real Christ Follower is supposed to be. 100% sold on serving God, just like Jesus did. Radical is penetrating & straight forward but done in passion & love. Thank you Lord for using your servant David Platt, to show us your way.

The book is challenging, it helps us to go back to the claims of basic discipleship, and not basic chuch membership.

Doctrinally sound and powerfully convicting.

This book will open th listeners eyes to a totally different way of thinking. This book challenges you to become a radical Christian and to worship and love the Lord in a totally new way. This is a must for any Christian looking for something different in regards to what it means to be a Christian.

The narration is excellent too. The message and the feelings from the chapters are conveyed precisely.

Radical – it’s a great title, because that is what will be asked of each reader/listener. David Platt will challenge your thinking, he will challenge your actions, and he will call you to move (outside of your comfort zone).

I have never listened to a book thru an app interface, but it is simple and easy to use and best of all it remembers where you left off. David Platt challenges the listener to think about simple changes we can make in our own lives that will extend our Kingdom impact. For example – what if you gave up one Starbucks coffee a day for one month and gave that money to someone in need. Simple acts that open doors for you to share.

He challenges you with understanding the very tenants you believe about your own faith, how you live out that faith, and how we can be less dependent upon american consumerism. We all have clothes hanging in our closet that we might think about where years from now – the question is – what would happen if you just gave them away?

At the end of the book, he challenges you to do the Radical Experiment during a one year period:

1) Pray for the entire world – great resource Operation: World
2) Read thru the entire Bible in a year
3) Sacrifice your money for a specific cause or organization – we usually give of our excess, convenient, easy — this challenges us to forgo something we want to give to someone who needs it more
4) Spend your time somewhere, where you normally would not – overseas missions, homeless shelter, etc.
5) Commit to multiplying people who will enter the Kingdom — reach the broken and the lost.

If you take the Radical Experiment to heart, imagine what God could do in and through you. This book will rock your world! Be expectant. Be transformed. Be ready for God to use you!

What is Jesus worth to you?” is the question that Pastor David Platt asks in his book, “Radical.” Pastor Platt goes through the basics of the Gospel, discusses what it means to be a true Christian, and challenges the Christian to truly live the way Christ commanded His followers to live.
My favorite part of this book is how thorough and biblically he discusses the Gospel and true Christianity. He brought up some points that I never thought of before. Chapter 7 (entitled “There is No Plan B”) alone is worth listening to. In this chapter, Platt lists seven truths about the Gospel, in which he eliminates excuses about the Gospel (from both the perspective of the saved and unsaved) and reiterates the true Gospel message.
“Radical” ends with a one year challenge to Christians, consisting of five components. Some of them seem so basic, such as praying and reading through the Bible. The sad thing is that most people who claim to be Christians don't even do the basics of their faith.
This book is a good melding of books that I have either listened to or read in the past. It has the “sold-out-for-Jesus”-ness of Francis Chan's “Crazy Love,” and it challenges Christians to come out of their comfort zone to help the poor and oppressed like Richard Stearns' “The Hole in Our Gospel.”
“Radical” is convicting, challenging, balanced, life-changing, and refreshing. I encourage every Christian to listen to this book.
This review was written as part of the christianaudio Reviewers Program.

RADICAL isn't the book you would expect from the youngest pastor of a megachurch in the U.S. Telling his own stories and those of others, the author delineates the difference between a Christian version of the American dream and true biblical faith. Listening to this work is like hearing the frank tone of the pastor's earnest pleas on a Sunday morning. This audiobook compels listeners to take notice of the message to forsake all for the cause of Christ and challenges them to rethink their lives. The message that even our fork and spoon are luxuries can be hard to hear, but listeners will be consoled by Platt's honest admission that he's still struggling with this message, too. R.Z.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

David Platt has not said anything new in this book, and I think he would agree. He calls Americans to take a long, hard look at the gospel and the life that should be lived in light of it. Platt challenges us to live the kind of radical life that is spoken of throughout the New Testament, but that is, sadly, not preached very strongly today. I listened to this while on an airplane to and from my first international mission trip. It highlighted well the differences I had encountered between the believers in Romania and those in America. Platt shares stories that echo the experience I had overseas, where believers were desperate to know more about God through His Word. We could stand to take a step back from our cultural lenses and try looking at our lives through the lens of God’s Word.
The narration by the author was perfect. I don’t think the passion would have poured out from another narrator like it did from the author himself.

David Platt has not said anything new in this book, and I think he would agree. He calls Americans to take a long, hard look at the gospel and the life that should be lived in light of it. Platt challenges us to live the kind of radical life that is spoken of throughout the New Testament, but that is, sadly, not preached very strongly today. I listened to this while on an airplane to and from my first international mission trip. It highlighted well the differences I had encountered between the believers in Romania and those in America. Platt shares stories that echo the experience I had overseas, where believers were desperate to know more about God through His Word. We could stand to take a step back from our cultural lenses and try looking at our lives through the lens of God’s Word.
The narration by the author was perfect. I don’t think the passion would have poured out from another narrator like it did from the author himself.

Wow.

Sometimes you read a book and go away really challenged.

Then other times you walk away not remembering what you just read.

And then still there are times when you can't walk away because what you read has weakened your body with such conviction from the Holy Spirit.

This book is one of those times.

Everything else about the day seems to slip away and all that plays in my mind are snippets from listening to the audio version of this book. Not only was the quality and narration of this book great, but the message it's self made everything else pale in comparison.

I realized just how caught up I am in the American Dream rather than being sold out for the Lord God with a burning, all consuming passion. This book is a must-read for anyone - teen and up. It will bring the reality of life back to where it needs to be in perspective of the Gospel.

While this would be a great book to read, I highly recommend the audio version so that you can easily "read" the book over several times in order to let the message sink deep inside your heart and mind.

David Platt is a name that is growing in popularity in the Southern Baptist Convention and all over the evangelical world. Platt’s reputation is growing, not because of a massive church growth strategy or gimmicky program, but because he is being recognized as a pastor who preaches the word passionately, honestly, and boldly, and who calls people to a dramatic kind of obedience to the commands of God. Thus, the book Radical: Taking Back your Faith from the American Dream is a perfect expression of Platt’s ministry.

Simply put, Radical is a challenge to live with genuine, deep, “radical” obedience to the word of God. Our culture often tends to blind us to the eternal life that is beyond all our nice cars, pleasant homes, and fancy toys. Plat has called on his local church (through sermons and changes) and now us (through this book) to radically obey the Lord Jesus, giving up our worldly ambitions to honor Christ and take the gospel to the nations.

The call to radical obedience is one that American Christians of all denominations need to hear. Platt surrounds this bold call with powerful illustrations that remind us of the glorious strength of God to satisfy our souls even as we give up our very lives for his glory.

I recommend this book very strongly. It will make an excellent resource for group reading that might powerfully change your local church. If you will allow it to, this reading will certainly change your outlook on your possessions and your time.

I listened to the audio version of this book from ChristianAudio.com as part of their reviewers program. The recording is excellent with Platt interpreting his own work.

Radical is a great title for this book. In it David Platt challenges a larger variety of our preconceived notion about Christianity. The most radical of them all is the much needed reminder that following Christ is hard, the world will hate us and we will not be popular. This was certainly the case with the early disciples, how can we expect anything less. They gave up everything to follow Christ. We should do the same.
I wholeheartedly believe this, it is a hard truth though. We are so settled in our ways, and it is difficult to change. I will admit that some of what Platt posits sounds a bit like overkill, however perhaps he is correct. The fact is if truth were easy to accept and digest, then everyone would already know it.
This is a much needed tome in the church today, even it if does seem to go a bit too far. I recommended it to many of my friends and acquaintances in the church.
This book provided by the christianaudio Reviewers Program (Christianaudio.com)

I had the privilege of listening to the audio version of David Platt's Radical. It was provided through the reviewer's program at christianaudio. I had read other reviews of this book and was excited to be able to get the audio version.

In this book readers are challenged by David Platt to examine their Christian walks. Are we living what the Bible says, or do we change the true message of the Word to fit to be something that will be more convenient for our lives? The author gives a radical challenge....radical in the view that it is much different from the way our culture says we should live or what the culture says it means to follow Jesus.

We have the mindset that we must achieve what is known as "the American dream" and we usually fully believe that that dream is exactly what God wants us to have. But is that what He has called us to when we follow Him? Does he want us to have bigger houses, bank accounts, and fancy church buildings when people all around us and all over the world have never heard the Gospel?

I found this book to be very challenging personally. I let my husband listen to it as well, and he agreed with me that the author really has a good point. This author isn't just saying we need to be doing things differently; he is actually doing them with his own life and family.

I would encourage you to read this book and be challenged yourself in your thinking and hopefully even change how you live.

The audio version was provided through christianaudio Reviewers Program.

Radical is not an original idea. Throughout Christian history authors and preachers have called Christians from their lax ways to a deeper devotion. This is what the reformers were doing, what Bonhoeffer was doing, what the early modern missionaries were doing, what St Francis was doing, what Paul was doing. With each new generation, there is a need to revitalize the faith of our parents to become our own faith. At the same time, there is always a warning bell, that these people may be too radical, too extreme. One other review that I have read a review of Radical accuses him of just that.

In the beginning of the book Platt lays down two assumptions that he says we must take on if we are to be real followers of Christ. (These are my paraphrase since this was an audiobook.)

One, do everything Jesus says before we hear it. If we weigh what he says against our beliefs then we will never do what he says because we will start making decisions based on our own comfort.

Two, understand that Jesus is not asking for an intellectual response, but a physical response. It is not good enough to simple say, that is a good idea, if we do not carry out that idea.

The second I wholeheartedly agree with and I think is one of the major issues with the current church in the US. But I am unsure about the first. How can we assent to something we do not know. I will make the assumption that what Platt means is that, once we have put our faith in Christ, we agree to put his will before our own. I can sign on with that, but that is not really what I heard. I also think that part of how we hear from God, is by running our understanding past other trusted believers. Those believers will not be right every time, but it is likely that if several trusted believers believe that we are on the wrong path, that we should proceed with caution. I wholeheartedly believe that if we trust God and follow his lead, he will care for us. But what we need is discernment and a real prayer relationship with God, both of which are the result of time and experience with God, two things that are also very lacking in the US church.

The focus of the book is on really living out the life of a Christian and getting the gospel to those that have not heard. The primary focus on getting the gospel out is international missions. He does not discount local missions, but he thinks that international focus is key to really getting the gospel out.

My main complaint is that theologically Platt and I are very different. Practically, once you get past the theological reasons for why we are in different places, there are very few practical differences. That does not mean that I am really living the radical life that Platt is calling for, only that I don’t really have good reason not to be living that life.

I highly recommend this book, especially for church leaders. Radical has many overlapping ideas with Crazy Love by Francis Chan and The Divine Commodity by Skye Jethani but I think it is better at the practical steps than both of those.

I picked this book up for $2.50 from christianaudio while it was on sale. David Platt narrated the book and did a great job. I enjoyed listening to his passion.

David doesn't disappoint. It sounds like him (I would hope). I can feel it, I can picture it, and I can move with it. This is not a good book for mobile listening - not the design of driving and listening at the same time, but would be an excellent companion for reading along, or dimming the lights and kicking back. David keeps the journey going, moving fluidly and organically. Definitely worth a listen, and if this audiobook is anything like the book itself, it makes that itself a read.


See my complete score: http://infinitlove.com/blog/?p=2358

The remarkable thing about Radical is that the subject matter should be unremarkable to a Christian, because the challenge to die to self and to really live sacrificially is merely an echo of the words of Jesus. David Platt based his book on what the Bible says Christ demands from His followers. He doesn’t attempt to minimize or rationalize the hard statements about leaving your family, selling all your possessions and giving to the poor, or taking up our crosses and literally dying for Him. As radical as it may sound, is not any more stringent than the Bible’s description of what the Christian life should be like. It challenged me greatly and it is bringing me back to the Word to define sacrifice and faith, instead of the definitions I’ve manufactured to make my life more comfortable.

Platt narrates his own book, and his pastoral experience shows. He has a pastor’s heart for the people of God, and he seeks to see God lifted up and truly worshiped in His church. Unlike others who would offer a new method or strategy for church growth and a dynamic impact on the world, Platt returns again and again to the Words of Christ as our standard and the Holy Spirit as our guide. Real Christianity isn’t defined by the Sunday morning status quo, and Radical challenges believers to walk in the Spirit surrendered to God.

I just finished Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream by David Platt. The title captured my imagination and the publisher provided a free download of the first chapter, pulling me in deeper.

One of the more compelling images from the book is a recount of the plight of the S.S. United States, built in 1952 to be the most agile troop carrier in the world. It was designed to carry 15,000 troops at 51 mph up to 10,000 miles without refueling. She could outrun any ship and get to any part of the world in 10 days without stopping. She had no match, but she was never used for her true mission.

Instead, the S.S. United States became a luxury liner to presidents and heads of state. Are you shaking your head? Don’t! Platt’s point is that the American church has suffered the same fate — agile and laden with fuel, it is deployed primarily as a luxury liner for American Christians who sit in expensive church buildings and ignore the Great Commission of Matthew 28.

In Radical, David Platt challenges Christians to let go of the American dream and live a life of radical dedication to and action for Christ.

In many ways this is a needed book. The American dream does often shape what we think about faith, even for those of us who are not American. Very often it is not for the better. Things like materialism and spiritual laziness are a problem for most of us. The book provides a strong challenge to re-assess our beliefs and actions in light of scripture. I doubt any Christian could make it through this book without being convicted about something.

Despite the much needed challenge the book provides, it also has some weak spots.

The book had a lot of focus about what we should do. Without a corresponding strong focus on what Christ has done, it risks creating a unbalanced view of the gospel which is centred on what we do and our becoming radical enough to be true Christians.

The book is a bit confusing as to how exactly we should be radical. At some points in the book it sounds like you should sell everything and be a missionary overseas. At other points we are told to do such not particularly radical things as read through the bible in a year and get involved in a church. Regular clarifications on big statements he made also made it a bit hard to follow at times.

There is a risk that books like this one will prompt people to attempt being radical in unwise ways that are ineffective or even harmful. I don’t think the book provides enough caution in this area. I think that this book would be best read alongside books on relevant topics like skills required for cross cultural ministry or helping the poor in sustainable ways. Those reading this book would also benefit from the council of Godly believers in how to best apply it.

I reviewed this book in audio format. The production was very well done, but the narration did not work well for me. I tried going through some sections in print format and found that easier.

This is a very challenging audio to listen to. I think you would have to be very hard hearted to not be convicted by what the author is saying here.

I am not American nor do I live in America, but I can see how the ‘American Dream’ has impacted my life through certain teachings. So its been good listening to this to get back to the basics of what Jesus taught about following Him. I think it’s a shame that its considered radical to do that though, as really every Christian should be doing it, me included.

I liked all the stories of people of different ages living out there faith in different settings both home and overseas.

I liked the author’s narration, he came across really well and his voice is easy to listen to, although his message sometimes isn’t.

Thanks to christianaudio.com’s reviewers program for this copy.

This is a study about how the church in America sometimes leans more on the American Dream than on the truth of the gospel. Through many true illustrations, and a wide range of biblical references, Platt shows many ways in which the church has become just another symptom of our consumer, materialistic society.
Platt’s theology is spot on, and thoroughly Bible-based. By working through typical ‘Christian’ statements to their logical conclusions, Platt shows that they are eighter unbiblical, or just plain silly, and over the course of the book he also teaches the truth powerfully.
If you’re a member, and particularly a leader, of a church in the West prepare yourself to be massively convicted and challenged to begin a truly radical, Bible-based, Jesus-focused ministry. In particular I found his comments on our reliance on God and attitude to the poor challenging. This isn’t a feel-good, encouraging book, but it’s certainly one of the best books I’ve read this year.
The audio version is narrated by David Platt himself, and he does a really good job so if you’re into audiobooks, this one’s a good one.
I’d recommend this to every single Christian in every Western church. Full marks from me!
I got this audiobook for free from the christianaudio.com audiobook reviewer programme. I’m not required to give a positive review.

So many critics, yet no one making disciples?

Platt, David. Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 2010. 240 pp.

I am thankful for the generous availability of GREAT books through Christianaudio.com!

It seems like Christiandom is in a season these days. That season? Discipleship. David Platt’s book is not different in this area. The glaring truth of the message of Radical is that a radical shift in our understanding of missions and church is needed in America.

The marketing for this book is EXCELLENT. One of the first introductions I had was the video on youtube called, What Part of the Gospel Is Optional? I highly recommend it and showed it a few times at our gatherings. Each time, tears streaming down my face with the truth and burden I too also feel to get in the game. The official website of the book is also filled with resources as well.

On to my review of the audio book. The audio book was read by David Platt, it is always great for me when the authors read their own work. They give the right inflictions at the right time for the right points compared to others reading their material.

The apathetic church does need this RADICAL call back to the main thing, and David has found a way to get a GREAT message out to a bunch of people who need it. Some of us have gotten complacent with our North American Christianity that is the pursuit of the American Dream with Jesus-addon app.

No David’s book is NOT the Bible, and YES you should be reading that instead of book telling you to read the Bible, but some people need to have a book tell them to read another book.

Some notable quotes from the book for me were;

The Holy Spirit is an add-on in our communities. – Ch. 3

Is my life characterized by a desperation for God? – Ch. 3

…We are going to continue to send you a check so we don’t have to go ourselves… – Ch. 4

Are you a ‘receiver’ or ‘reproducer’ of Christ? – Ch. 5

Jesus doesn’t give us options to consider but commands to be obeyed. Ch. 6

Ch. 7, and the discourse on Romans 1 (ESV) in regards to evangelism was excellent.

Am I willing to die so that those who come after me will come to know Christ? (References to Matthew 10 (ESV)) – Ch. 8

Long-term commitments are rewarded with long-term benefits. Ch. 9

Our church got radical by committing for a year to do the following radical experiment;

1. Get RADICAL by Praying for the entire world, the harvest, and followers who are NOT getting to the lost. (David mentioned Operation World’s website and a daily prayer for those in the world found HERE)

2. Get RADICAL by Reading the entire Bible in a year. Don’t settle for Christianity-Lite.

3. Get RADICAL by Sacrificing your $ for a specific purpose.

4. Get RADICAL by Spending your time in a different context. 2% in the next year (essentially one week).

5. Get RADICAL by Committing your life to a multiplying community.

Sobering messages to a desensitized culture. For the last 500 years we have sat in pews warming them, now it is time to do something about it. I think a good summary verse that I think David was trying to communicate to the rest of us might be:

48 But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Luke 12:48 (ESV)

This is a FANTASTIC book, and I highly recommend it.

I have benefited much from the preaching ministry of Dr. David Platt. I have heard him a few times in person at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as on the Internet via iTunes. He certainly is a devoted follower of Christ and his motives are pure insofar as I can tell. His heart is enraptured by the awesomeness of proclaiming the gospel to the entire world. What he has written in Radical needs to be heard by most in the American Christian churches--we have become too lax in our devotion (if you can call it that). What follows is a critical assessment of an excellent book. Please know that I criticize as a fellow pastor within the same denomination as Dr. Platt and therefore he is more like family than anything else.

First, Dr. Platt is challenging the American cultural context not with Scripture so much as he does with his experiences in various other cultural contexts. In many ways this is comparing apples and oranges. While I agree wholeheartedly that we must seek to understand the Bible outside our American mindset, I do not believe it is wise to compare our understanding of the faith to another country's understanding and say that they have it right. It must be in accordance with Scripture which David does bring into the discussion. Regardless, we need to be careful that we do not set another culture's practices of Christianity above ours and say that there is what we must strive for. From his perspective, it seems the best manner in which we can better become biblical Christians in the United States is if it were to become illegal and we were forced to the underground. (For what it's worth, I do see this as a very viable possibility in the next 20 years or so).

Second, I honestly wonder if this book would have been written if Dr. David Platt was pastor of First Baptist Church Podunk. There are numerous churches with congregations less than 150 who are radical in their approach to Christianity. They sacrifice much for the kingdom knowing full well that their reward awaits them in heaven. Platt pastors a church of over 4,000 members in a fairly affluent neighborhood of Birmingham, Al.

Given our American cultural expectations, I honestly do not believe this book would have been published without the 4,000 member congregation changing their mindset and moving from comfort and luxury for the self to the radical faith in which Platt espouses. In other words, because it works there, we ought to take note because this is a "mega-church."

The second point feeds into the third point which is the programmatic mindset that Platt rails against is actually a driving force behind the publishing of this book. You can go to the book's website and find out more about "the movement" and purchase resources and materials to help spread the word. By the way, you can also purchase mini-booklets to give to your friends.

Finally, and this is a two-part criticism, the claims in Radical are very paradoxical. On one hand, Platt is saying you need to sell everything for Christ while at the same time you can download his podcasts on iTunes. Platt is telling you to sell everything for missions but, before you do, be sure to purchase these resources to better equip your congregation to do the same thing. (For the record, I have heard him state that all proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards missions.) Now, please don't mistake these examples as being explicit in the book. They are not! However, they are implicit by the mere fact that all of this is available. As I said, it is paradoxical.

The ultimate last concern I have is that all throughout the book, Platt talks of how easy it is to become a Christian in the U.S. by walking an aisle, praying a prayer, and signing a card (I agree that these sacraments have done much harm to the church) but at the end of the book, he has a card that you can sign and date stating that, [you] "agree with the Radical claim that [you] can find satisfaction and real service to God only in abandonment to Jesus." There is even a line for you to sign and date your commitment to the Radical Experiment.

Audio Review

The audio of this book is actually read by David Platt himself. This is nice in that the author is able to offer insight through his voice as to what he was thinking when he wrote the book. Nonetheless, having heard Dr. Platt preach on a few occasions, what is read here is nothing like what he has preached in the past. I am almost positive that I have heard chapters 1 and 2 preached from the pulpit. As a preacher, Platt flat out "brings it" with a "thus sayeth the Lord" approach that is lost in so many pulpits today.

While it may be an unfair assessment, I believe his reading falls far short of his preaching. This is an obvious statement to many, especially those who have preached, but is one thing I could not get past as I listened to much of the book.

Recommendation

I realize that I was fairly critical in this review, but be rest assured, this book is a must read. You will be challenged in many of your assumptions. There will be times when you will get angry at what David is asking you to do. But, you will quickly realize that this anger is from your own shallow understanding of the gospel that is found in most American churches. If you have struggled with what a more biblical approach to the Christian faith looks like, then Radical is a perfect read for you. You will see things from a different perspective and will learn how to think outside our Americanized preconceived notions of Christianity.

I can't wait to read/listen to this book. David and I were friends in high school and the Lord used him in amazing ways even then. Don't think I can get my hands on this book quick enough.

I've been following David Platt for quite a while. I listened to every sermons he's done at The Church at Brook Hills. I've listening to all the secret church sessions. I even drove 40 minutes to worship with his church while staying the weekend in Alabama.

David gets it. Simply stated, but very powerful. It's not about David, His church, or even The Church. It's not about innovative programs or classes. It's about glorifying Christ to the ends of the earth through making disciples of all nations.

David is calling out against the Christian spin on the American dream. Don't read this book if you don't want to be challenged or convicted. David takes an honest look at the Jesus of the Bible with some challenging revelations: When we make Jesus who we want him to be, we are no longer worshiping the Jesus of the Bible, but rather ourselves.

David is the narrator and does a great job. No one else could have pulled it off.

I am a reviewer for Christian Audio.