Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Excerpts, My Top 5 Books, Wilson's Bookmarks, Book AwardsDavid Platt Wants You to Get Serious About Following Christ
David Platt Wants You to Get Serious About Following Christ
Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live.
Platt, David
Tyndale House Publishers
February 5, 2013
272 pp., $12.30
David Platt is no stranger to provocative claims. Last spring he challenged the Southern Baptist leadership to rethink its reliance on the "sinner's prayer." Two years earlier he published the bestselling Radical, a trenchant critique of materialism and widespread complacency in the American church. Now, in his latest book, Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live (Tyndale), Platt, lead pastor of the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama, turns from letting go of the American Dream to grabbing hold of Jesus, and recognizing the high demands of being his disciple. Jeff Haanen, a freelance writer and school administrator, spoke with Platt on the pervasiveness of "cultural Christianity," the role of hell in evangelism, and the sharper edges of following Christ today. (CT managing editor Katelyn Beaty also spoke with Platt at the recent Urbana Student Missions Conference, and parts of that conversation are included here.)
In Radical, you critiqued a version of the American Dream. How is Follow Me different?
In Radical my goal was to expose values and ideals that are common in our culture yet antithetical to the gospel. So I was focusing on what we need to let go of in order to follow Jesus. In Follow Me I move from what we need to let go of to who we hold on to as followers of Jesus. So I'm not just looking at the gravity of the things we've forsaken, but looking at the greatness of the One we follow, and what it really means to follow Jesus on a day-by-day basis.
A lot of people, after reading Radical, said, "Okay, what do I need to do? Do I need to sell my house? Do I need to adopt children? Do I need to move to another country?" My answer would be, "Go to Jesus." There's no program for what this looks like in everybody's life. The picture is, "Abandon yourself to Christ. Surrender everything in your life to Christ. Put a blank check on the table with no strings attached." That's the whole point. Let go of dreams, and plans, and ambitions that are more worldly than they are biblical, and say, "I'll do whatever, go wherever, give whatever." Press into him and see what he leads you to do.
The beauty is he'll lead some people to adopt. He'll lead some people to sell their home and move overseas. We've seen some people sell their homes and move into a dangerous inner city environment. We've seen some people keep their home, make disciples in their home, and leverage their home for the spread of the gospel in their community and the nation.
We're tempted to just look for a check-off box: Here's what I've done, now I'm "radical." No, the picture is: Press into Christ, and really get serious about what it means to follow him and make disciples for him.
You begin by criticizing "trite phrases of the church" such as "Just ask Jesus into your heart," or "Simply invite Christ into your life." What's wrong with these phrases?
I think, if we're not careful, we've taken trite phrases like this and dulled the challenging words of Christ in Scripture. Following Jesus is not merely the invitation to pray a prayer or to say certain words or to even assent to certain truths. The call to follow Jesus is a summons to lose your life. Jesus is more than a Savior who's just begging to be accepted into our hearts. He is a King worthy of infinite adoration and surrender of our lives.
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Dave B.
I am a mis_sionary in a restricted country. I read David's "Radical" about a year ago - which was a tremendous inspiration and encouragement to continue sharing Good News. Can hardly wait for his new book "Follw Me". I've appreciated his being "sold out" for the cause of Christ, and taking Biblical stances seriously. I thank God for David Platt!
Don Modarelli
I know that I will thoroughly enjoy this book when I buy it on MP3 - but I percieve that I will have problems agreeing with the doctrine of his silence by affirming people in their faith when he has no idea from which theological camp they come from - nor caring as though it is irrelevent. Too many authors hide among the silence of "theological standardisation" assuming that all who love Jesus must have come through the door of sincerity and have no need for further encouragement, like Apollos in Ephesus. "Getting Serious" should include getting serious about the DOOR as well as the PATH! This man is just another Apollos - powerful, zealous, versed in Scripture yet needing to hear the rest of the story (Acts 18).
Tom Nash
I tend to agree with Rick Dalbey that we need a special anointing from the Holy Spirit to bear Spiritual fruit. Otherwise, we fall into a trap of condemnation and bondage, attempting to do good works in an effort to prove to ourselves that we are saved. The truth is we are never going to be good enough to satisfy God. Jesus died that we might be reconciled to God. The important things are reconciliation, fellowship and relationship with the Lord. Yes, being obedient is part of that. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit sounds good too if it promotes a closer walk with Christ. Spiritual fruit will follow as we seek the Lord and the power of the Holy Ghost. Jesus came to set us free. His burden is light and His yoke is easy.
Rick Dalbey
"You assume, because of Platt's denomination, he has no understanding of such a thing; which, lets be honest, is the only reason you replied to this article." What? I have no idea what you mean Garret. I was raised as a conservative baptist. I spent years doing bible studies, trying to be more holy, heard many sermons exhorting more devotion. Then I was baptized in the Holy Spirit as people laid hands on me. Suddenly I could not get enough of bible reading. I witnessed to everyone I saw. I discovered that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. That is why I comment. I fell in love with jesus. Not to correct anyone's theology.
Garrett S
Rick - Platt is neither laying out a discipleship template or expounding upon the nature of the Holy Spirit. This book is about the sovereingty of God and the sufficiency of Christ, in our lives. And while I'm sure you see ministry and pneumatology as inseperable, not everyone emphasizes, "baptism of the Holy Spirit." You assume, because of Platt's denomination, he has no understanding of such a thing; which, lets be honest, is the only reason you replied to this article. If you weren't, we'd actually be engaging what Platt is saying. Ruth - I would read Platt's response on page 5 to the question: "What about, say, a factory worker who loves Jesus and wants to follow him, but works long hours because he needs to support his family? How would you counsel him?" I believe his point is that, following Jesus means being ready and willing to go wherever He asks whether that be in a Factory, or South America; after all, if we're unwilling to go then are we really following Him?