Make 2013 Radical

The past 3 months, I have been slowly but surely working through reading David Platt's book Radical. As of recent, I have finally finished the book! While there are quotes up quotes that I wanted to post as my Facebook status numerous times, the one thing that I loved the most about the book was the last chapter.

On New Years Eve 2012, I started the last chapter of Radical. I have to say, it could not have been any better timing. The last chapter of Radical is a challenge. It is a challenge to change your life for a year. What a more perfect New Years Resolution than this?!

There are 5 challenges that Platt poses as an over all year challenge. I offer for you to join me in either these challenges or encouraging them as I make 2013 radical!

The 5 challenges are:

1. Pray for the entire world.

Platt starts out his explanation of this challenge by saying: "In a world where more than 4.5 billion people are without Christ and more than a billion are on the edge of starvation, we have to begin somewhere." (p. 186). Prayer is a great way to start impacting the world. I mean, I cannot think of a better way to help the world than to talk to the One who can save. We are told "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." (Matt. 21:22). This does not mean that we receive in the exact way that we pray. It means that our prayers are heard by God (1 John 5:14) and he responds in the way that he sees fit.

So, how to pray for the world? My goal is pray everyday for the world, and then also pray for some place specifically. Platt gives a suggestion in his book and I am definitely going to be taking advantage of it! Platt suggests either ordering the book, Operation World, or checking out their website, operationworld.org. Operation World gives you information about countries as well as their prayer requests. The website has some great tools for achieving challenge #1. They have a Prayer Calendar, 60 Days of Prayer option, or can you choose a country on your own and pray for that one specifically. Whatever way you want to pray for the world, this website provides information about what is going on in the world or country so that you know how to pray for them! What a blessing!

I am going to start off my first challenge by doing the 60 Days of Prayer! Today, the country listed to pray for is Afghanistan. According to operationworld.org, only .05% of the Afghanistan population is Christain. Majority of them are Muslim. Prayers are needed for the Afghanistan population to be reached by the Christians, by us. Operationworld.org also lists health risks, disability, continued threats of violence, drugs and poverty and living standards as areas that need attention with prayers.

2. Read through the entire Word. 

This is actually a challenge I started for myself shortly after Thanksgiving! I am currently working my way through Exodus and thoroughly enjoying the Israelite's journey from Egypt and reading about Moses interacting with God. How amazing would that have been?! But I digress!

Platt's reasoning as to why this is a challenge is the same reason as to why I decided to read through my entire Bible a few months ago. "Our brothers and sisters around the world often gather at the risk of their lives to hear and know God's Word. If you and I are going to join them in radical obedience to Christ, we need to start with our Bibles open and our minds engaged." (p. 191).

My thought on this is how can I bring others to Christ if I am not continually in communication with Him and reading what all He has done for us? If I want to share the gospel of Christ, I feel like I need to know and have read all of the Bible. After all, how many of us try to be a doctor without first learning all that we can about it? Or how many of us try to sew without reading how to do it? Now, this does not mean that I do not try to reach those who need the gospel until I finish reading the entire Bible. That is not it at all! I mean why would I not want to read everything I can about God? The Bible is the one book sent straight from God. It holds all the answers. If I am going to go and make disciples of nations (Matt. 28:19), should I not be continually reading and growing in the Word of God? Not to mention, the Bible is full of knowledge and brings only the kind of peace to you that God can. Why would you not want to make this part of your daily life? We are here FOR God, I want to live like it and for me that means daily surrounding myself with the Word.

3. Sacrifice money for a specific purpose. 

Platt does not say in his book to give more than we can afford. He does not encourage us giving so much that we cannot afford our own rent or food. Instead, what is encouraged is to give our success in order to help the world. To reach the world. Platt states on page 194, "We are an affluent people living in an impoverished world. If we make only ten thousand dollars a year, we are wealthier than 84 percent of the world, and if we make fifty thousand dollars a year, we are wealthier than 99 percent of the world. Meanwhile, more than a billion people live in desperate poverty, lacking food, water, clothing and shelter." Now, combine these statistics with what is said in James 2:14-16, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"

Everything we have is from God, why should we not use it to do as he commanded? Not only does God tells us to care for the needy, orphaned, and widows (Matt. 5:42, James 1:27) but He also tells us to give (2. Cor. 9:7).

My goal for this challenge awaits a discussion with my husband. This challenge, however, is definitely one I accept. When my time on earth is done, there will be no more use of mine for my money. Why not use the money to help those here on earth with me; why not use it to help my fellow brothers and sisters in this world?

4. Spend time in another context.

This challenge is a challenge to spread the Good News. "If we are going to accomplish the global purpose of God, it will not be primarily through giving our money, as important as that is. It will happen primarily through giving ourselves" (p.198). Platt challenges us to spend time outside of our community spreading the gospel. It is definitely on Chris' and mine agenda to sometime (sooner rather than later) do a mission trip. At the time, the funding for such a trip is very minimal for us. So, while I cannot travel outside of my community right now, I am taking the challenge but applying it to my community for the time being. Now, if Chris and I come about the means to go outside of our community, I know that will be a well accepted adventure for us. In the meantime, I plan on finding a way to spread the news of God to those who need it. My ideas include helping out in a homeless shelter since that is something I have always wanted to do. Some shelters I am thinking/praying about looking into include Bethlehem Inn and Shepards House to name a few. While I would love to be able to spread the gospel outside of my community, I think starting somewhere is better than no where.

Platt also proposes the idea of giving at least 2% of your time to this task (p. 200). After all that Christ has done for us, I think this is manageable! Not to mention, we are here for God. Our sole purpose is to bring others to God and worship Him. 2% of my time I am more than happy to give to the One who gave everything for us.

5. Commit your life to a multiplying community. 

This challenge means spending your times with a "universal body of Christ," (p. 204), AKA church. Chris and I have been so incredibly blessed to be part of an amazing church body, Powell Butte Christian Church. What started out as Sunday morning church attendance has lead to bible studies, helping around in areas needed in the church, and being blessed with amazing friends/family through Christ.

Platt discusses how important church is to believers and I cannot stress this point enough either. Being surrounded by fellow brothers and sisters is just the encouragement and support you need through sad times, the reassurance you need through hard times, and the shared joy through good times. Not to mention, I have grown so much not just as a person but as a Christian thanks to this amazing body of Christ.

So, this is what 2013 looks like for me and let me tell you, I am SO excited for this year! I encourage you to join me on this challenge! Whether it's one challenge or all 5, what a difference we could make! I would also like to add the challenge of reading Radical by David Platt. What an amazing, life changing book! Otherwise, I will be posting throughout the year updates on my challenge! I look forward to you following me on this journey!