Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Radical

Wow! This book really took my by surprise! I was shocked of nearly the entire book. Before I read it, a friend on Twitter sent me a page to his blog in which he talked about how David Platt went too far in one view and overlooked the trueness of what he was saying. I denied that blog until I began to read the book. Before I begin to criticize the book, it did have a good meaning and I am sure David Platt had good intentions when he was writing it. There were parts that were very helpful to me, especially in taking every opportunity that I have to share the Gospel. But there are a lot of inside things that I know about The Church at Brook Hills due to the fact that it is Southern Baptist affiliated and my dad is a Southern Baptist Associational Missionary. Also, when I am at college in  Birmingham, I have been attending Brook Hills nearly every Sunday for the 11 AM service. I will most definitely be changing churches after reading this, and for many other reasons that have been speaking to me before I read this book. I think one of the biggest points that really bothered me was how Platt spoke so harshly and against churches who were spending millions of dollars to build nice churches are other building for the church campus. He said that churches should give that money to charities and people in need because there are many churches in other countries where the "church" is a basement with no comfortable seats or restrooms. This is an ironic statement giving that Brook Hills is one of the largest churches in the state of Alabama. It holds thousands of people during each of its three services on Sundays (which is another thing that bothers me that I will talk about later.) Here he is bashing churches who are trying to appeal to the world who want to see bigger and better things, when his church is top-knotch at it all. It is really big and confusing to be honest. I got lost trying to find the bathroom and thank goodness I found a map. He says that churches shouldn't try to keep up with the world. This is where I beg to differ and agree with a point he makes which contradicts this. He says that we as Christians are suppose to go to people as they are and cater to them and their needs. In today's world, this is the age of technology where buildings should have a unique design, clear flat screen tvs, and great programs within the church for all different ages of families. Now, I'm not saying that it's okay for churches to go out and spend money without having the goal of sharing the Gospel of Christ to just look fancy because God looks at the heart, not the outside. But today, there are more and more people interested in these types of things. That is why there is a Bible App for iPhones, iPods, and iPads. I various Bible Apps downloaded so that I will always have the Bible on me. You can download the Bible for the Kindles and Nooks. You can go online to watch sermons. You can listen to sermons through Podcasts (which is something that Brook Hills does as well because I have subscribed to David Platt's sermons.) God knows that the world is changing. Why else would He give people the knowledge to invent new and creative things? To glorify Him and to use these new tools to bring people to Him. Another thing that bothers me, as I mentioned before, Brook Hills does the same service, 3 times each Sunday. Now, I know of many churches that do early morning and then regular morning services, but I have mixed feelings about this. Platt talks strongly throughout his book about Christians becoming disciples of Christ. Isn't that what Sunday night services are for? Having grown up in a Southern Baptist setting my entire life, Sunday night services had Discipleship Training and then the evening worship service. If we are to grow close to Christ, shouldn't we have more services together as a church community? Just a thought? Platt is strong into small groups at Brook Hills in which there are literally hundreds of them. I don't know if it is just me, but it seems a bit odd to split the church instead of being together? Another behind-the-scenes point that struck a strong cord with me was how Platt talks about giving a lot throughout the book. He says that we should give until it hurts us to give. We should pay for our necessities (bills, gas, payments) and then give the rest away to the church, charities, and Christ-like organizations we can work with. Now, I'm not against this because the Bible tells us to give 10% of our income back to Him and I agree that the more we give, the more we will be blessed. What bothers me though is that when I looked at what Brook Hills gave to the Cooperative Program, it was the same amount that my hometown church. Brook Hills has thousands and thousands of members and receive more money in one Sunday than my hometown church probably does in one year when the regular attendance on Sundays is about 130. If he expects us to give and give, then why doesn't his church really give as much as they should? One final thought. Platt talks a lot about how Christians today try to live the American Dream, which he says is unbiblical. I see it differently. God has blessed many Christians to afford to have a nice houses, nice vehicles, and a good family that they can go on vacations with. If that family focuses on God and the parents raise their children in church and to be a witness to others and be a positive influence to those who interact with them, then I see it as the Christian American Dream. If we gave all that we have to those in need, wouldn't we become in need? He also places a lot of emphasis on going global with the Gospel and saying that it isn't a calling to go to another nation. I beg to differ there because I feel as though the missionaries in America (yes, there are missionaries in America through the North American Mission board because over half of America's population does not have a personal relationship with Christ) are so important. Just as the Bible says, which Platt quotes, we are to share the Gospel with Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. If we are to share the Gospel with other countries, how can we even begin to do that when we haven't even shared the Gospel with a friend we know that isn't saved or a neighbor down the road that doesn't go to church? Why do you think that God wrote the verse in that order? He wants us to start where we are at and work our way out to His calling for us. Another unbiblical thing that bugs me is that Platt apparently ignores some of the verses where God instructs men to be the leaders of the church. One Sunday, there was a lady who wasn't even ordained by any church (even though I believe that women aren't suppose to be ordained) and baptized her friend. That was where the buck stopped with me and reading this book confirmed my decision to start looking for another church to attend while I am at college. Now, this book may be helpful to some people, but I pray that many Christians do not become fooled by the hypocracy that is written. David Platt and The Church at Brook Hills are far from how perfect they seem to be in this book. Frankly, Platt doesn't really preach what he is writing about in Radical. I could be completely wrong about it all, but this is my "Radical" review.

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