The title of this book by Brian Zahnd is a play on the title of the (in)famous 1748 sermon by fire-and-brimstone preacher Jonathan Edwards. In his sermon entitled “Sinners in the hands of an angry God”, Edwards says:

“The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked. His wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else but to be cast into the fire.”

This kind of rhetoric has influenced much preaching and teaching ever since, and draws heavily on what is known as the “Penal Substitution” model of atonement.

But is God really an angry deity whose wrath had to be satisfied by the death of Jesus before he could forgive us? Aren’t there better ways of thinking about the cross and salvation? What does it mean to be saved anyway?

Whether you’ve read the book or not, everyone is welcome to join the discussion, ask questions and make progress along the way.