This was a fascinating read! After initially chuckling at a book about a smoking God by an author named Stoner, I found myself nodding in agreement throughout. This book is a challenging analysis of much of the current wisdom making the rounds in the American church today. It is direct and blunt at times, and perhaps incorrect, but the thoughts are definitely worth engaging.
Tim Stoner has real, substantive problems with open theism and more than a few contemporary post-modern thinkers. Rob Bell and Brian McClaren are particular points of discussion. While there is much to argue in this book, I believe Stoner raises some excellent observations. While I do resonate much of post-modernism's concern for an authentic Christian faith in a freakishly changing world, like Stoner, I too bristle deeply at many of post-modernisms attempts to define it. Perhaps in our rush to repaint our Velvet Elvis portraits of Jesus, we are trashing more than a few DaVinci's.
Out of all chapters in the book, the one I recommend most highly is chapter four, entitled, "God Is An Earthquake." Some really rambunctious writing! God does not need spin doctors or marketing gurus - God is not in the business of allowing us to control Him. Perhaps we would all do well to remember that - Stoner does a good job helping us.
