Name: Erin Darlyn's review of Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by Brian Zahnd
Item: Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God
Rating: 5
Author: Erin Darlyn

Brian Zahnd

Pastor Brian Zahnd began "to question the theology of a wrathful God who delights in punishing sinners, and has started to explore the real nature of Jesus and His Father. The book isn't only an interesting look at the context of some modern theological ideas; it's also offers some profound insight into God's love and eternal plan." --Relevant Magazine (Named one of the Top 10 Books of 2017) God is wrath? Or God is Love? In his famous sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Puritan revivalist Jonathan Edwards shaped predominating American theology with a vision of God as angry, violent, and retributive. Three centuries later, Brian Zahnd was both mesmerized and terrified by Edwards's wrathful God. Haunted by fear that crippled his relationship with God, Zahnd spent years praying for a divine experience of hell. What Zahnd experienced instead was the Father's love--revealed perfectly through Jesus Christ--for all prodigal sons and daughters. In Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, Zahnd asks important questions like: Is seeing God primarily as wrathful towards sinners true or biblical? Is fearing God a normal expected behavior? And where might the natural implications of this theological framework lead us? Thoughtfully wrestling with subjects like Old Testament genocide, the crucifixion of Jesus, eternal punishment in hell, and the final judgment in Revelation, Zanhd maintains that the summit of divine revelation for sinners is not God is wrath, but God is love.

The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News

Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God

Erin Darlyn

If I were to choose one or two books that sum up a lot of my theology right now, I would put this one at the top of the list. I can't tell you how refreshing and life-giving it was to read this after having wrestled with all of these questions myself, refusing to settle for the surface-level explanations, for the last several years. It's been my favorite read of the year thus far and I highly recommend it. If you have access to Hoopla through your library card, I found the audiobook on there (it's free to listen to through Hoopla) and it's a reasonably short listen. If the book resonates with you, I think you'll also like Love Wins by Rob Bell and Original Blessing by Danielle Shroyer. 

I have come to most of the same "conclusions" (I hold that word loosely these days) the author shares in this book on my own over time but had not heard anyone else speak about having similar views / values until very recently. I found this a thoroughly encouraging read.

Kehinde Adeleke

Thought provoking. I read this during a time when I was struggling. Struggling to continue the the monotony of Charismatic Christianity; I felt destitute, hopeless and in pain. I didn't reject God but I prayed less. I knew that what I needed was authentic faith but reaching that would be no mean feat.

Brain helped me out. He reminded me that God isn't against me. He's come to save me from myself that's why he co-suffered on the cross. God is love: a theme that Brian echoes from the rooftops over and over again. It's something that'd keep me through this journey of faith.

I also enjoyed his explanation of Armageddon and how Jesus doesn't need to shed any blood to reveal and fulfill his Kingdom. It brought light to the otherwise gloomy part of scripture - I always avoided it. 

So, I enjoyed it. I really did.

Erin Darlyn &
Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by Brian Zahnd

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Erin Darlyn &Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by Brian Zahnd

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Erin Darlyn &
Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God by Brian Zahnd