Review: Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News Brian Zahnd

Review: Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News

Brian Zahnd

Waterbrook Press

2017

This author has done some thinking. I'd recommend this book if for no other reason than to challenge yourself as to what and why you believe what you do. I'm sure there will plenty of posts in some sectors that will not approve of Zahnd's conclusions. Others will cheer the direction he has taken. He's a very persuasive author, but comes off a bit strident at times throughout this book. I did find most of what he had to say a welcome change of rhetoric. In fact, I think this is a long overdue corrective to some of the teachings in the Christian religion.

Each chapter can be read alone, but I think a better over view of the author’s mind set would probably come from the order it is presented. As the title hints, Zahnd presents his version of how God treats sinners which is different from that of Jonathan Edwards ideas from the 1700's. Gone are the rather frightening word pictures that Edwards sermon depicted. Zahnd replaces them with pictures of love. But, this is not one of those sappy God is love presentations. Not at all. Instead, he presents his case through the lens of the life and teachings of Jesus. Didn't the puritans do that? Not well according to Zahnd which he interprets somewhat more broadly than Edwards did.

Overall, this one to read and think about and one of the best books of its kind I've read lately.

I received this book from the publishers in exchange for a review.

Comments

Review: Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot by Mo Isom

Review: Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot Mo Isom Baker Books 2018 I picked this one up after I’d seen a video promo by the author, http://moisom.com/sexandjesus#. Sounded like she had something to say. She does. And even if you don’t think it applies to you it does in ways that aren’t necessarily related to sex, but just as a human being with desires. Isom subscribed to many of the conversations that govern relationships in general, and those with men, for her generation, the millennials. This book is not her life story, but it does describe some moments that were important to her journey then and now. Her openness to share those times surprised me. Her point without spoiling the book is that she had not understood what linked sexual intimacy to ordinary life, the why’s, if you will. Was it not taught, discussed? Or was she not interested in hearing might be a valid...

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense by Dr. Larry Crabb

Review: When God’s Ways Make No Sense Dr. Larry Crabb Baker Books 2018 I chose this book because the title intrigued me. When God’s Ways Make No Sense. There have been plenty of times when that seemed truer than I’d like to admit. Are we even allowed to say something like that? Even if we think it. So, an author willing to take on that topic had my attention. And mostly because I wanted his take on what to do about it? As it turns out Crabb pretty much gave away his case very early on in his book with a single scripture quote. The basic idea is God is GOD and we are not. His motives and actions are incomprehensible to mankind and He owes no explanation for them either. Crabb admits near the end of his book that he is not a theologian which I knew going into this book, but his arguments are theology. Or at least I think so. I found his repeated circling the topic a bit frustrating. ...

Review: The World of Jesus: Making Sense of the People and the Places of Jesus’ Day by Dr. William H. Marty

Review: The World of Jesus: Making Sense of the People and the Places of Jesus’ Day Dr. William H. Marty Bethany House Publishers 2013 If you have ever tried to keep track of who is who during the period that is the between the testaments time and afterward you will have a good appreciation for what Dr. Marty has done with this short book. It’s still like reading a soap opera plot but at least this help keep the characters sorted out. The political and social changes came fast and frequently back then with the land of the Jews right in the midst of it all. For me this is a reminder that it was not any easier back then in that region than it is today. So if you are looking for a place to start an exploration of that period this might be a good overview to pick up first. This book was provided in exchange for a review by the publisher.

The Return

Search This Blog