Putting a New Face on God

A Book Review

Bob Hunter’s Putting and New Face on God seeks to present an alternative to the prevailing image of God within much of American Evangelicalism. Hunter tells us that “[t]he images we have of God impact and shape our lives.” To help us understand God as revealed in the incarnate Jesus, Hunter describes a God who is nurturant or benevolent rather than authoritative (see John Sanders' Embracing Prodigals for more on this contrast). Hunter’s descriptions of who God is and how we can see this face of God is firmly within the historic Christian tradition of theologians like Iraneus, Gregory of Nyssa, Julia of Norwich, and John Wesley. That’s not to say that modern evangelical Christians see this as the historic tradition. Even contemporary Wesleyans often choose an authoritative view of God rather than a nurturant view.

Hunter focuses on the vision we have of God to lead us on a journey of discovery. This journey might be jarring for those who have only experienced God as the authoritative God. To help, Hunter encourages the reader to compose their own thoughts on the vision of God before reading the book. Along the journey, Hunter provides helpful formation questions following each chapter. These questions help to coalesce the ideas within each chapter. As challenging as this process may be for some whose only vision of God has been a “blurred, marred, or distorted” one, but it is worth it.

This book is highly recommended for Christians and for those for whom visions of God have been repugnant. Hunter invites us to gain a more clear vision of God. The hope and promise Hunter describes in the face of God as benevolent is firmly the God described through the revelation of Jesus. Come and see that the Lord is good.