The Book 'RADICAL' - Taking back your faith from the American Dream

[Alan Satorius]

I have recently finished this book and it deserves a real in depth look at what Jesus has told us and how the American Christian life measures up to it. The author, David Platt is a pastor of a growing church in Birmingham, Alabama who stopped to realize where he is going in the light of what Jesus' Words were for His church.

It is definitely a wake-up call for all of us - it is on the New York Times best seller list.  David tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a 'successful' urban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.

I highly recommend and challenge  all who believe in Jesus to read this book !

[Jerry Linnins]

Alan, recently completed this book as well. In my personal walk of faith, I am more and more being led to this kind of book, bible study, call to return to THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED. Thanks for reminding me of such a great, insightful resource.

[Alan Satorius]

Jerry Linnins said:

Alan, recently completed this book as well. In my personal walk of faith, I am more and more being led to this kind of book, bible study, call to return to THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED. Thanks for reminding me of such a great, insightful resource.

[Alan Satorius]

Alan Satorius said:

Thanks for the reply Jerry. My wife is finishing it now and we plan to change things in our lives

 God bless you and have a new, new year - we plan to !!!
Jerry Linnins said:

Alan, recently completed this book as well. In my personal walk of faith, I am more and more being led to this kind of book, bible study, call to return to THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED. Thanks for reminding me of such a great, insightful resource.

[Tom Pryor]

Alan,

Thank you for recommending this book. I read it in about 2 weeks time and made tons of notes during the process. I could really sense the author's frustration of being pastor of a megachurch that he now believes is something that prevents instead of promotes Jesus' instructions. Our 60+ year old Baptist pastor says he wants to build a disciple making church but reverted to his old ways ... get a building, start programs and promote tithing ... within 6 months. It's tough to do what David Platt recommends, but most of what he says I find to be Biblically sound. 

 

While Platt makes a strong argument for disciple making, I found his 'how to" lacking. I still believe Doug and Suzie Morrell have the best method going at  www.coregroups.org . 

[Gerald Polmateer]

While what the author writes seems great, the problem is that the he still lives in the U.S. where it costs much more to live. Try living in a home of 400 square feet.

[Alan Satorius]

Gerald,

Agreed - but what he says is a great encouragement to share more of our excess to those who are in dire straits, not only in physical needs, but very importantly their spiritual need of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I'm starting to adjust our life style to be more in line with what Jesus clearly tells us, to love and share.

[Gerald Polmateer]

Anyone in America can get assistance and welfare. Whereas in other countries that may be impossible.  So I wonder where the need for food, etc. in America is.

[Tom Pryor]

If I am like the majority of Christians, the only people I see on a regular basis who need food are the panhandlers at street intersections. I because I've learned most of them use contributions to buy cigarettes, drugs and booze, it's become very easy for me to think "I don't really see anyone who needs food." But when I talk with public school teachers who see kids on a daily basis without food or food money. And when I visit the local food bank and see a line of people, I become more aware that there are thousands of Americans who need food. One of our local city council members is a friend of mine. He was told that there are 2,000 kids on any given day in our town of 350,000 who are homeless. His initial response was similar to Gerald's ... I don't see them, so therefore, they don't exist. Or my friend is thinking, I don't see them so they must be getting take of. Truth is, I won't see them if they are sleeping in a car in the parking lot of the high school ... this is happening. Or I won't see them if they are sleeping on friend's couches.

 

I took Platt's book to say that if Christians became more aware of the problems that exist in America, we might change our churches and homes to be more like Jesus ... give them food and shelter AND help them solve the root cause of why they have no regular food or shelter. I believe churches do poor to medium on the former and almost nothing on the latter.

 

 

[Alan Satorius]

Tom Pryor said:

If I am like the majority of Christians, the only people I see on a regular basis who need food are the panhandlers at street intersections. I because I've learned most of them use contributions to buy cigarettes, drugs and booze, it's become very easy for me to think "I don't really see anyone who needs food." But when I talk with public school teachers who see kids on a daily basis without food or food money. And when I visit the local food bank and see a line of people, I become more aware that there are thousands of Americans who need food. One of our local city council members is a friend of mine. He was told that there are 2,000 kids on any given day in our town of 350,000 who are homeless. His initial response was similar to Gerald's ... I don't see them, so therefore, they don't exist. Or my friend is thinking, I don't see them so they must be getting take of. Truth is, I won't see them if they are sleeping in a car in the parking lot of the high school ... this is happening. Or I won't see them if they are sleeping on friend's couches.

 

I took Platt's book to say that if Christians became more aware of the problems that exist in America, we might change our churches and homes to be more like Jesus ... give them food and shelter AND help them solve the root cause of why they have no regular food or shelter. I believe churches do poor to medium on the former and almost nothing on the latter.

 

 

[Alan Satorius]

Alan Satorius said: Amen Tom!!

Tom Pryor said:

If I am like the majority of Christians, the only people I see on a regular basis who need food are the panhandlers at street intersections. I because I've learned most of them use contributions to buy cigarettes, drugs and booze, it's become very easy for me to think "I don't really see anyone who needs food." But when I talk with public school teachers who see kids on a daily basis without food or food money. And when I visit the local food bank and see a line of people, I become more aware that there are thousands of Americans who need food. One of our local city council members is a friend of mine. He was told that there are 2,000 kids on any given day in our town of 350,000 who are homeless. His initial response was similar to Gerald's ... I don't see them, so therefore, they don't exist. Or my friend is thinking, I don't see them so they must be getting take of. Truth is, I won't see them if they are sleeping in a car in the parking lot of the high school ... this is happening. Or I won't see them if they are sleeping on friend's couches.

 

I took Platt's book to say that if Christians became more aware of the problems that exist in America, we might change our churches and homes to be more like Jesus ... give them food and shelter AND help them solve the root cause of why they have no regular food or shelter. I believe churches do poor to medium on the former and almost nothing on the latter.