Book Review: Radical Together

Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God by David Platt (This title will be released on April 19, 2011)

Back in the summer, I spent several days on my beach vacation devouring a new book written by a young pastor of a rather large Birmingham church. The book, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream, spoke to my heart and more importantly challenged me. The author and pastor, David Platt, argued that Christians have replaced what’s radical about our faith with what is comfortable. Platt not only challenged the American Dream, but the American Church, declaring that we’re settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.

Platt is back with a follow-up, Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God. He advances his original concepts that were applied to the individual believer, now incorporating them into the community of faith.

Platt does some fine work on the topic of the “tyranny of the good” (Chapter 1). While this seems to be a popular topic these days, I thought Platt covered the idea more thoroughly than I’ve seen elsewhere. “Good can hinder the best….We must be willing to sacrifice good things in the church in order to experience the great things of God.” The author reminds us our mission is not religious activity, but rather making disciples. And Platt not only writes about this, but his church is acting upon this conviction. This is a must read chapter for all church leaders and hopefully it will nudge many churches to put everything on the examining table and ask, “Are these programs and activities the best way to spend our time, money, and energy for the spread of the gospel in our neighborhood and in all nations?”

Radical Together by David Platt (Chapter 1)

In Chapter 3, Platt reminds us that the purpose of God’s Word (the Bible) is not a handy advice book for our every question and need, but rather is meant to transform people “into the image of Christ and to get people in touch with the Holy Spirit of God.”

In Chapter 4, Platt encourages churches to unleash their people- “equip them, train them, support them, and set them free to use everything God has given to them to make his glory known through them in ways you could never design or imagine.” Church pastors/leaders/staff should spend more time mobilizing people rather than organizing programs. The church must be intentional about equipping members to make disciples.

The book is a fast and easy read. Reading the first book first is highly recommended as the two work best together.

(I received an advance copy of this book free to review from WaterBrook Multnomah)