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David Platt's "A Radical Idea"

by Austin Holiman

April 11, 2012

@aholiman

“High atop the Andes Mountains, the rays of the sun strike ice, and a single drop of water forms. It begins to trace a hesitant course downward, gradually joining with other drops of water to become a steady stream. The stream gains speed and strength. Thousands of feet below and hundreds of miles later, what were once single drops have converged to become the mightiest river on the earth: the Amazon. Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean at a rate of more than seven million cubic feet per second, the Amazon is more powerful than the next ten largest rivers in the world combined.”

So begins “A Radical Idea” by David Platt. First and foremost, Platt and I have some different views when it comes to theology; however this short (and by short I mean 52 pages) he really made me think. Platt, starts his book with the above analogy that really lays out his thesis.

He writes,

“You and I are not intended to plunge down the mountain of radical obedience alone. That’s one of the reasons I love this imagery of the Amazon. The force of a single drop of water descending the Andes is miniscule. Similarly, as long as individual Christians journey alone—no matter how “radical” they are—their effect will be minimal."

David uses his book to make his reader consider what happens when we apply what he calls “the revolutionary claims and commands of Christ” to our churches and families. He provides a solid argument that we rely too often on the minister to reach out to the community, while the Great Commission is applicable to us all.

One of my favorite passages from “A Radical Idea” is found on page 6, it states,

“If you and I want our lives to count for God’s purpose in the world, we need to begin with a commitment to God’s people in the church. God has called us to lock arms with one another in single-minded, death-defying obedience to one objective: the declaration of his gospel for the demonstration of his glory to all nations.”

If you get an opportunity take 30 minutes, and read this book. It’s eye-opening and makes you kick back in your chair and re-evaluate what you’re doing for God, and what you should be doing for God.

I received this book for free for participating in WaterBrook/Multnomah’s “Blogging for Books” program. The ideas and review are solely those of Austin Holiman. I was not required in any way to give a positive review.