Feeling Challenged in Every Way...

Chapter 9:The Radical Experiment

When referring to our purpose in life as Christians, Platt says, "Meaning is found in community, not individualism; joy is found in generosity, not materialism; and truth is found in Christ, not universalism." This is beautiful. I think this is an excellent way to explain how we should live as Christians. This is the kind of phrase that I want to paste on my wall to constantly remind myself of. I don't always live this way, none of us do, but it is important that we are reminded of what it really means to live the way Christ intends us to.

In the final chapter of Radical, Platt challenges us over the next year to: pray for the entire world, read through the entire Word, sacrifice your money for a specific purpose, spend your time in another context and commit your life to a multiplying community. In a way, I think trying to do any or all of these things would be challenging. The first three are the most typical yet most challenging for me. I have no problem committing to a church or going somewhere to help people in need. It's getting into a routine of regularly praying, reading & giving/sacrificing that is hard for me. I don't think it is the actual action so much as the routine aspect of it. I don't know if it's just me and how I operate but I find it really hard to have routine in my life. I always get to the place where I forget to do something or don't do something and then spend the next week feeling guilty and trying to play catch up, only to feel defeated in the end.

I'm not sure if I will take the one year challenge or not. I definitely want to and feel encouraged to. God, help me to get over my issues with routine and give me the strength to embrace this challenge, if that is Your will.

Cannibals vs. Worms...

Chapter 8: Living When Dying Is Gain

This chapter put things in a whole new perspective for me. It reminds me of the girl during the Columbine shooting that was asked if she was a Christian and when she said "yes" she was shot and killed. You always wonder if you would be that brave in those kinds of situations. Platt explains why dying for God is the only way to die.

I really like the quote from John Paton to a man who was trying to deter him to minister to Cannibals by saying "Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer."

I appreciate Platt's perspective on this matter and all the examples he gave of people who risked their lives to save people. God, give me the strength to not be afraid of death so that I may better serve you.

Me of Little Faith...

Chapter 7: There is No Plan B

Does this chapter remind anyone else of a tract or is it just me?

Seriously though, I liked this chapter. As depressing as it is, it is important to be reminded that we are saved; saved from our sin by Christ. When I think about that in the way that Platt describes, I feel so thankful and blessed. Thankful that Jesus died on the cross for us. Now what we need to do is take that thankfulness and translate it into motivation to spread the word to all peoples. Easier said than done though.

I look forward to reading the final 2 chapters and seeing what kind of motivations Platt gives us for ministering to the unreached and unengaged. So far, he has provided numerous things to motivate and enlighten readers yet I still feel like it's much harder to do than he makes it sound. Oh me of little faith.

Self-Education...

Chapter Six: How Much Is Enough?

"The point we can learn... is that our perspective on our possessions radically changes when we open our eyes to the needs of the world around us. When we have the courage to look in the faces of brothers and sisters whose bodies are malnourished and whose brains are deformed because they have no food, Christ will change our desires, and we will long to sacrifice our resources for the glory of his name among them." (Pg. 127)

This makes so much sense to me. I think one of the problems with American culture is that we don't take interest in the needs around us. If we love Jesus and we hear about people who are hurting and need help, it would be in our nature to help them. The problem is, we do not allow ourselves to be educated about the problems that exist on our planet. We blind ourselves from news about third world countries; we turn a deaf ear to those who are suffering. Now, this isn't true for everyone, I know tons of people who give and give and give. I just think one of the problems with us not helping the poor is that we know nothing about them and what they are going through. We need to be proactive in educating ourselves about what is going on in our world.

"So when you and I hear staggering numbers and statistics about the poor and needy around us and around the world, we have a choice. We can switch the channels on our mega-TVs and continue our comfortable, untroubled, ordinary, churchgoing lives as if the global poor don't exist. We can let these numbers remain cold, distant, and almost imaginary. Or we can open our eyes and our lives to the realities that surround us and begin considering the faces that are represented by these numbers." (Pg. 140)

Organic Christianity...

Chapter Five: The Multiplying Community

I enjoyed this chapter much better than the previous one. I think it had a simple, yet important message about making disciples and how to go about doing so. I loved the various examples of how different people showed Jesus to people all over the world (I really liked the free fortune telling table story). I always have a hard time thinking about how to share Jesus with others, other than in a forced and unnatural way. This chapter was very encouraging in showing me that it doesn't have to be that way.

WARNING: Shameless church plug.

This is not to say that my church is the best, or that it is doing things right while all others are doing things wrong. This is not my thought. I just think that when Platt talks about churches and his opinion of how they should be, my church is right on with his description. My favorite thing about my church is that it has a building but not the one we worship in (we meet in a local high school). It's building is an orphanage in Cambodia. My other favorite thing is that we try not to focus too much on special programming. Why? Because there are already several people in our church that serve the community and world at large on their own and we figure, why start something new when people can just join the cause that is already happening. It makes so much sense to me for things to be organic like this. People are already making an impact on their own in churches all over America. Let's support those efforts and encourage people to join them! It's so amazing to see what happens when people are free to follow God's lead and touch people's lives in ways that are personal for them. Not all of us have passions for the exact same thing, but we all, as Christians, have a passion for God, for people, and for people knowing God. How this plays out in an individual's life is all an intricate part of each one of our life missions.

Thank God that we were born in America and are free to worship and praise our God in the way we do.

This was a tough one...

Chapter 4: The Great Why of God

I'm going to be completely honest: This chapter was tough for me to swallow. Not because I felt compelled or broken, but because I felt confused and lost.

I have been struggling a lot lately with ideas like this. Ideas involving what God wants out of us. I'm just not sure what I think is right. Because I only have a passion for the homeless in Columbus, Ohio does that make me a "bad" Christian or "non-Biblical" Christian? According to David Platt, I am. If we are not spreading the gospel across the world, then we are not doing right by David Platt or God. Don't get me wrong, I'm convicted by this chapter and am inspired to go over seas and do missions work but I don't like that I feel like a "bad" Christian until I do. (Maybe my heart is hard or maybe I'm just too selfish. God, please let me clearly see the truth in all of this.)

Let me go do some praying and soul seeking and maybe I'll come back next week with a better perspective, assuming mine is wrong.

Underdog...

Chapter 3: Beginning at the End of Ourselves

"This is how God works. He puts his people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provisions in ways that display his greatness." (Pg. 48)

This is another thing that you see often in the Old Testament (can you tell which one is my favorite yet?). The more you read the OT, the more you read story after story of God putting people in positions where they need him and then coming to save the day. This is not only a humbling thought but a comforting one. When I am struggling and having a hard time, it's for a reason. It's to humble us and bring us to a place where we NEED God. I have been experiencing this a lot over the last few years and every time God has shown up. When I don't think I'll make ends meet, I somehow always do (because of God). When I don't think I'll find a job in time, I do (because of God). God provides for me always but lately it's been at the last second as if to make me sweat a little only to realize later "oh yeah, God's in control. I have nothing to worry about." I almost prefer this lifestyle to one of constant comfort and support. If I didn't experience all the hardships I do, I don't think I would be half the person God is creating me to be. Nor would I treasure the good times as much as I do.

Random side note: At church we have been talking a lot about being thankful and thanking God for all that he does in our lives. I'm reminded of one of my favorite phrases of the Lutheran faith (as well as others) - "Thanks be to God!" People in the Old Testament were always giving God the glory and thanks in every situation. When David defeated Goliath, he gave the glory to God. Whenever something good happens in my life or when I experience something good, I need to just remind myself: "Thanks be to God!"

I could write more but after finishing the chapter, all I really want to do is pray.

I will leave you with some lyrics that I think fit this chapter well:

"Underdog" by Audio Adrenaline

I am so weak and I'm so tired
It's hard for me to
Find enough strength to feed the fires
That fuel my ego
And consequently all my pride has all but died
Which leaves me
Down on my knees
Back to the place I
Should have started from

[CHORUS]
Been beat up
Been broken down
Nowhere but up
When you're face down
On the ground
I'm in last place
If I place at all
But there's hope for this underdog!
That's the way, uh-huh, we like it!
That's the way, uh-huh, we like it!
You can call me the underdog

I'm in this race to win a prize
The odds against me
The world has plans for my demise
What they don't see
Is that a winner is not judged by his small size
But by the substitute he picks to run the race
And mine's already won

God is not a genie...

Chapter 2: Too Hungry For Words

It's interesting that this book touches on the two sides of God: the loving father and the wrathful judge (pg. 29). My friends and I were just talking about this at Bible study a week or so ago. We are reading through the Old Testament and were discussing how most Christians view God as a loving father that forgives us of all sins and is always there for us, A.K.A. the God of the New Testament. On the other hand, the God of the Old Testament is a jealous and wrathful God that kills people who disobey him and curses their entire family line. Which God would you rather believe in? Which would you rather come to when you've done something wrong? It's the same as when children break something or hit their sibling and go to the nicer parent. In the end, this is a reflection of us. We are sinners by nature and it is hard for us to go to a God who punishes us rather than absolves us. Good thing we have Jesus to help soften the blow. ;)

"[The] gift of grace involves the gift of a new heart. New desires. New longings... We realize that we are saved not just to be forgiven of our sins or to be assured of our eternity in heaven, but we are saved to know God. So we yearn for Him... This is the only proper response to the revelation of God in the gospel." (Pg. 39)

It is important for us to remind ourselves of the real reason why we are in a relationship with God in the first place. He is not our magical genie sent from above to grant us wishes until our heart's content. God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe and of us. How could we not want to spend our time getting to know Him better? How could we not want to praise Him and thank Him for all that He has done in our lives? Don't get me wrong, I have just as hard a time remembering this as the next person. (Actually, I put this in here mainly to remind myself of this, especially since Francine is my only regular reader.)

Note to self: Remember how totally AWESOME God is and why I need to dedicate more of my time and energy to getting to know Him and building a better relationship with Him.

Becoming Radical...

I have not posted on here in a very long time but never fear! I found a reason to use my blog once again and that reason is the book Radical by David Platt. I am reading it along with tons of other people all over the U.S. and posting my thoughts as I read. Thanks to Marla, I have a reason to blog, at least for now. ;)

The assignment for this week: Chapter One - Someone Worth Losing Everything For

"We were settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves." (Pg. 7)

I have never thought about it that way before. I have always been irked by the way large churches (and even small ones) used their money to make their church 'comfortable'. There are arguments for both sides of this though. 1. The money could be better used by feeding the hungry and helping the poor. OR 2. The church has to be 'comfortable' so that it will draw in the unbelievers and get them in the door to hear about Jesus. I'm not sure that the second argument is something that Jesus would have done. As Platt later explains, Jesus didn't exactly make it attractive to follow Him.

Platt goes on to talk about how 'we rationalize [certain] passages away' and make Jesus a 'nice, middle-class, American Jesus.' I think, in the most general sense, we all do this with not only Jesus but the Bible and Christianity in general. We mold and shape these things to fit our wants, needs and priorities. We come to a place where we like how life is going and how we are living it and if anything tries to shake us up from that life, we can find a way to generalize it and not feel like we are doing anything wrong. For example, if I am happy in life coming to Jesus only when I need Him, I'm sure I could find a verse in the Bible to generalize that sentiment so that I could continue to live that way without consequence in my own mind. I'm not sure if this makes sense but in the end, we Christians don't want to feel like we are doing wrong by God in any way, so we will find ways to always do right, even if it means sacrificing the real meaning of the Word.

I'm excited about where this book is going. These are topics I think about often and have too been conscious of. I am interested to hear Platt's perspective on these issues. It's not easy following Jesus, but the struggle and sacrifice more than makes up for it for the eternal reward. This is especially hard for Americans to see because of how privileged and spoiled we are both with material goods and time. We can have whatever we want, whenever we want as quick as we want. Christianity doesn't work that way.

Other people's comments on Chapter One can be read HERE :)