Over the past two weeks, I have been reading a book I picked up just after Christmas. The title is "Follow Me" by David Platt. A few thoughts and reviews of what all the author has to say.
First, let me admit that I really did like this book. The author seems to have noticed many of the same things I have seen in the overall Christian Church in North America, and he addresses several of the issues at hand. He offers a somewhat pointed view of the different topics, firmly, yet typically very biblically. Reading carefully, you can pick up on some of the things that have infiltrated the Christian Church in our country, and how our particular "approach" to things may not be the most biblical approach.
There are cautions, however. First, as with many current day authors, at times the points he makes are overstated to a degree. Sometimes the best way to highlight a problem area is to present it as worse than it really is. In one or two of the cases in the points he makes, he does this a bit. His desire, however, is still commendable in that he is looking to shake up a lethargic Christianity back to the radicalness of what it truly means to follow Jesus.
In particular, severl points jumped out to me. When he talks about being children of God, he contrasts that with being servants of God. Yes, both are biblical pictures of our relationship with God in Christ. However, I really did appreciate what he said about how we often carry ourselves as servants of God rather than as children of the Father. When we utilize terms like obey in our vocabulary, we betray our thinking of God as our Master, and we as his servants. While there is a time and place for that, it seems we generally don't utilize vocabulary that would reveal a view in which we are God's beloved children. Yes, I could go much deeper on this, and might in the future, but I found it a generally applicable chapter.
One other thing that Platt does is drive people to the Church, that is, to the local body of believers to which they are supposed to be connected. While Jesus is personal for each of us, He doesn't draw people to Himself separate from all the others who are drawn to Him. He brings them into the body of Christ, the Church. And once there, we aren't to sit there as though we merely soak things in. We are active in the things of God, supporting one another, growing in God, building up and encouraging each other, and even in sharing the Gospel message into the communities in which we live.
Overall, a very good read. It is critical of much that can be found in mainstream Christianity in North America, but in a helpful way, with an eye toward reform. I would generally recommend this book to anyone interested in seeing how they or their congregation can take steps to become a more vibrant body in the context of their community.
First, let me admit that I really did like this book. The author seems to have noticed many of the same things I have seen in the overall Christian Church in North America, and he addresses several of the issues at hand. He offers a somewhat pointed view of the different topics, firmly, yet typically very biblically. Reading carefully, you can pick up on some of the things that have infiltrated the Christian Church in our country, and how our particular "approach" to things may not be the most biblical approach.
There are cautions, however. First, as with many current day authors, at times the points he makes are overstated to a degree. Sometimes the best way to highlight a problem area is to present it as worse than it really is. In one or two of the cases in the points he makes, he does this a bit. His desire, however, is still commendable in that he is looking to shake up a lethargic Christianity back to the radicalness of what it truly means to follow Jesus.
In particular, severl points jumped out to me. When he talks about being children of God, he contrasts that with being servants of God. Yes, both are biblical pictures of our relationship with God in Christ. However, I really did appreciate what he said about how we often carry ourselves as servants of God rather than as children of the Father. When we utilize terms like obey in our vocabulary, we betray our thinking of God as our Master, and we as his servants. While there is a time and place for that, it seems we generally don't utilize vocabulary that would reveal a view in which we are God's beloved children. Yes, I could go much deeper on this, and might in the future, but I found it a generally applicable chapter.
One other thing that Platt does is drive people to the Church, that is, to the local body of believers to which they are supposed to be connected. While Jesus is personal for each of us, He doesn't draw people to Himself separate from all the others who are drawn to Him. He brings them into the body of Christ, the Church. And once there, we aren't to sit there as though we merely soak things in. We are active in the things of God, supporting one another, growing in God, building up and encouraging each other, and even in sharing the Gospel message into the communities in which we live.
Overall, a very good read. It is critical of much that can be found in mainstream Christianity in North America, but in a helpful way, with an eye toward reform. I would generally recommend this book to anyone interested in seeing how they or their congregation can take steps to become a more vibrant body in the context of their community.
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