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.