Don't Hold Back: Leaving Behind the American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully

By David Platt and Shanae Johnson

Book Overview

The New York Times bestselling author of Radical challenges Christians to break free from an American gospel that prostitutes Jesus for comfort, power, prosperity, and politics--and fully pursue the true gospel that exalts Jesus above all.

Pastor David Platt believes we've gotten really good at following a really bad gospel--one that worships American ideas over biblical truth. It's time for disillusioned, discouraged, and divided Christians, and the next generation, to follow Jesus into a different future.

But we have to make a choice: an American gospel or the biblical gospel. Worldly division or otherworldly unity. Compromise with the idols of our country or commitment to God's call in our lives. In Don't Hold Back, Platt encourages followers of Jesus to take necessary risks and find unimaginable reward as we:

- Work for--not against--each other, especially when we disagree
- Turn the tide on centuries of racial division in the church
- Trust all of God's Word with conviction while loving everyone around us with compassion
- Do justice with kindness, and experience the good life according to God
- Play our part in spreading the gospel to all the nations of the world

We can experience the full wonder of Jesus and transcendent beauty of his church here and now. But in order to do so, some things need to be different. Starting not in "those people," but in each one of us. With the gospel in our hearts and God as our prize, let's press on and don't hold back.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0735291446
• ISBN13: 9780735291447
• Release Date: February 2023
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

This book is a must read in our current climate in America!

So, this book forced me to look at my own heart, and ask God to show me if I am separating myself from others in any way, and to help me to see His created beings as His body, making them my brothers and sisters in Christ!  I realized that I do tend to be more comfortable with people like me, and when I do that, I am missing out on many friendships of people unlike me that God is putting in my path!  So I don't feel like it is only skin color or race that is separating us, but my own personal preferences, and for me, I am asking God to change that!  So David's book helped me to understand what the Word says about treating people of all races and walks of life, and helped me to celebrate our differences, helps us to repent of previous racism, and makes me want to learn about different races or cultures by celebrating them right here in America, the melting pot, but no longer being afraid of them because they are different from mine.  I have white skin, but I am a mixed race Caucasian, Mexican, Basque, Irish, and more so I am basically a mutt haha.  But Jesus came for all people, and the book of Malachi states it perfectly, Malachi 2 verse 10 Are we not all children of the same Father? Are we not all created by the same God? Then why do we betray each other, violating the covenant of our ancestors? So please take time to read this book, look deep within your own heart, and let us function in the unity that our Creator and David Platt so desperately desire for us!  This book gets a 5 out of 5 rating for me!  I'm so glad he wrote it!!