Revised and updated, with a new chapter on the refugee crisis.
Welcome to the front lines. Everywhere we turn, battle lines are being drawn—traditional marriage vs. gay marriage, pro-life vs. pro-choice, personal freedom vs. governmental protection. Seemingly overnight, culture has shifted to the point where right and wrong are no longer measured by universal truth but by popular opinion. And as difficult conversations about homosexuality, abortion, and religious liberty continue to inject themselves into our workplaces, our churches, our schools, and our homes, Christians everywhere are asking the same question: How are we supposed to respond to all this? In Counter Culture, New York Times bestselling author David Platt shows Christians how to actively take a stand on such issues as poverty, sex trafficking, marriage, abortion, racism, and religious liberty—and challenges us to become passionate, unwavering voices for Christ. Drawing on compelling personal accounts from around the world, Platt presents an unapologetic yet winsome call for Christians to faithfully follow Christ into the cultural battlefield in ways that will prove both costly and rewarding. The lines have been drawn. The moment has come for Christians to rise up and deliver a gospel message that’s more radical than even the most controversial issues of our day.

This is a very insightful book. Mr. Platt has a wonderful way of educating his readers about world cultures and how they affect our Christian views. Very good read.

This was an amazing book. It challenges the common culture as we know it. It will challenge your common beliefs. And you’ll be better because of reading this book. David Platt is well spoken on the topics in this book and I highly recommend this to everyone!

David Platt made a big impact on me and many people in my church community with his book Radical. While this read was not as engaging a read for me as Radical, I feel that the topics he covers take the reader through an even more radical perspective-check than his first book. Many people I know are wavering on issues that have become less politically correct over the years, and Platt's voice is one of unmoved conviction about what God's Word says in the face of changing culture. I had trouble getting through the book; it is written in a way that felt very preach-y to me and I didn't engage with the tone, but appreciated the content and feel it would be a wonderful book to read in a group to discuss. It is a very bold read worth the time!

David Platt always has such a good take on culture and how we are to be interacting with it.

Counter culture was unique in how it approach the current issues within the culture wars of evangelicals and society. Platt reminds us that the issues should be address by deeds and actions. He argued that evangelicals have spent too much energy arguing points than making a real impact. The interesting aspect of his book is that he gives the reader at the end of each chapter opportunities to get involved with the chapter subject matter. The only complaint I have with the book is that David can get a little "wordy" on some chapters. However, the book is a great read for those who want to actually address culture and not try conform it to our likes.

This was a hard book to read and review. Not because it's boring or badly written; far from it! Much of "Counter Culture" is very convicting and meant to be so. I appreciate David Platt's willingness to take a stand on all these issues, some of which are acceptable to society and some of which absolutely are not. Platt generally does a good job deriving his arguments from Scripture. He is certainly passionate about these issues; so much so, in fact, that on occasion his tone comes off as a bit harsh. I think that this apparent harshness on his part is a reaction to the lethargy that is so predominant among American Christians. However, although Platt makes it clear that Christians should not be motivated by shame or merit-based religion, some people may still get that idea from reading this book. Platt no doubt didn't intend to affect anyone this way, but his passion on these topics may have lent itself to these conclusions. As long as you understand that you are a recipient of God's grace and can't please Him by your works, then I think you'll be fine.

The conclusion of the book tries to tie it all together to the gospel and makes it clear that Platt is not advocating a "social gospel" approach. I appreciate the conclusion, but I wish that the book as a whole had been more gospel-centered. In the end, proclaiming the gospel and helping people have to go hand in hand, just like they did in Jesus' ministry.

While I had a few issues with this book, it is still well worth the read because of the often neglected truths that it contains. Read it, be challenged by it, and as the subtitle says, resolve to follow Christ in an anti-Christian age.

I received a digital copy of this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are entirely my own.

Pray to God, participate with God, and proclaim the Gospel. Do these things not because you have a low-grade sense of guilt that you out to act, but do them because you have a high-grade sense of grace that makes you want to act. do them because you know that you were once impoverished in your sin, a slave to Satan, orphaned from and God, and alone in this world.

David Platt is known for his radical call to live out the gospel. This book is an application of the gospel to social issues that have divided this country and continues to raise emotions for believers and non believers alike. It is easy to be complacent, hide or the opposite and go in fill battle with our self-righteousness. But what does the Gospel say? How we can hold to fundamental truths of God, who he is and live out the gospel?

To give you an ideal, the 12 chapters tell the story.
The Greatest Offense: the Gospel and Culture
Where Rick and Poor Collide: The gospel and Poverty
Modern Holocaust: the Gospel and Abortion
The Lonely in Families: The Gospel and Orphans and Widows
A War on Women: The Gospel and Sex Slavery
A Profound Mystery: The Gospel and Marriage
Bought with A Price: The Gospel and Sexual Morality
Unity in Diversity: The Gospel and Ethnicity
Unprecedented Crisis: The Gospel and Refugees
Christ in the Public Square: The Gospel and Religious Liberty.

If anything this book deals with issues that are going on in the world today. Why it is important and what we can do. The thing we cannot afford is to be comfortable. We need to get uncomfortable. Each chapter ends with how we can pray, participate and proclaim the Gospel.

The only thing that I find fault with this is we can run to two extremes that can hurt our faith. Pride and despair. Pride in that we are in the trenches and despair because we are not. I think this is battle that each one of us faces but only the gospel can bring us out of!

A Special Thank you to Tyndale House Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm not a big fan of David Platt after reading *Radical.* But time had passed, so that I thought I could read this book. Several chapters were great; others rubbed me the wrong way. For some reason, I just can't click with Platt.

Original, published article (portuguese)

CONTRA-CULTURA: SEGUINDO CRISTO NUMA ERA ANTI-CRISTÃ
David Platt – Recuar ou Arriscar?

Tendo vivido na primeira pessoa, e por todo o mundo, experiências junto dos que mais sofrem com a natureza
humana, através de estados de pobreza extrema, do tráfico humano, da perseguição religiosa e étnica, ou
da pornografia, David Platt conduz o leitor a uma decisão que pode mudar a vida de qualquer indeciso:
recuar ou arriscar?

Fundamentando os seus argumentos na Bíblia, neste livro, David Platt apela aos cristãos que se unam no propósito missionário de enfrentar, activamente, os problemas que afetam este mundo: “Deus ama-nos demasiado para permitir que vivamos com indiferença ou inação. Seguramente, quer-nos agindo: orando a Ele, participando com Ele e proclamando a Sua Palavra no mundo à nossa volta.”
Desafiando-nos a agir, Platt partilha as mesmas ideias de autores consagrados para sustentar o seu pensamento. De Stott a Schaeffer, de Keller a DeYoung, apresenta ainda Thabiti Anyabwile (racismo), Russell Moore (imigração) e Greg Koukl (direito à vida), como parceiros de um discurso cristão, defendendo que este carece de ser seguido por quantos se identificam com as causas anunciadas no livro.
A pobreza, o holocausto moderno do aborto, a solidão de orfãos e viúvas, o tráfico sexual, o casamento, a imoralidade sexual, a diversidade étnica, a crise dos refugiados, a liberdade religiosa. São os temas abordados, tratados sem meias-medidas, com a frontalidade de quem se levanta todas as manhãs com vontade de mudar o mundo.
Platt apresenta exemplos de amigos que vivem experiências reais. Ele próprio fala por vivência própria, pois atua no campo missionário a uma escala global, presidindo ao IMB - International Mission Board, que congrega mais de quatro mil missionários.
Um livro que contende connosco e nos confronta perante o que acontece no planeta. Estaremos mesmo dispostos a seguir Jesus? David Platt deixa-nos três questões: Conforto ou a cruz? Manter o que temos ou sacrificar-mo-nos em missão? A vida marcada por uma mente indecisa ou um coração dividido?

English translation:

COUNTER CULTURE: FOLLOWING CHRIST IN AN ANTI-CHRISTIAN AGE
David Platt – Retreat or Risk?

Having lived in the first person, and al over the world, experiences with thosewho suffer the most from human nature, through extreme poverty, human trafficking, religious and ethnic persecution, or pornography, David Platt leads the reader to a decision that can change the life of any doubtful mind: Retreat or Risk?
Grounding his arguments in the Bible, in this book, David Platt appeals to christians to unite around the purpose of actively confront problems that affect this world: “God love us too much to allow s to live with indifference or inaction. Surely, he wants us to act: praying to Him, sharing with Him and proclaiming His Word in the World around us”.
Challenging us to act, Platt shares same ideas from renowned authors to support his thinking. From Stott to Schaeffer, from Keller to DeYoung, also presents Thabiti Anyabwile (racism), Russell Moore (immigration) and Greg Koukl (The right to life), as partners in a Christian discourse, defending that it needs to be followed by those who identify themselves with the causes announced in the book.
Poverty, the modern holocaust of abortion, the lineliness of orphans and widows, sex trafficking, marriage, sexual immorality, ethnic diversity, the refugee crisis, religious freedom. These are the topics covered, treated without half-measure, with the frontality of who, willingnessly, gets up every morning to change the world.
Platt shows examples of friends who experience it for real. He also speaks fromhis own experience, once he acts in the missionary field on a global scale, presiding IMB – International Mission Board, which brings together over four thousand Missionaries.
A book that contends with us and confronts us before what happens on the planet. Will we be willing to follow Jesus? David Platt leaves us three questions: Comfort or the cross? Keeping what we have or sacrificing ourselves on mission? The life marked by an indecisive mind or a divided heart?

If you only know one thing about David Platt, you know that he is passionate about reaching people with the gospel. He consistently challenges Christians to leave the comfort of the world in order to fulfill the Great Commission. In Counter Culture Platt tackles every controversial political and moral issue in American society today and asks, “What should be the Christian response to poverty, same-sex marriage, racism, sex slavery, immigration, abortion, persecution, orphans, and pornography?” In this updated and revised edition, he also adds the Syrian refugee crisis.

Platt writes that there are three questions that each of us must answer for ourselves:
1. Are we going to choose comfort for the cross?
2. Are we going to settle for maintenance or sacrifice for mission?
3. Will our lives be marked by indecisive minds or undivided hearts?

Laying a Foundation
Platt writes, “It is impossible to be a follower of God while denying, disregarding, discrediting, and disbelieving the words of Christ.” Platt makes no apologies for the Bible or Jesus. The Word of God is the foundation for how we are to respond to these issues. Platt senses that evangelicals have at best become selective in how we apply the Word to controversial issues, especially in regards to social justice issues. At worst, we have become attention seeking hypocrites. He writes:

No matter how many red Xs we write on our hands to end slavery, as long as these same hands are clicking on pornographic websites and scrolling through sexual pictures and videos, we are frauds to the core.”

Counter Culture is directed towards believers. Platt admonishes those inside the church, far more than those outside. Anyone who doesn’t already believe God is good and that His Word is authoritative will likely not be persuaded by the book. Both this book and Platt’s bestseller, Radical, are aimed at comfortable Christians content with checking a box off each Sunday, but never truly living out the Great Commission. He writes in the last chapter:

We have settled into a status quo where we’re content to sit idly by while literally billions of people die without ever hearing the gospel. Surely this is the greatest social injustice in the entire world, over and above all the other issues we have considered.

Counter Culture is challenging and something I think all believers would benefit from reading. I honestly struggle with this book, Radical, and others like it. I agree with them. I’m challenged by them. But I’m afraid the sense of guilt they invoke in most believers is short lived. We get a temporary excitement by the call to action, but it’s fleeting. However, this is not a problem with the book as much as it is a problem with us. I’m thankful Platt and others like him continue to point us to the Word and admonish us when we are lacking.

This is not my typical pleasure reading, as it tackles deep and difficult subject matter. But going deep is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when you're seeking truth in a day and age where thoughts among Christian leaders seems to go from one extreme to the other. While the Bible is always my personal authority, David Platt is a teacher and author that I've come to respect over the years. His "Secret Church" gatherings have been some of my favorite times of teaching and worship.
One of my struggles in today's society is seeing several figures in Christian/spiritual life take a strong stand on some Biblical truths while seeming to ignore others. I've pondered how to stand for the truths laid out in the Bible, how to stand for the Gospel, and still show those who are not believers a genuine love for who they are, right where they are. I don't want to blend in to the rest of the world, but I do want to love better. I think the title of this book speaks for itself: as Christ followers, we have to live counter-culturally.
Platt quotes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in one of the chapters: "There was a time when the Church was very powerful. It was during that period when the early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society...But the judgement of God is upon the Church as never before. If the Church of today does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early Church, it will lose its authentic ring, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century."
This book was a challenge to me to examine myself, areas I need to grow in, and how I can represent Christ in a culture that does not embrace Him. I would definitely recommend it!

**I received a copy from the publisher, via NetGalley, to give my honest opinions about this book, which I did.**

David Platt hits you in the gutt every time. This time, as every time, I walked away feeling like I'd been hit with a spiritual Mack truck!

He did a good job of sharing how he has reached out to those who don't normally get involved in church and I appreciated his insight.
I received this book free from the publisher for the purpose of review.

David Platt always challenges me. The message of “Radical” left me completely bereft of any feeling that I had done all that Christ has called me to, but it also left me a bit at a loss for where to start.

It’s not because he personally seems too high above me to listen to. Platt keeps his own struggle in the mix, and I appreciate the honesty with which he relates his own struggles.

Platt has this method or writing where he casts out a big issue and doesn’t let you off the hook. When talking about selling all you own, he never says things like, “but that’s not for everybody.” He’s more prone to say, “maybe you should.” It leaves you feeling unsettled, uncertain where to go next. It also gets in your head, prompting deep self-examination.

He does this again with “Counter Culture.” Where “Radical” was a missional call, “Counter Culture” is a call to a more meaningful life right where we are. Issues which frequently arise in our country-- race, gender and sexuality issues, care for the poor -- his commentary on these issues is solidly rooted in scripture, but some will probably disagree on individual points. You should stick with it. He’s not just talking about ideas, he’s talking about engaging real people.

I should say I have a deep respect for the writer. His background as a missionary in countries where Christians must meet in hiding gives him both a deep understanding of issues and a compassion for seekers. He joins us in the challenges he raises. This is from the end of the book:

“I don’t want these burdens on my heart to terminate with words on a page. I want these realities to transform the way I live. I don’t want to join the chorus of men, women, preachers and prognosticators who are content to wring their hands in pious concern over the plight of our culture while they sit back in practical silence and do little to nothing about it.”

In 2015, David Platt published Counter Culture, a call for Christians not to conform to the world's views on a variety of issues, but to let their actions conform to the attitudes and teaching of Jesus and the Bible. In this 2017 revised and updated version, Counter Culture: Following Christ in an Anti-Christian Age, he revisits much of the same content while adding relevant insights about current trends. At the time he was first writing the book, "the Supreme Court was about to consider arguments concerning same-sex marriage, and transgender sexuality was rarely even discussed. Two short years later, so-called same-sex marriage has become law across the country, and the federal government now threatens to withhold children's education money from states who do not allow men who wish they were women to use public bathrooms alongside young girls."

As you can perceive from this selection, Platt is an unabashed conservative who holds to traditional Christian morality. But Counter Culture is more than a simple "what conservatives believe" pamphlet. As Platt delves into the scriptural foundation for each of the stances he takes in the book, he gives a very personal spin. On each issue he tells how he has struggled to follow Christ's example. Further, he helps the reader by ending each chapter with steps to pray--suggestions for prayer time, to participate--ways the reader can be involved, and to proclaim--scriptures to mediate on regarding the issue of the chapter.

Overall, Platt maintains a very positive tone. He offers the hope of the gospel for those involved in sexual sin, for those struggling with materialism or poverty, for those in slavery. The weight of the issues he discusses began to feel very heavy, and our response, inadequate. But as he reminds us, "God alone is able to bear these global burdens." In his grace, he allows us to participate in his work.

His new chapter, which covers the current refugee crisis, seemed especially weighty. Platt makes it personal, narrating the tale of families fleeing from war-ravaged Syria. As we try to imagine what it would be like to live in their shoes, we can't help but wonder what we might do. While Platt's presentation is particularly effective, it also reveals a weakness of his approach. He's right that we need to pray, and that refugees are especially in need of the saving knowledge of Jesus. And of course the material needs are tremendous. The problem is transitioning to the public policy realm. Given the need, does the United States have an obligation to assist 60 million refugees? To welcome them into our country? What if the expense is more than we can bear? And is there any logistical possibility of resettling all those in need? I'm not sure Platt has a great answer.

Even when he might fall short on policy recommendations, throughout Counter Culture, Platt never fails to keep the focus on Christ and the hope we have in him. We all have sinned, and are guilty of following culture on some or all of the issues he addresses. As we live to counter culture, we live to follow Christ. And as we do so, we recognize that the point is not to transform culture by focusing on these issues, but "by giving our lives to gospel proclamation--to telling others the good news of all God has done in Christ and calling them to follow him.ä


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Counter Culture
Following Christ in an Anti-Christian Age

by David Platt
Tyndale House Publishers
Tyndale Momentum
Christian
Pub Date 07 Feb 2017
Archive Date 07 Apr 2017
Christian
Pub Date 07 Feb 2017


I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of Counter Culture through the publisher and Netgalley:
This book reminds us that the Bible is the very foundation the "lifeblod" of "Christianity".
We are reminded too that the Godless Worldview often does have an effect on our Christianity.
The author reminds us too of the importance of reaching out to the poor, praying for them and helping when he can.
The author goes on to remind us that abortion goes against everything God stands for and calls it a modern day Holocaust. But he reinds the readers too that abortion is forgivable.
The issues of Sexual Slavery and Pornography are also brooched as are ways for Christians to reach out and help it's victims.
Marriage is also defined and the issues of Sexual Mortality are brought up as well as the imortance of praying for those in the gay or homosexual lifestyles.
The issues of human diversity in Christianity is also brough up.
David Platt writes a powerful, well thought out book on following Christ in an anti-Christian age.
Five out of five stars
Happy Reading.

The world we live in is increasingly anti-Christian. Many of the traditional beliefs are being challenged. Literal understanding of the Bible is being pushed back by liberal inclinations. Same-sex marriages are not only becoming a right for many, some circles even see it as the norm and marriage as something less than ideal. It creates a false impression that what is termed legal is legitimate. Those who hold on to orthodox beliefs are becoming ostracized and ridiculed for being old-fashioned. How do we speak the truth in love? What does it mean to live as believers in an increasingly unbelieving world? What do we do with split opinions and old paradigms being overturned with erroneous thinking? For author David Platt, following Christ is increasingly becoming a call to live counter-culturally. Concerned with the tendency of many believers to flee or take flight of challenging circumstances, he exhorts us to risk it because it is worth it. Platt writes that this book is about:

"helping us think through how to live out that gospel in our lives, families, and churches in an age of sexual confusion, legal abortion, rampant materialism, violent racism, escalating refugee crises, diminishing religious liberties, and a number of other significant social issues. This book is about refusing to retreat from these realities, instead choosing to face them with a fearless faith that is full of hope in Christ and free to love even those who would belittle Christian belief."


He begins with the nature of man and sin. We are reminded that it is not the current state of Christianity that is the greatest offense to the world. The gospel is the greatest offense. It is sin in us that battles against the gospel in the first place and that causes all kinds of problems. Platt writes to three groups of people. The first are unbelievers in which he hopes will be open to the power of the gospel as he explains the meaning of the gospel. The second are "progressive Christians" who do not see the present world as anything dangerous or problematic. He wants them to refrain from calling themselves "Christians" until they are able to believe the gospel for what it is. The third are believers who need help in responding to the contemporary challenges of this age. In a call to conviction, he urges us to see the truth and the hold on to the truth fervently. In a call to compassion, he shows us to speak the truth in love. In a call to courage, we are urged to fight and not take flight in the face of challenges. He then leads us through several examples of how the gospel can respond to the many struggles in the world.

On Poverty, he tackles the rich-poor divide and connects it to our need to love our neighbours both the wealthy and the poor. We are called to work hard; to live simply; and to give sacrificially. On the last point, he remembers a moment in which he received a sacrificial gift of a small meager sum of money. It seems very little to him but it was given to him at a high cost to the members of the East Asian Church. We need to grow in wisdom on how to help constructively. We need to invest in eternal matters. On Abortion, we are reminded of the shocking cruelty to the unborn child and in Ps 139 God had already created life when in the mother's womb. The culture has shifted this understanding to treating birth only when the baby is out of the mother's womb. Everyone deserves to live because God has ordained life. On Widows and Orphans, we learn about how this segment of society has become disadvantaged in many ways and how we as believers can play our part in redemption for we too are redeemed people. The chapter on Sex Slavery is a problem that resides in places closer than we think. Modern slavery can be found not only in developing countries but in first world countries in the Western hemisphere. We can learn more about the reasons for such slavery in the first place and to seek ways to fight such trafficking. As gospel people, we have the responsibility to work toward the destruction of such slavery. Pray for those in the forefronts of ministries seeking the freedom of victims. Participate financially in giving to causes that help free the people. Proclaim the Scripture widely. On Marriage, Platt brings back the essence of what it means to be created male and female. In the face of cultural redefinition of marriage and sexuality, there is a need to shine light on the distortions that confuse our understanding. The crusade for sexual equality has marred the original pattern of marriage. Legal does not necessarily mean it is truth. On Sexual Morality, we see that the many redefinitions of sexuality come about because of corruption and distortion of God's original plan and purpose. True love has been manipulated and mangled due to the sinful nature that refuses to repent. Thus, sexual purity is increasingly out of vogue and unpopular. Platt calls for battle gear against pornography, promiscuity, polluted spirituality and all forms of sexual immorality. On Ethnicity, our starting point is not skin colour but at the Garden of Eden when man and woman were created in the image of God. Without the gospel, we are never able to be one in Christ. On Refugees, we need to think of the refugee crisis not according to our convenience but based on the conviction of Scripture that stands for all races, and not some privileged few. On Religious Liberty, we ponder about what true freedom actually means. Why are people living in free countries feel not free to speak the gospel? Why are people living in restricted access countries compelled to proclaim the truth in spite of the persecution?

In all of these chapters, there is a common framework of praying, of participating, and of proclaiming. Platt gives us a number of ways in which we can cultivate our conviction in the gospel, and to make a difference in the world today. When we venture out in bold faith, we let the gospel shine in ways that human efforts cannot achieve. This is what counter-culture is about. It lets God work in areas where we feel most helpless. The book comes out of a desire to equip believers to tackle boldly the many challenges to the gospel. It calls believers to let the gospel be the gospel. Culture may be a powerful influence but let the gospel be an even greater influence.

David Platt is President of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board. He is also pastor of The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, Alabama. He has previously written a bestselling book entitled, "Radical."

Resource: Counter Culture Book.

Rating: 4 stars of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Tyndale Momentum, the non-fictional imprint of Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

Wow. This man, his faith and obedience, always inspires me so much. I loved, LOVED this book. He is such an incredible disciple because he is willing to obey God in all things.

The subjects tackled in this book are brave, to say the least. I don’t know many people that would be willing to even comment on most of these topics, let alone write a book with their name on it.

David writes on topics ranging from abortion, sex, ethnicity, and even refugees. Have questions about what God says in these areas? I bet you don’t want to know! Ignorance is bliss…or is it? Do God really know what is best for us? Are we willing to fall in love with Him, trust Him and, most importantly, surrender to Him?

I hope so. I know the road is narrow, but let’s make it a little wider.