Radical by David Platt never would have been published if he were not a pastor of a megachurch. Even considering that fact, publication is iffy. He says nothing new, and even what he says is not said in a new or creative way. It seems that it’s almost part of the job description for megachurch pastors to write a book like this. So why did it get published? David explains why in the first line of his book: he was the youngest megachurch pastor in history.
What a way to start a book! Sure, David goes on to say that he was uneasy with such a claim and wasn’t even sure that it was true, but still…how do you write a book which is supposed to be about taking back your faith from the American Dream and start the book by stating that you are the youngest megachurch pastor in American history? Really?
The rest of the book follows the same tenor. He frequently speaks of all the places in the world he has visited, the rich people in his church, and the letters he gets from people all over the world. What is this but riches, popularity, power, and fame? At the conclusion of his book, he challenges his readers to a one-year experiment of radical living where they pray more, read the Bible more, give more, serve more, and attend church (or small groups) more. This is about as “radical” as a megachurch pastor is allowed to get. Anything more gets you fired.
I’m not trying to criticize David Platt. I’m sure he’s a great pastor and faithful follower of Jesus Christ. And I know this really isn’t a review of his book. I just find it ironic that when Multnomah publishes a book about giving up what is bigger, better, younger, and richer in order to follow Jesus, the author is someone who is bigger, better, younger, and richer.
Sure, the book contains examples of how David has moved to a smaller house, and how rich people in his church sold everything to give the money to the church, and the struggle David faces in reconciling the teachings of Jesus with pastoring a megachurch. But he’s still there and so is the multimillion dollar campus. The people are still rich. The church is still powerful. David is still famous.
Is it possible to have a book written by someone who is not all these things? What about the person who gives the widow’s mite? What about the pastor who has served in the same church for 50 years in a dying community? What about the parents who never had children, and didn’t have the money to adopt, and didn’t qualify for foster care, but still took care of needy children in their neighborhood?
What about the family who could never downsize their home because they never owned a home? What about the pastor who grew his church from 10 to 100, and then, rather than give himself a raise, took a pay cut and a second job so he could send 50 of those people to another part of the city to plant a new church? This is radical. This is following Jesus. This is living your faith outside the American dream. I personally know people who have done all these things. To me, they are the true radicals.
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