Yesterday I made a few comments essentially based on a discussion of David Platt’s book Radical. I said,

“There is a danger that in pushing radical sacrifice you leave everyone behind, and those that come with you end up exhausted…”

Then today I read an article by Skye Jethani where he says,

‘“How radical do I have to be?” the suburban mom asked. She had recently read a number of Christian books decrying the self-centered nature of much of the American church. The authors had apparently had enough of the consumer orientation of their congregations. As a remedy, each of the books calls readers to live a counter-cultural life of radical sacrifice and mission. The books, while inspiring, left this woman feeling “exhausted.”’

Jethani then goes on to make some excellent observations that we avoid turning consumer Christians into activist Christians.

“We pastors have a tendency to over-correct the error of consumer faith and instead make evangelism or justice the center of our life rather than Christ. We essentially exchanging one error for another, albeit a more admirable one. As Tim Keller says, idols are “good things turned into ultimate things.” When presented this way missional activism can lead to the kind of exhaustion expressed by the suburban mom, and it robs us and our people of the joy Christ intends for his children.”

His conclusion

“Consumer Christianity is a pandemic in the American church, on that I agree. But a prescription of radical activism is not the remedy. It robs people of their joy, burdens them with guilt, and fails to draw people into a passionate communion with Christ.”

Hear, hear.