Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God

Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by Brian Zahnd

Students in high school and college have for years been given Jonathan Edwards’ sermon entitled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God to read. With much frustration and repulsion toward the view of God as an angry judge and tyrant, Brian Zahnd in his new book, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God seeks to bring a new view of God to his readers. Desiring to set for a living concept of God that is rooted in Jesus, Brian wants to get to the heart of the good news for all people.

Early on in the first chapter of the book, Brian recounts how both Edwards’ work and the fundamentalist tracks of J.T. Chick, he asks the question, “does this portrait of God look like Jesus…?” Brian does evidence the violent actions and depictions of God in the OT, but he submits that this picture of God should be subordinate to the ‘revelation of God seen in Jesus’ (14). God’s spirit and attitude toward men and women created by him is one of love and mercy, not hate or hatred. He equates those who teach that God hates sinners as akin to following in the Westboro Baptist tradition. Further, he treats concepts such as God’s wrath as mere metaphors and not really pointing at God’s anger towards sinners.

Yet, I think the book fails on several fronts in its message. One, Brian rarely grapples with specific biblical texts that would counter his claim that God’s posture toward humanity is only one of love. Romans 1 outlines the posture of God toward unrighteousness and sinful activities of men, with a view toward the judgment of God on men who practice such wicked things (Romans 2:2). Further, even in the ministry of Jesus, specifically in Matthew 25:41-26 he talks about those who do not know Jesus in a saving way and their ultimate destiny. Further, Brian makes an unfair equation of those who believe in God’s anger against sinners and Westboro Baptist Church. The activities of Westboro are utterly repulsive and most evangelicals who hold to a different view of Brian would not endorse Westboro’s behaviors.

Thanks to Blogging for Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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