Book Review: Radical Together by David Platt
RADICAL TOGETHER BY DAVID PLATT
Radical Together by David Platt is something of a sequel to his first book (and New York Times bestseller) Radical. Maybe continuation is a better word, although it does carry the same meaning… All that nonsense aside, here is what you need to know about Platt’s newest installment: READ IT.
I was awarded this advance copy of one of Christendom’s most anticipated books because of my review of it’s predecessor, and RADICAL TOGETHER did not disappoint. Rather, it continued to reveal that I am often the disappointment. In RADICAL, Platt challenges the church to take back our faith from the American Dream, something that hit me hard and left me changed. In RADICAL TOGETHER, the author intends to unleash the people of God for the purpose of God and draws our attention to the fact that we as the church, at least as it exists in our country, are often in our own way. Pastor Platt wastes no time, in the first paragraphs of chapter one which is subtitled,” The worst enemy of Christians is good things in the church” he says this:
“The last thing you and I want to do is waste our lives on religious activity that is devoid of spiritual productivity— being active in the church but not advancing the kingdom of God. We don’t want to come to the end of our days on earth, only to realize we have had little impact on more people going to heaven. Yet if we are not careful, we spend our lives doing good things in the church while we ultimately miss out on the great purposes for which we are created.
That’s why I say the worst enemy of Christians is good things in the church.”
That says it all. I cannot attempt to further explain this book, I can only tell you that if you are a Christian you should read this book, and then read it again.
This book was provided as an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for this review.
Book Review: Radical by David Platt
Radical by David Platt
I opted to read Radical by David Platt after hearing some friends who are also in ministry talking about the book and how much it had challenged them. I believe one said it “wrecked” him, meaning the subject matter of the book had turned his life upside down. I knew I had to see what all the fuss was about so I ordered a copy (yes, I actually paid for this book) and dug in.
This book is certainly true to it’s name. Platt sets out to challenge the status quo, as it were, at least as it relates to the Christian faith. The sub-title reads “Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream, ” and Radical takes a stab at everything that encompasses our modern view of that dream.
His premiss is simply the “radical” idea that Christ has called us to more than white picket fences and credit card debt. More than SUVs and second mortgages. Maybe God is not nearly as concerned with the interest rate of our Sears Card as he is with our motivation to meet physical and spiritual needs globally. Platt tells of a newsletter that features a church’s grand new worship center which cost tens of millions, and on the same page celebrates that local churches have raised $5000 to go toward a mission goal. That’s a pretty accurate cross-section of our American churches. He tells of churches elsewhere who risk torture and death to come to meetings where they study the bible for hours on end because their hunger for the Word is so great. Compare that with our local churches, where we often can only be motivated to attend a padded-pewed, climate controlled worship service sporadically.
If asked, I would say this book should be whisked straight to the top of any christian’s to-read list. This is probably the best book I’ve read outside of scripture, not because it left me feeling warm and fuzzy, but because I too was “wrecked.” As someone who has been blessed with the middle-class, suburban answer to the American Dream, this book was a wake-up call, maybe even a slap in the face, and I plan on reading it again very soon.
Get your copy and find out more at www.radicalthebook.com
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