It also reminded me of a conversation I had on another episode of The Exchange with Larry Osborne about his book, Accidental Pharisee.
Now, let me lay my cards on the table.
I think we need more missional and more radical role models and resources for the church. I think we need it because the bigger problem is complacency, not an overemphasis on radical missional living. At this time and in most Western cultural contexts, a consumer church is a greater danger than a radical Christianity.
However, that does not mean that all of us need to be David Platt. God has a calling for David, and he is, I believe, provoking the church to “love and good deeds” (Hebrews 11:24). If David said, “Do what I am doing,” I’d object. But, if David is saying, “Get uncomfortable and sacrifice something for the gospel,” that’s the kind of radical I want my people to hear and consider.
Many have expressed concern about David’s approach to poverty and sanctification, and I think he’s working to make that clearer, but in a society driven by consumerism, the church could use someone pulling the other way.
I firmly believe we need a sustainable Christian lifestyle, and I get that some see that is at odds with being radical and missional. I don’t think it is. I call my church to “long obedience in the same direction” (as I mention in the video with Francis Chan), and think that’s pretty radical and missional where we live.
No, it does not look how David, Francis, Kyle or Shane do it, but they are not my role models anyway — I just want to live a missional life, radically sold out to Jesus, and not just make it by as another religious churchgoer.
I don’t think that’s a wrong idea, but I get how it can be wrongly understood.
We should see radical, missional Christianity as a cause to live, not as a call to legalism.
In other words, let’s be missional and radical. Let’s be careful about making it legalistic. But let’s not be afraid to tell a consumer-driven church that has commodified the gospel that the Christian life is rooted in much more than personal comfort.
