Runaway Radical {Book Review}
Usually when I read about missionaries and “field work” for Jesus and the church, it’s rainbows and roses and how the poorest of the poor have been helped and saved! I know, in the back of my mind/heart that there’s no way it’s always sunshine, but those details aren’t normally told to us because that would turn us off. Well, Runaway Radical does just that. “When doing good goes wrong.”
Travel the world, change lives, save souls. (Note: Results not typical.)
A young idealist heeds the call to radical obedience, gives away all of his belongings and shaking off the fetters of a complacent life, travels halfway around the world. There he discovers, among the poor and the fatherless of West Africa, that he has only surrendered to a new kind of captivity.
There is no doubt that young people today are fully invested in social and human rights issues. They start their own nonprofits, they run their own charities, they raise money for worthy causes. Books on saving the world abound, topping the bestsellers’ lists, fueling the drive to prove not only commitment to the world but devotion to God.
Now there is a new crop of books starting to emerge, detailing the consequences of trying to save a world that is not ours to save. But none of these books tell the story that Runaway Radical tells; this is the first book to highlight the painful personal consequences of the new radicalism, documenting in heartbreaking detail what happens when a young person becomes entrapped instead of liberated by its call. His radical resolve now shaken, he returns home to rebuild his life and his faith.
Runaway Radical serves as an important and cautionary tale for all who lead and participate in compassion activism, in the art of doing good– both overseas and at home– amidst this new culture of radical Christian service.
This is the story of a young man named Jonathan Hollingsworth, written from his perspective as well as his mother’s, Amy. It tells the tale of a fired up young man, who wants to go into the world’s neediest places to bring them the word of the Lord.
Nothing wrong with that, to be sure!
But how do you take the fire and passion for Christ, and to do His work, without going radical? Don’t get me wrong, we need missionaries, we need folks who give up their first world lives to go help others that are less fortunate. But are our young adults the right folks for this tough job?
Without giving away too much of the book itself, it’s definitely an eye-opening read and the response of his church was upsetting to say the least. And Jonathan is far from an angel, which he and his mother reveal through various actions and behaviors once he comes back from overseas. But at the end of the day, he’s a great example of the passion we should all have to do His work, with the understanding that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
After all, it’s not our works that save people; it is the Lord’s doing.
You can purchase Runaway Radical at Family Christian Stores.
We are giving away one copy of this book to one reader. Enter below and good luck!
Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned in this article in exchange for my honest opinion. Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive compensation. Regardless, I will only recommend products or services I use personally or believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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