Book Review: Radical Together by David Platt

Radical Together, by David Platt is the follow up to Radical. The successor to this book spent a fair amount of time on the New York Times Bestseller list. It was also known for presenting a contrasted point of view of the state of American Christianity and calling believers to obey the scriptures in service and mission. You can read my review of that book here.

To be quite frank, I am not sure there is much new material here in this sequel to Platt's previous book. The content is a little more directive but it rehashes the need for change in the traditional church system. The problem that I observed while reading is not that the motive is wrong, it is that I feel the catalyst suggested for change will continue to be stifled by remaining within the traditional institution known as 'the church'.

David Platt does attempt to cover some ground that is seldom tread upon in evangelical literature. He makes his charge by defining six points the book is based upon,

1. One of the worst enemies of Christians can be good things in the church.
2. The gospel that saves us from work saves us to work.
3. The Word does the work.
4. Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people.
5. We are living--and longing--for the end of the world.
6. We are selfless followers of a self-centered God.

Platt goes on to target the tendency of Christians to get lazy or comfortable because they are consumed with programs and church activity. He also highlights the propensity of the other extreme, to do so much of this and that, it equates to works based salvation. With reliance upon the word, the fulfillment of the great commission, and looking forward to Christs return, David Platt poignantly emphasizes scriptural mandates for the life of a disciple.

I did like that David brings attention to forgotten aspects of what seems to be biblically obvious characteristics of the Christian life. While I was not enthralled with this particular attempt at clarifying why Christians need to behave differently than the status American Evangelical quo, I am glad that someone is at least attempting to address it in some facet.

You can read the first chapter of Radical Together online for free.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

A Twisted Scripture 9

In the spirit of Alan Knox's "Scripture...as We Live It" series,

So then, my brothers, when before you come together to eat at home, wait for one another-everyone else to finish eating at home- if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home-tell him to go shopping-so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come. (1Co 11:33-34 Twisted)

A Twisted Scripture 8

In the spirit of Alan Knox's "Scripture...as We Live It" series,

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part pastor is working properly, makes the body grow so that it he builds itself them up in love. (Eph 4:15-16 Twisted)