The Tulip Driven Life

GREENVILLE PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BOOK REVIEW: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SCIENCE OF MISSIONS BY J.H. BAVINCK Thomas Booher AT 44 Missions July 29, 2015             Bavinck’s Introduction to the Science of Missions , though over fifty years old, is still relevant and helpful for studying missions today. The book is divided into three main parts: the Theory of Missions, Elenctics, and the History of Missions. The first part examines the scriptural basis for missions and what place it has in the life of the church, whereas part three, the history of missions, examines the missions work that has actually occurred throughout church history. Part two, elenctics, occupies a place in between the other two and in the task of missions is a call to the unbeliever, asking him what he has done with God, and is characterized by prophetic preaching and calling the native to repentance. [1]...

GREENVILLE PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY BOOK REVIEW: RADICAL BY DAVID PLATT Thomas Booher AT 44 Missions July 29, 2015             David Platt’s Radical is a unique book in that it is both wildly popular and weds Christ-like living for all believers in the United States to mission’s work. Platt is one of the youngest megachurch pastors ever, and he explains that when he began preaching at his church, it was full of complacent believers who embraced cultural Christianity. They wanted to live the American dream and have Jesus too. Our spending on ease and luxury is exorbitant, and our giving to the church and to the poor is miniscule in comparison. Platt proposes a remedy by imposing a “salary cap” on oneself, setting a certain yearly budget that one will live off of, and whatever is earned over that budget is sent to Christian charities, especially those overseas where the g...

EDITORS NOTE 11/29/2020: Having re-read my review and seeing where Platt is now, it is clear to me that he has socialistic tendencies, and I can no longer recommend this book, even with qualifications.  Radical is a New York Times Bestseller and I believe was number one on Amazon for a while. It is written by Pastor David Platt, regarded as the youngest mega church pastor ever. The book is just over 200 pages long, and is a light, quick, yet very convicting read. In fact, it is probably the most convicting book (outside of the Bible of course) that I have ever read.  The subtitle of the book is "Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream," and that is exactly what Platt does in this book. We have grown comfortable and complacent in our faith, living in luxury and spending our time and energies on stuff- we have become materialists. And not just secular America, but Christian, evangelical America.  While we may all agree that we are neither thankful enough no...