[stevecmd]

The thought that such missionary work could literally cost you your head.... or worse... is probably a detriment too.

[Gamecock]

He said the decision to accept Christ's plan of salvation has been watered down to some version of "just make this decision and just move on with your life however you want in the future and that's all it means to be a Christian."

Not totally on board with everything he says, but I have to say he hits it out of the ballpark.

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[Marko413]

Step 1 in implementing massive change in your organization: Create a Sense of Urgency (whether truth or fabricated).

I take it the Southern Baptists are hurting in their missions giving?

[Vendome]

Ain’t nuttin stopping him from going on mission to Iraq and Libya.

[jimbug]

I have heard this crap, and personally experienced it before in so-called fundamental, independent, militant Babtist churches. The other shoe, later dropped, is “If you are REALLY saved, you’ll do this, etc. and you won’t do that”.

[jagusafr]

His book, “Radical”, changed the way I look at missions. He specifically says that churches that just throw money at missions “so our kids don’t have to go over there” are breaking the heart of Christ. And he’s PUT his safety where his mouth is with lots of mission activity. He also gives fairly low marks to “mission tourism”, where people go to, say, Guatemala, for 2 weeks, spending one week building stuff and the second week whitewater rafting or whatever.

I find him to be legit, and I’m not a Baptist.

[boatbums]

He later explained his comments were meant to express a desire for Christians to undergo an "authentic conversion and regenerate church membership." In his podcast, Platt said the true image of becoming a Christian is that of a blank check. Platt described, "When you think about it, giving God a blank check is really the essence of what it means to be a Christian in the first place, right? What happens at the moment you or I come to faith in Christ? At that moment we turn aside from sin and from ourselves and we say I don't want to go my way anymore; I want to follow your way. That's a blank check, isn't it?" He continued, "It's not like we come to Christ and say I want to follow some of your ways and some of my ways in the days to come. No, we say I'll follow your way; whatever it is – this is the essence of what it means to be a Christian – to say I'm trusting you now to save me from my sins and to lead me as my Lord. You're Lord, not me. I trust you to call the shots in my life."

This really IS the gist of what it means to be a Christian. While our works and efforts for the cause of Christ do not contribute in any way to our salvation - which is a gift of God by His grace that we accept through faith - they do demonstrate genuine faith. What is clear, though, is that this kind of faith - to be willing to totally trust the Lord for every aspect of our lives - is grown, it is a mature faith that has been tested, refined. When we get to the point where we can honestly say we believe,

God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.

with all our hearts, we will experience the full joy of the Lord and be where He want us to be in His perfect will for our lives.

[ravenwolf]

No, we say I’ll follow your way; whatever it is – this is the essence of what it means to be a Christian – to say I’m trusting you now to save me from my sins and to lead me as my Lord.

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I think that is probably true, but I also believe God is the one doing the choosing as he chose the apostles for Jesus.

I believe I was chosen to understand that Jesus is my lord and savior but God did not see fit to place me into a Church
minstery with a bunch of females.

It is enough that God caused me to see how rotten I really am, it was not planed that way that is just the way it turned out many years ago and can not be undone.

If I am cleansed it will be the day my body turns back to dust and God how I look forward to that day.

I have never asked this in my life, but please pray for me and forgive me.

[CynicalBear]

>>Any Christian who has truly trusted God enough with his/her salvation can also trust God enough to give up their life plans to evangelize the 2 billion people around the world who do not have access to the Gospel.<<

I would propose he doesn't understand the passage "some are pastors". His view seems more "socialistic" than according to scripture. Who does he think supports those missionaries?

[LadyDoc]

Not everyone has the ability or temperament to be a missionary.

The real challenge is to do the duties of one’s daily life and recognize that even washing dishes can be a prayer and a way of serving God.

[mrobisr]

While I do agree with most of his statement and yes people do get too comfortable in their life to serve the Lord correctly, but that isn’t the case for everyone. Scripture tells us without a doubt that all of us will not be called to evangelize the 2 billion people of this world.

Romans 12:6-8 New International Version (NIV)

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 New International Version (NIV)

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

While I understand his point I think he could have chosen better words to get his point across unless he did actually mean what he said.