Free Radicals

No, this isn’t a post about vitamins, minerals and exercise, though it could help your health — your spiritual health.

In Radical | Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, David Platt shares his ongoing journey into radically following Jesus. This young pastor of a megachurch in Birminham, Alabama challenges believers in America to live a life of faith that is vastly different from the one we live — driving our comfy cars to our comfy-temperatured church to sit in comfy pews and chairs to hear a comfy message then get back in our comfy cars to drive to our comfy restaurant for a comfy meal before heading to our comfy homes — to one that is radical.

The radical life Jesus called people to.

Potential homelessness, letting others care for your family at home, leaving that family without even a good-bye. Loving Jesus so much that those relationships at home seem like hate. Meeting for Bible study in secret because your very life is in danger, praying so long and hard that puddles of tears are left on the ground to commemorate that “church event” — not a press release.

Hear the prayer of a church leader in Asia where believers regularly face torture and the loss of everything, home, family, land, job because of their faith:

“I need to know how to lead my church to follow Christ even when it costs them everything.”

Platt examines the ninth chapter of Luke, noting that Jesus tells his followers that to follow him they must hate their family, pick up an instrument of torture (a cross) and be ready to give up everything. EVERYTHING.

David Platt then proceeds to tear apart the rationalizations of “Jesus didn’t really mean we have to sell everything and give it to the poor” or those similar. The good news is, just like the Savior, Platt doesn’t leave us in heap of despair. He shows us what all this cost is for. The challenge is worth accepting.

You can get a FREE copy of The Radical Question, a companion booklet just for asking. Let this message of radical life tear into you, seep deeply into the hardened parts of your psyche and move you to live the life Jesus died for you to live. You can even download and read the first chapter of the book! Allow your faith to be shaken, stirred and turned upside down and join in a one-year journey to radical faith in a radical savior.

It will hurt.

It’s worth it.

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