Your God Is Too Safe Rediscovering the Wonder of a God You Cant Control

This book reveals life lived in borderland vs. life lived in the holy wild. And habits are shown that help us move from borderlands to the holy wild. Highly recommended. Read more

This is the best book I've read in the past several years. Mark Buchanan shares insights on the level of those that heavy-hitters such as Dallas Willard and Eugene Peterson come up with. I found myself breezing through it at first, then I began slowing my pace and underlining, then I began putting stars and comments in the margins, then I found myself reading paragraphs two or three times. Finally, when I finished the book, I immediately turned around and read it again even slower DURING MY QUIET TIME (which, for an old Navigator, is frowned upon, you know - but it's THAT good!), writing dozens of Buchanan's quotes in the margin of my Bible. So, I guess you could say his writing is now cannonized - and it's almost worthy of it! His fresh perspectives, the way he puts things, the turn of a phrase, the unique words he uses, his grasp of relevant history and theology all combine to give the reader a true feast of biblical teaching. And it's PRACTICAL teaching - not theoretical truisms that easily fit in a drawer to gather dust. Reading this book will give you realistic insights into the God who is not safe - but good - and how He and His kingdom operate in this fallen world. Read more

Mark Buchanan's book is a testament to the reality of today's religious leaders who are more concerned with their own power and prestige than scripture. God is too safe and weak in the views that are expressed by various religions. This book is in line with the God of more than enough, the God of Love, the God of Salvation... If you have been in a church that is more concerned with legalism that scripture, I would highly recommend this book. The limits placed on God by various religions is wrong and serves only to further the church's power and not God's Holy word. Rick Godwin of Summit Christian Center in San Antonio had quoted from this book at a men's conference. I liked the quote, the raw and relevant nature of the quote and bought the book. I'm very glad I did. This book reinforces the message that Rick preaches always. Freedom from religion and freedom to live are important, this book will help you on that journey. Read more

It's a great topic with some excellent writing, however I think the author stretches the meaning of some verses just a little farther than they were meant to go. Still, he made some great Biblical arguments. Read more

Other reviewers here have done a great job of describing the contents and layout of "Your God is Too Safe." Let me highly recommend it in more personal terms. God used this book in my life at a time when my ministry, family, and faith all seemed broken beyond repair. It was loaned to me by a pastor after a "coincidental" conversation. As I read the book, I cried again and again - tears of appreciation, understanding, repentance, pain and, finally, hope. Buchanan asks the really tough, honest questions about God that I had struggled with my whole life; how do you trust a God Who, at times, makes His actions appear untrustworthy? How do you surrender to One Who tells you that He will consume you? How do you deal with the frustrations of the paradoxes He has built into this human history? What does it really mean to trust? to follow? to worship? Buchanan not only articulates the feelings, but gently, firmly shoves us back to the Word of God and the God of the Word, instead of the "God" we try to create for ourselves, in order to comfortably "worship/control." This book was instrumental in starting me back down a long road of recovery, and I have given copies of it to many other people since. Some of them have also been shattered - and transformed - after reading it and acting on it . . . the book is not "safe," anymore than God is - but, both are indeed "good." Any thinking, questioning, hurting Christian, especially those struggling with any type of addiction issues, will greatly benefit from this book. Read more

The media could not be loaded. This review is not so much about WHAT Mark wrote, but about how what he wrote impacted my life. I hope this review will help you chose to read Your God is too safe. I was first introduced to Mark Buchanan’s books in 2007 by my best friend Judy, who lived in Canada. She has now changed addresses and is living whole and cancer free with Jesus. But she sent me “Your God is Too Small” at a critical time in my life when I was considering a major life change. His book was the plow turning up the soil for me to be willing to accept the seed of my decision, which has changed my life. Faced with some new decisions recently, I went back to Your God is Too Small and started rereading. It is as fresh as it ever was. It made me realize, that we can allow God out of our manmade box, but it is so easy to stuff Him back in and fall into old patterns of fear, doubt, and living safely, or as Mark calls it, in the Borderlands. I think each person gets out of book what they are willing to receive. I believe if you are feeling like life is strangling you with mundanity, this book may be a huge encouragement to trust God with your future for the rest of your life. I have found over and over that it is risky, and it can hurt. A lot. But the risk is worth it. As Mark Buchanan writes “The risk of avoidance is that in the end the one we avoid is Christ Himself.” (page 112). In 2007 and now, I want Jesus. May you equally be encouraged in your walk with Jesus as you read Your God is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan.. Your God Is Too Safe: Rediscovering the Wonder of a God You Can't Control Read more

This book is as beautifully written as it is spiritually insightful. I had read a borrowed copy and loved it so much that I had to get my own copy because I wanted to be able to read it again and again, savoring the eloquent prose and incorporating the spiritual insights into my own life. We don't have to live in borderland! Enjoy a great read and gain great spiritual direction at the same time. Read more