Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream (1.3)

In your own words, describe what Platt lays out as the motivation for taking the Gospel to the lost. Is that a proper motivation?

Platt lays out that those who haven't even heard of God are still condemned and by not taking the Gospel to those people, we are basically condemning them ourselves. Also, he points out that we are blessed and saved because God loves us and so that we can share the Gospel to others to fulfill his plan. This is a proper motivation because, like in the story of the rich man and poor man, by us, being spiritually rich, and only giving our scraps to the poor, we are not being good stewards of the spiritual gifts God has given us. We have been blessed so that we may bless others, and by not following God's command to do that, we are walking away from what God has for us.

Platt contrasts the “rewards” of this world with the rewards found in Christ himself. What comforts, ambitions, or treasures are you holding onto that might be keeping you from radically following and obeying Christ? 

Honestly, I believe that my mind is what is holding me back. I love to learn and could spend the rest of my days learning about the world god has created and to give that up is something that would be extremely difficult for me. Learning how the world works, how people work, how people's think/have thought, and how to do stuff/ how stuff works is something I am always playing with. Whether it be doing cardistry, practicing magic, snowboarding, working on a car or analyzing people, I love doing that and giving up that time would be difficult to say the least.

Of the five components of “The Radical Experiment,” which would be the hardest for you to live out? The easiest? Why? 

I think the most difficult will either be reading the whole Bible over one year or multiplying the community. the reason why reading the Bible will be tough is because I have a difficult time reading for long periods of time. Also, the Bible is very dense and packed full of amazing truth and so taking all of that in will be a challenge to do consistently. As for multiplying the church, I am not quick to talk to people I don't know. I want to be able to do that, but learning to will be a struggle. I think either praying for the world or sacrificing my money will be the easiest because I know how to pray and can do that fairly easily and since I am in High School, I do not have to worry about many expenses so I am free to give my money.

Platt talks about intellectual universalism and practical universalism. Briefly describe what those are. Do you fall into either category? Explain.

Intellectual universalism says that since they did not know better they will go to Heaven. Practical universalism says that because all have sinned, even if they never heard of God, they will still go to Hell. It also says that if we think in terms of intellectual universalism, then is would be better n\to not share the gospel which God clearly tells us to do. I believe that I would fall in the practical universalism category. When looking back over this, I seemed to have remembered a verse that says something like you will be judged by what you know. Then, when looking into it, I found myself at Romans 2 in which it says something very clear. In the twelfth verse, it says that "For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without [regard to] the law..." I did not know what this meant so I went onto Bible Hub and look at the Greek word used there. I found the word used was "apolountai" which is a form of the Greek word apollumi which means to destroy, or destroy utterly. Therefore, according to that Scripture, those who have not heard the Gospel will be destroyed utterly.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream(1.2)

Do you have a passion for extending God’s glory? What does that look like in your life? If not, what can/should you do about it? 

Yes I do. For me, it means learning to talk to people I don't know and getting used to putting myself out there. I am hoping that through magic this will happen as I begin to perform for people randomly, However, I ulimately want to be able to talk to people openly about their beliefs. Also, I am learning to trust God and see that when speaking to people, I am not representing myself, but God in me.

Describe in your own words how Platt outlines the mission of the church as “going, baptizing, and teaching.” How are you (or how could you be) living out this mission in your own life?

Basically, instead of shutting themselves in the church, Christians need to be reaching out to people, and baptizing those who accept the reach. Then, we are to teach people how to live by being examples ourselves. Again, we pass so many random people by on a daily basis and don't even say hello. I want to learn to strike up a conversation with anyone I come across.

As you enter/approach the time of your life when you will be making more of your own financial decisions, what do you think of Platt’s radical take on wealth (and giving it away)? Is this something that every Christian is actually called to? 

I think Platt has a lot of good things to say here. I agree, we should not live luxuriously, especially with so many people dying who could live off of our excess. I also think that opening your home to someone is one of the best things you can do because you then are investing into their life. Yes, every Christian should do this. If you have enough money to live in your home and have extra, you should not spend that on yourself.

On page 104 Platt says, "Our version of the American Dream ends up disinfecting Christians from the world more than discipling Christians in the world." Explain what you think he means by that.

Our version takes Christians and separates them from the world. Like he said, success begins to be measured by what we don't do, but God calls us to the world. We should instead go into the world and be a light to those in darkness.

Of Mice and Men(1.3)

Who is your favorite character in this book? Explain your selection in detail.

I think that Slim is my favorite. He seems to be the one who has been around a while and who is able to keep everyone settled. He seems the one with the most common sense, and takes care of good people such as George and Lennie. He also seems to have really developed himself to be something no matter where he goes which I respect.

If you could “vote” one of the characters off the ranch, who would it be, and why?

It would honestly have to be Curley. He is like the spoiled brat in the story. He thinks too highly of himself and lacks almost all common sense and capability to think. He does nothing other than live off of what his father has built. It is honestly one of my pet peeves when people take good people and hard work for granted because it is not what they want.

What will you remember the longest about this story? Did you find anything humorous in the story? Which part was the saddest? The most surprising? The most thought-provoking?

I think I will remember George killing Lennie the most. For me, it is the saddest, most surprising, and most though-provoking. While I cannot bring myself to say that those actions were alright, the situation he was in does bring up a lot of questions about life and about myself. It is also sad because George did love Lennie, and the only way he saw he could help him is by the actions we see in those last pages. It was a slightly expected ending, and I honestly like it because too often writers are not willing to end a story like that.

Of Mice and Men(1.2)

How is the theme of loneliness shown in this story so far? Give specific examples.

Loneliness seems to be something people are trying to get away from, but some get caught in. Lennie and George seem to not be lonely because they have each other, and while some criticize them for it, many wish they had it. Crooks lets Lennie into his room because he is lonely, and Curley's wife talks to many people because she is lonely. Candy had his dog, but when Carlson shot the dog, Candy no longer had anything to keep him company, so he talks with Lennie and George who helps him.

How is the theme of violence shown in this story so far? Give specific examples.

Violence seems to be something that is both wanted and hated. The men in the story seem like they will break into a fight at any moment with people like Curley, but they keep it in check. When Lennie accidentally crushes Curley's hand, he had taken the blows, but didn't want any trouble. Slim and Carlson seemed to want to put Curley into his place, but wouldn't because they could lose their jobs, and because Curley was small, had his dad on his side, and had a shaky marriage, he seemed to want to pick a fight with anyone. Violence seems to be both wanted and feared by most in this story.

How is the theme of discrimination (any type) shown in this story so far? Give specific examples.

Women and blacks seem to have the most discrimination. It isn't necessarily laws against them, but more attitude towards those people. For example, Crooks had more stuff than almost all of the other men in this story, and yet it is said that he was kind of pushed away because he was of his race. While this is true, the more main characters seem to have cared less about that. Perhaps this is a comment on the culture of this time that no one is willing to accept that they are discriminating people, and that it always seems to be the "others."

Of Mice and Men(1.1)

Describe and discuss the relationship between George and Lennie. What is it like?

George and Lennie have obviously known each other for a while Lennie seems to need George to help lead him, and George seems to need Lennie for company and couldn't just let him walk off for fear that Lennie wouldn't survive. They seem to be a lot less of companions and a lot more of two people stuck together out of necessity.

Discuss Lennie’s character. How is Lennie compared to different animals and what might Steinbeck be trying to suggest through these comparisons? Give specific examples.

Lennie seems to be large and strong, but also have no intellect. He seems to lack all common sense and relies on George for direction. He seems to often be compared to pack animals which follow, but cannot think for themselves. On page 3, Lennie gets compared to a horse, on page 15, George says, "Good boy" to Lennie like he is some kind of dog. all throughout the book, Lennie is compared similarly to these kinds of animals. I do not know, but my guess is that Steinbeck is suggesting either that sometimes the most capable people let others determine their future, or that given too much order and a person breaks. I will have to read and find out.

What is George and Lennie’s shared dream? What is its significance to their future? (Why is it so important?)

George and Lennie want to get a house with a few animals and a small farm/garden. This gives them the hope and will to live a new day. As far as plot goes, it gives their story meaning. It gives them something to accomplish, and something for them to work for.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream (1.1)

What does Platt mean by “the cost of nondiscipleship”? What is the cost for us (as opposed to non-Christians)? 

The cost of nondiscipleship is that others are missing the gospel and are suffering because we are no giving everything to God. As an example, Platt uses a newspaper article with two headings. The fist talks about how Baptists just bought a 35 million dollar building, and the second, how baptists raised $5,000 for people starving in another country. Because we are no willing to sacrifice our pleasures, others are starving both physically and spiritually.

How does your reception of the Gospel and your hunger for God’s Word compare to what Platt describes?

I will admit that it is not as intense as what he describes. However, as of about a month ago, God opened my eyes to something I had not seen before and gave me an understanding that I can no longer live without. Even before this, I have valued truth for a long time. When Platt began describing how others apparently viewed the cross, I was hurt to see how little they think of it. They must forget who God is. They must forget that God stepped out of heaven and experienced mortality to save us. I am hungry, and while I have not developed the walk I wish I had, every time I read scripture, such Truth, no matter which part of the Bible, strikes a cord with me. I am not as devoted as I should.

How does the American Dream conflict with the message of the gospel?

The American Dream says you become who you want to be. Your destiny is in your own hands. The Gospel says that your future is in His hands, and you become what He wishes. However, with this understanding, we need not fear acceptance because we are God's people. If we are rejected, it is not our lives that is turned away, it is God's life that is turned away, but only if we submit as he has demanded.

Think of a way you’ve seen the American Dream played out in yourself, your desires, or in those around you.

God has blessed me with a highly active mind. For most of my life, and even to some extent today, I always planned on spending that as I wish. For example, becoming a video game designer, writer, psychologist, lawyer, engineer, or even something like a theoretical physicist. All of these are things I could see myself become, but I have not asked God if that is his will in my life.

Do you agree with what Platt says about the American church today? If yes, how have you experienced what he is talking about? If no, what has your experience been?

I have mixed feelings about this. I truly believe that it depends on the individual. I have seen any people who are not serious about God, especially in my generation. I go to a smaller church filled mostly with people who truly seek God, and talking about Scripture, Truth, and God are things we enjoy doing. We talk about personal experiences and all have been blessed by God beyond count. However, I went back to my old church in Texas this summer and attended a morning service on Sunday. I went to youth and found that most of them were checked out. The teacher would ask a question and I was the only one answering them. Also, we were talking about Jonah, which is alright, as long as it does not remain a Bible story. I felt like the youth did not care much about God or truth, and the material they were covering I had covered when I was eight. There was no growth in understanding or depth in conversation. The entire meet lacked so much compared to what I find within each by looking out of my window. However, then about a month later, I went to NAYC, and with 34,000 people (mainly youth) in one place worshiping God, I saw the move of God so strongly those three days, but what I saw more was a hunger and yearning in my generation for something to live for.