This is the final book of an undeniable giant within the
English speaking Christian world but it was for me something of a
disappointment.
Having had it on my Amazon Wishlist since its publication
(and so before John Stott’s death) I only recently ordered it and read it sat
on the beach last weekend.
I think the disappointment comes from your reference point
with the word “Radical” in the title.
Stott divides the book into 8 themes within discipleship which he feels
are often overlooked. Shining a
spotlight on them is the essence of his claim to radicalism but I struggle to
recognise a Christianity that could continue while overlooking these
issues. Is it that within the depths
“Orthodox” Evangelicalism, which is the mainstay of Stott’s audience, Biblical
Legalism has allowed them to drift so far from the spirit of the Gospel?
For example one of the themes is “Simplicity” – I read it
wondering to what extent it really needed pointing out that wealth is
problematic to the Christian. Perhaps
this is written as a challenge to “Health and Wealth” ministries (indeed
another of the themes is “Death”).
I don’t want to give this book too much of a hard time, I am
not within its target audience. It is
not that I had a problem with what Stott is saying here, just that it left me
muttering “No S**T Sherlock…”. If there are people claiming to be Christian for
whom this book is “news” then it is a great thing that someone with the
authority of John Stott has offered them a wake up call.
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