Read RADICAL

I wanted to take a moment to endorse and recommend David Platt’s Radical.  

I started reading it a couple of weeks ago, and took it fairly slow in order to really digest and meditate on the Christ exalting truths that Platt unpacked. 

Platt’s books (and sermons, I hear) are loeaded with scripture and quite convicting as well as inspiring.   The book moves quickly as he addresses the call of discipleship in a direct, convincing and applicable way.  At the end of the book, he lays out a one year “Radical Experiment” with 5 ways to really pursue God and live for him.  

I guess in some ways, you could read the back cover of the book and get the main point!  I could summarize it in less than a sentence: 

God is amazing, His mission is glorious, Jesus our savior is worth your whole life!!

It's similar to most good Christian books in that way -including other best sellers like Crazy Love by Francis Chan.   But don’t settle with synopsis.  It’s worthy to read thru this whole book and really internalize the things that he’s talking about. 

He also has another one that I think is made for small groups called Radical Together, but, I haven't read that one....

A friend of mine,  Mike Morgan once asked me: "is there any book you've read that you didn't think was "great?"   I like to imagine that I pick my books pretty carefully  -and I don't subscribe to the idea that you have to finish everything you start.  (because some things should have never been started in the first place!)   Thus, I would say,  I haven't read too many books all the way thru that I didn't at least appreciate.  If a book is lame, I just stop reading it once I get the main point.   But, for insight and credibility sake, here are 

some that I don't think are great!  

Velvet Elvis  by Rob Bell.  Creatively written of course, and not boring, just not actually as illuminating as the author supposes it to be.  A book full of great questions, but lacking on clarifying answers.   This book rants and raises some great issues throughout, but in the end I felt like I was standing on sand instead of a solid rock. 

Servolution  by Dino Rizzo  A great concept; Basically, it's about serving like Christ.  Amen!  And I think Dino’s church must be doing some awesome ministry! There's nothing heretical in this book that I saw, but it was just not engaging!  I'm not sure why!  So, I didn't finish it.   I am sure some people find it inspiring;  that was the author's point, but I thought it was poorly written. 

Irresistible Revolution: living as an ordinary radical by Shane Claiborne  I actually enjoyed reading most of this book.  (i didn't finish it.)  I think I'd enjoy hanging out with Shane if I got to meet him, and I support the things he does in Philly and beyond.  But, his theology is kind of weak, and he uncritically weaves too many worldly political ideas (mostly liberal ones) into his books.  Tim Keller's Generous Justice is a way more worthy read.  And Keller allows the Gospel to critique both liberal and conservative ideals that aren't biblical.  

Jack Critiques Alan Jackson

On our way out to Wildwood, NJ the other day (for our summer project) we were listening to the radio; Country music as usual.  The Alan Jackson song "Where I come From" came on and Stephanie and I were talking.  I like the song and I've heard it often, but I wasn't listening intently to it when my son Jack yelled from the back seat -"Is this song based on lies?"  


I wasn't too sure in the moment what he was talking about.   Thinking about verse two I said "Well, I think he's just talking about some good food bud."  
But then the Chorus came on again, I turned it up and I knew exactly what he was referring to.  Here's how it goes:


I said where I come from
It's cornbread and chicken
Where I come from a lotta front porch sittin'
Where I come from tryin' to make a livin'
And workin' hard to get to heaven
Where I come from


I asked leadingly "What was the lie that you heard in there bud?"  And Jack proceeded to expound the theological truth that we don't work hard to get to heaven.  Salvation is free -a gift from God because he loves us.  "God doesn't love you because you work hard" he said.  And then I asked my boys "So why does God love us?"  And Joe shouted with passion and authority "For no apparent reason."  


Amen my sons.  Sorry Alan Jackson -bad theology! 
We've been talking about Grace a lot in our home and how God saves us not because we are "good" or because we "earn it" or because we are "better than anybody else" or because we are religious, or because of anything that we do, but simply because of his loving kindness -which we totally don't deserve. 


Ephesians 2:8,9 ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.


Titus 3:3-7 ³ At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 

Just Do Something!

What is God’s will for your life?

Is that an easy question or a difficult one to answer?

I’ve been carrying Kevin DeYoung’s book Just Do Something in my bag for past two weeks promoting it and passing it around because it’s full of good theology, it’s very short and it is extremely relevant. It will only cost you $10 and take 2 hours of your life, and if I were you I’d get online and buy one right now.

Hanging out on campus I hear students constantly talking about trying to “figure out God’s will.” Mostly, they are talking about the big life decisions like who does God want them to marry? Should they get married? They ask questions like “Am I studying the right thing, or does the Lord want me to change my major?” People pray and ask God to show them which internship to take, or where they should spend their summer. I wave the banner for summer missions and hear people say “I’ll pray and see if God wants me to go somewhere this year.” Some add, “I don’t want to go on a summer mission just because I think it’s a good idea, I want it to do what the Lord wants me to do.” It’s not just students who do this of course. Every time a Christian has a big decision they will talk about trying to discern God’s will.

And of course, in many ways this is a good thing! –except that there are so many misconceptions about how God operates and what God’s will is. And when you combine these skewed ways of thinking with all the many decisions we have to make these days, there can be lots of confusion. Paralyzing confusion actually. We can become so caught up in trying to find God’s will for this or that situation that we end up not doing anything! People become stagnant and ruled by fear. The question God cares about most is not “where should I live?” but “Do I love the Lord with all my heart?”

Everyone Has a Gospel Story

Pastor and Author Tim Chester once said “Everyone has a Gospel Story.”

Here’s what he meant. Everyone has a set of beliefs that shapes their lives, impacts their behavior, affects all of their relationships -and those beliefs are ultimately set within the context of a basic narrative. Now this is not explicit, -you can’t walk up to people and say to them “Hey, tell me your gospel story” because they won’t even know what you are talking about. But in the same way that The Christian Gospel story informs the most important areas of our lives, competing narratives, false gospel stories provide a framework that lends structure and meaning and direction to peoples lives.

Biblical theology outlines the Christian Gospel Story in this order: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation.

The creation account helps us to understand who we are. God is loving, powerful and personal. God is creator, and we are his creatures. We are made in his image that we might Glorify and enjoy him forever.

The fall answers the question “What’s wrong with the world?” or “What’s wrong with me? Mankind is sinful, our hearts are rebellious towards God. We are wicked. We, are ruled by evil desires, and trying to be our own God

Redemption helps us understand “What the solution is”. What will it take to put my life right? What will make the world a better place? Jesus Christ is the savior of the World. He came to earth to die on the cross to free us from sin, and to reconcile us with God.

Consummation points us to our ultimate source of Hope. This World is God’s, and we have messed everything up with sin. But God is redeeming the world, and someday we will be with him and he will make all things new. God is our hope.

Likewise, false Gospel stories can be outlined in this same way. For example, here’s the ‘gospel story’ preached by your typical Men’s magazine.

Creation: You were made to have lots of sex with who ever you want to have sex with! Fall: the problem is…..your pectoral muscles aren’t ‘ripped’ enough, and you look a little pale. Redemption: You need to do all the right work outs and get a tan. Consummation: If you can muster the self discipline, eat right, and tone up your body, you can be the sex-stud you were created to be!

(Women’s magazines preach a similar message.)

Here’s a ‘gospel story’ that is believed by many college students.

Creation: You were made to be rich, successful, and esteemed. Fall: the problem is…..you aren’t quite educated enough, your resume is a little weak, and you don’t know the right people. Redemption: You need to apply yourself to getting a high quality education, a super well-rounded resume and meeting people in high places. Consummation: If you can get into the right school, get the right degree, obtain a high paying prestigious job you will be the happy, rich, successful person you were made to be.

False Gospel stories abound all around us.

What do you believe? What is your Gospel Story?