"The Radical Experiment"

A few days ago I finished reading the book, “Radical” by David Platt. I must say, I have been profoundly reawakened by the Holy Spirit as He spoke to me through this author’s words, the Holy Scripture and to me, personally. I have come to see God’s true purpose for His people and want to live and serve Christ to this end. I could share with you the contents of this book and expound upon the Biblical principles that the book references, but I will TRY to keep my thoughts short and encourage YOU to read the book for yourself!

In this book, “Radical”, David Platt declares the God-ordained/Gospel rooted ‘claims of purpose’ for the lives of mankind, which are, in fact, contradicted by the American Dream that many Believers are pursuing.

Following are the claims as David Platt explains: (quoted from the book)

• “Real success is found in radical sacrifice
• Ultimate satisfaction is found not in making much of ourselves, but in making much of God
• The purpose of our lives transcends the country and culture in which we life
• Meaning is found in community, not individualism
• Joy is found in generosity, not materialism
• Truth is found in Christ, not universalism.”

Understanding that claims such as these actually are only “theories” until they are proven, the author suggests that the reader undertake a ONE YEAR program that he terms, “The Radical Experiment”. In an effort to ‘test’ the claims purported in this book, David Platt suggests doing the following FIVE things during the course of one year:

1. Pray for the entire world
2. Read through the entire Bible
3. Sacrifice your money for a specific purpose
4. Spend time in another context
5. Commit your life to a multiplying church community

I find myself (my inner, spiritual man) coming ALIVE as I examine the claims that David Platt makes in this book! I am in agreement that God is calling every Believer to the purposes outlined in this book and I agree that total surrender to live for Christ will ultimately manifest itself in a very RADICAL lifestyle!

Here’s my problem…Though I would like to take on this “Radical Experiment”, I am a HUGE procrastinator and continually find myself falling short of goals and plans that I make, no matter the subject area. I WANT to undertake the challenge that this author sets before me, but I’m a bit leery; afraid to start something (to the glory of God) and not successfully finish it!
“What is the next step?”, I ask. Just HOW could I realistically participate in this “Radical Experiment” and faithfully continue the experiment for one year? I KNOW that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that I am able to victoriously live for Christ! I know that I will need encouragement from fellow Believers, but most of all, the power from the Holy Spirit, to stay true to purpose for one year.

Conceivably, I could make THIS BLOG a vehicle of accountability for me. After all, it IS titled, “Walking God’s Way”! What if I ask readers to keep “on my tail” and to remind or ask me how my “Radical Experiment” is going? I am thinking about the movie Julie and Julia (or something like that) where a young aspiring “Julia Child Wannabe” committed to making a “Julia recipe” every day for one year...and blogging her journey! Did you see that movie? Perhaps I can include daily entries about my experiment in this blog?

A year is a LONG time! I SURE do not want to make a commitment and fail! Yet, I know I want to grow deeper in my commitment to serving Christ and living HIS WAY. What good is my Christian walk if I live for Christ, but do it MY WAY? I desire to have a heart that longs to share the Gospel, to see others come to faith in Christ and to see people grow in that faith. I am praying that by following “The Radical Experiment”, God will reveal and confirm His will and purpose for my life. I am praying that I will be so CONVINCED of the reality of God’s purpose for me that I will be forever changed and unable to live for Christ as in the past! I am praying that my eyes and heart would be open to whatever God has in store for me and at the end of this experiment, I pray that I will be more like Christ, fully committed to living HIS WAY and more committed to sharing Christ with the world!

I guess I can say, “Let the experiment begin”! You are welcome to come along side me for one year as I embrace “The Radical Experiment”!