In David Platt’s book, Something Needs to Change: A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need, readers experience an 8-day trek through Himalayan trails. In those trails, the Gospel is not always welcomed.
Platt’s first-hand account details the physical risk and emotional vulnerability he experienced. At times, he comes face-to-face with the reality that so many souls are in urgent spiritual need. This is despite a world that is hurting in other, but very real, ways on earth.
You may find yourself questioning how we do church, missions, outreach, loving our neighbor, and so much more. Like the author, as you read this book, you will start seeing the truth that something needs to change.
We are in a Spiritual Battle
“…everyone’s greatest need is far deeper than what any medicine treatment could every provide, so she’s willing to lay down her life to proclaim the gospel so that more people might experience healing in their hearts… they don’t choose between the two, even when they prioritize the spiritual.”
Pages 117 & 120
Platt’s descriptive accounting of what he experiences makes very clear that we are in a spiritual battle. That battle looks far different than what many of us are used to seeing. It’s not always what we see from comfortable sanctuary chairs while sipping coffee and worship leaders act as quasi-entertainers. Heck, it’s not even a debate over hymns verses modern music!
While these do classify as spiritual battles of sort (not taking anything away from the reality of what is, nor am I shaming anyone for how the culture operates). However, Platt shows us there a very real spiritual battle that is gritty and dangerous. It’s a battle against absolution Gospel ignorance. And That makes it a spiritual battle against foreign god’s and false idols. A battle for the very hearts of souls of people who know no other way of life.
Something Needs to Change will compel you to ask yourself if you truly are are prepared for such battle.
You just may find yourself thanking God that he’s never truly sent you into that war.
Up Close and Personal
Readers get up close and personal as Platt shares the personal journal he kept during the trek. He uses the book of Luke to frame and guide devotion and prayer times, often backdropping journey experiences.
Among the people Platt introduces us to, is a family that is clearly a spiritually dedicated family. In fact, you might just admire their diligence if it were not in direct opposition to the Gospel. You see, this family is among a people that honors and reveres a homemade Buddhist shrine. Within that shrine is a book that none of them can even read. They are faithful to a god they don’t know, anticipating their child will someday be educated enough to read to them. That’s blind faith in a god that’s keeping them from knowing the one true God who can bring about salvation.
However, to them, Jesus is just another guy.
How the Fruits of the Spirit Break Through
One former Christian persecutor of the area shares that he
“… used to think Christians were spies who wanted to come into our villages and ruin our culture.”
Page 154
I gotta think that is a common assumption among a tribe or nation that doesn’t know otherwise. Within a tribe that has passed down generation upon generation of false god worship as their heritage. You might even be able to sympathize with such stances when putting yourself in their shoes and looking with their eyes.
You might even defend to the death or bring death to those who threaten it.
So just how did this Christian persecutor come to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior? How did God break through?
“But then the natural disaster hit, and within a matter of days, those Christians I had threatened were here wanting to help rebuild our homes! I didn’t know what to think, but I didn’t want to refuse their help.”
Something Needs to Change
Reading through the book, experiencing as Platt does, praying with him, you just may find yourself agreeing with that observation. As the author, Platt has concluded all the chapters with reflection questions. They are designed to provoke life transforming considerations.
People and places within our world are not yet reached with the Gospel. They remain that way for a reason. He spurns watered down faith, prosperity gospels, and misguided missions built more for the missionary and less about mission.
It appears that Platt is ready to change all that.
Along the way, you just may begin to question the design of church, evoking concepts presented by Chan and Viola in their respective books Letters to the Church and Pagan Christianity. As Platt wonders, “Why are Bible-believing, Bible-preaching churches in America so focused on what is not in the Bible?” (147).
He further concludes that he is “convinced the church can change the world. If we do church right. According to God’s Word.
If you are ready to face the hard question, grab a copy of Something Needs to Change and prepare yourself to be challenged.
Buy Something Needs to Changes
About David Platt
David Platt serves as pastor at McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C. He is the founder and president of Radical. His books include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, and Something Needs to Change. He’s also produced the following volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series: Exalting Jesus in Matthew, Exalting Jesus in James, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, and Exalting Jesus in Galatians. Platt received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Along with his wife and four children, he lives in the Washington D.C. metro area.