Is Your Christianity American? Or Biblical?

What is the cost of following Christ? For many western Christians, the practical answer is "Next to nothing." Sure, we forsake certain vices, give up Sunday mornings for church attendance and a small percentage of us tries to tithe on a regular basis. All of this is fine and good, and definitely the standard for Christian circles. But do these small sacrifices (if they even rise to the level of that nomenclature) fit with what Christ laid out as the expected path of following Him? Let's see what the Bible lays out as the expected course:

• Give up everything that you have
• Sell your possessions and give to the poor
• Go into all the world, even places of great danger and hardship
• Give up your life for the sake of Christ
• Don't accumulate material possessions but instead lay up treasures in heaven
• Make disciples, not more church programs
• Don't follow ambition and career, follow calling

Now look around at the majority of American Christians. How many are living this way? Are you? Am I?

These thoughts stem from my recent foray into David Platt's book Radical. The book's tagline is a great summary of its contents: "Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream". And for me, the book's impact has fulfilled the title's promise as I've been wrestling with the differences between cultural Christianity and Biblical Christianity.

First, I was challenged in my views of wealth and material goods. Because I'm married to someone that has a predisposition to giving money away (the exact opposite of my personality), I've had to accept some measure of frugality and temperance upon my natural bent towards materialism. But I'm still rich. And I still expect a certain level of comfort and lifestyle as my due. But what about Paul's words to Timothy?

"Godliness with contentment is great gain...with food and clothing, let us be therefore content." (1 Timothy 6:6,8)

Platt states the following about this passage:
"...those who desire to be rich and acquire more than the necessities of life are in danger of being plunged into ruin and destruction. This passage begs the question, am I willing to live a life that is content with food and clothing, having the basic necessities of life provided for? Or do I want more? Do I want a bigger house, a  nicer car or better clothes? The way we use our money is a barometer of our spiritual condition."

Second, I was challenged in my views about discipleship. Discipleship,  investing in the lives of others both through witnessing and one-on-one interaction, is not an option. I AM to be giving of my life to help others find Christ and grow in Christ. It's easy for me to put that on the back burner. After all, I have 4 kids. I homeschool. I work as a freelance writer. I don't have a lot of extra time. But after reading Radical, I'm convinced that many of my excuses are just a smokescreen for not wanting to give of my free time and not wanting to invest emotionally in others. In other words, I'm just selfish. Even if it's just once a month, I need to be obedient and to be, as Paul stated, "pouring out my life as a drink offering..."

I'm normally a speed reader. Not here. The content didn't allow me to race through the words. Instead, I'd get hung up on a sentence, have to put the book down and then spend several minutes pondering an idea the author presented. The rarity with which this happens to me attests to the book's value (or to the fact that I'm just normally not a deep reader!)

I'd highly encourage you to get your hands on this book. And to read it deeply, thinking through the ramifications of Platt's challenge to follow Christ's commands absolutely. To close this review, here's a quote from Elizabeth Elliot that he includes in the book:

Jim's aim [her husband who died in Ecuador] was to know God. His course, obedience - the only course that could lead to the fulfillment of his aim. His end was what some would call an extraordinary death, although in facing death he had quietly pointed out that many have died because of obedience to Christ

He and other men with whom he died were hailed as heroes, "martyrs." I do not approve. Nor would they have approved. Is the distinction between living for Christ and dying for Him, after all, so great. Is not the second the logical conclusion of the first?

And is not that what we're called to? To die daily, taking up our cross and following Him? So whether selling extra possessions or choosing to move to a place that advances ministry rather than career, we should lose everything in order that we may gain Christ.

As the author stated, "My biggest fear, even now, is that I will hear Jesus' words and walk away, content to settle for less than radical obedience to Him."