Several months ago I read a book called Radical: Taking back you Faith from the American Dream by David Platt. Since that time I have given many copies to friends and encouraged them to read and be challenged by his words. Not because it’s the most groundbreaking book of the decade or "the best book I've ever read". In an ocean of literature, I am not sure how I would even quantify such a thought. But its message is timely and hits hard at one of the core problems of modern (and yes, post-modern) American Christianity. That is, we don't see "Christianity" as a "radical way" at all. In many Christian circles, we have exchanged the power of a surrendered life with the airbrushed reality that implores us to leverage everything for wealth, power and notoriety (in the name of Christ of course).
So much of American Christendom is focused on making me feel good, making me rich, making me happy and well... ME! Part of the problem may be that we have taken the Jesus of the New Testament and unintentionally formed Him into a nice, middle class "American Jesus" that we are a lot more comfortable with. A Jesus, who doesn't care about materialism, is happy with nominal devotion, is not concerned if we hate others (as long as they are not like us), a Jesus who died on a cross and rose from the grave so I could have comfort and prosperity and not have any problems. Is that really Jesus Christ of Nazareth?
I am not saying you have to read the book. As a matter of fact, it would probably be more beneficial to read through the four Gospel's and the entire Bible. But as we read, pray and live... we must responsibly make sure we (individually and as a church) are conforming to the image of Christ and not forming Him into an image that makes us feel better about the way we choose to live.
Radical thinking? Well, maybe. But so is most of the New Testament! Remember the radical words of the Apostle Paul, "...in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12: 1-2).
Honestly, do I want to know God’s good pleasing and perfect will? When I allow the Holy Spirit to do spiritual inventory in my life, I find myself replying with rationalizations and justification about my attitudes, choices and actions instead of adjusting my mindset and lifestyle to fit His plan. Could it be that God is calling us to embrace the Christ of the Bible in a more “radical” way? If we do, it will certainly cause us to abandon elements of our “American Dream” as He uncovers blind spots of our faith and calls us to live-out our faith more authentically and serve Him more passionately.
Just something to think about as we learn to Live it out!
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