In his recent book, Radical, David Platt writes about the epidemic of comfortable Christianity in America's middle class churches. It's a difficult book to read... not because he's a poor writer or because the subject matter is tough to grasp. It's difficult because the book is so painfully convicting.
What it all comes down to, Platt argues, is that we've allowed the American Dream to hijjack the church's mission. Our churches, by and large, are places where we celebrate our successes and excesses in life and forget that we are called to make disciples among all nations. We love to celebrate the economic and political blessings we've been given, but sadly, we fail to leverage those blessings for the Kingdom. We're much more prone to consume the blessings of God than convey them to others.
I could not help but be moved as Platt wrote about Jamie, a mother in his church, who came to terms with this truth on a trip to Guatemala. Jamie put it this way...
After spending a week around precious children who eat a small cup of porridge a day, the question I have come back to Birmingham asking God is why he has blessed me when others have so little. And this is what God has shown me: "I have blessed you for my glory. Not so you will have a comfortable life with a big house and a nice car. Not so you can spend lots of money on vacations, education, or clothing. Those aren't bad things, but I've blessed you so that the nations will know me and see my glory."
Think about it... "I've blessed you so that the nations will know me and see my glory."
He says to me... "Thayer, I've blessed you so that the nations will know me and see my glory."
He says to my church... "G8way, I've blessed you so that the nations will know me and see my glory."
He says to you... "I'VE BLESSED YOU SO THAT THE NATIONS WILL KNOW ME AND SEE MY GLORY."
Now... if that's what He's saying, how will YOU respond? It's time, according to Platt, to make a "Radical" choice!
Choose wisely!
