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Untamable God: Encountering the One Who Is Bigger, Better, and More Dangerous Than You Could Possibly Imagine
Is it possible that your view of God is too small? Too safe? Too tame? Too comfortable? Is it possible that you have settled for a low, uninspiring, limited view of God? Is it possible that your passion for God suffers because your vision of God suffers? In Untamable God, Stephen Altrogge brings us face to face with the magnificent, awe-inspiring, beautiful, terrifying, wonderful God of the Bible. In his personal, intimate, engaging, humorous style, Altrogge takes us on a journey through God's word, bringing us into close contact with the God of sharp edges and brilliant light. Altrogge introduces afresh to the untamable God of the Bible.
110 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 14, 2014
Stephen Altrogge writes the kind of books I think I would write. Or that I would want to write. If I was an author. And if I could write better. What I mean is, his sarcastic wit, his cultural knowledge, and, most importantly, his awe at the majesty and glory of God – these are things I can definitely relate to. Actually, his previous book, The Greener Grass Conspiracy, is one of the things that led to seminary for my family and I. He’s a funny, persuasive, and entertaining writer.
In his latest book, Untamable God, Altrogge sets out to demonstrate, seemingly mostly for Millennials, the God who is “Bigger, Better, and More Dangerous Than You Could Possibly Imagine.” He sets his sights on the god who just wants to be friends and make you feel better and replaces it with the God who spoke the world into existence, who revealed himself gloriously through his son, Jesus Christ.
The first 6 chapters of the book each seek to debunk some way of thinking about God and replace it with the Biblical view of God as huge, sovereign, righteous, loving, gracious, etc. These chapters are littered with funny cultural quips, self-depreciating humor, and Biblical conclusions. I enjoyed these chapters, although there was really very little that hasn’t been said a bunch elsewhere. Altrogge just says it in his voice, which I enjoy.
Where the book really took off for me was in the last couple of chapters. Chapter 7, “The God Who Is Not Impressed,” succeeds mightily in tearing down the “me” generation’s view of itself. We are really not a big deal, despite what our parents and teachers may have told us. Altrogge trots out story after story where God shows his greatness in comparison to humanity and puts us rightly in our place. And best of all, he builds our worth back up in the right place, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only because of Christ will God look at us and say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Finally, in Chapter 8, “The God Who Crushes Serpent Skulls,” Altrogge basically tells the whole story of the Bible, culminating in Jesus. He gets seriously poetic in the last few pages, his style reminding me of Russell Moore, one of my former professors and also one of my favorite authors. He makes the story of the Bible leap off the pages and left me wanting much more. That’s a pretty good author who can do that.
Untamable God is a great book for anyone in their teens, twenties, or thirties to read (the cultural references would likely be lost in large part on readers much older). This is the kind of book I want to give unbelieving friends to show them that much of what they think of as the gospel is actually a pathetic distortion of it. Altrogge writes like a culturally-informed, sarcastic, non-hipster and thinks like John Piper. That makes for a great combination.
In his latest book, Untamable God, Altrogge sets out to demonstrate, seemingly mostly for Millennials, the God who is “Bigger, Better, and More Dangerous Than You Could Possibly Imagine.” He sets his sights on the god who just wants to be friends and make you feel better and replaces it with the God who spoke the world into existence, who revealed himself gloriously through his son, Jesus Christ.
The first 6 chapters of the book each seek to debunk some way of thinking about God and replace it with the Biblical view of God as huge, sovereign, righteous, loving, gracious, etc. These chapters are littered with funny cultural quips, self-depreciating humor, and Biblical conclusions. I enjoyed these chapters, although there was really very little that hasn’t been said a bunch elsewhere. Altrogge just says it in his voice, which I enjoy.
Where the book really took off for me was in the last couple of chapters. Chapter 7, “The God Who Is Not Impressed,” succeeds mightily in tearing down the “me” generation’s view of itself. We are really not a big deal, despite what our parents and teachers may have told us. Altrogge trots out story after story where God shows his greatness in comparison to humanity and puts us rightly in our place. And best of all, he builds our worth back up in the right place, the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only because of Christ will God look at us and say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Finally, in Chapter 8, “The God Who Crushes Serpent Skulls,” Altrogge basically tells the whole story of the Bible, culminating in Jesus. He gets seriously poetic in the last few pages, his style reminding me of Russell Moore, one of my former professors and also one of my favorite authors. He makes the story of the Bible leap off the pages and left me wanting much more. That’s a pretty good author who can do that.
Untamable God is a great book for anyone in their teens, twenties, or thirties to read (the cultural references would likely be lost in large part on readers much older). This is the kind of book I want to give unbelieving friends to show them that much of what they think of as the gospel is actually a pathetic distortion of it. Altrogge writes like a culturally-informed, sarcastic, non-hipster and thinks like John Piper. That makes for a great combination.
May 23, 2016
This 100 page easy to read book by my friend, Stephen Altrogge, is one of those books that I am sure will be a great encouragement to some and a confrontation of some long-held beliefs of some people. I wouldn't say that this was my favorite book by Altrogge (see "Greener Grass Conspiracy" for that category), nor was it the best book written on the person and character of God (see books like, "Knowing God," by JI Packer; "The Knowledge of the Holy," by AW Tozer; and "Our Awesome God," by John MacArthur for that category), but it was very insightful on several key areas of examining the character, attributes, and work of God. I think the author used a few words/phrases that might be offensive to the older generation of readers and he might lose some of his audience because of that, but the younger generation would do well to take some time to read through this short, concise, and practical book.
September 1, 2016
I'm enjoyed the candid nature of this book and the occasional lines that made me chuckle. It's full of some weighty topics, none of which are particularly new, but I'm hearing them in a new way and that's what I liked most about this book. A very fresh perspective and also very honest and blunt!
March 20, 2014
I enjoyed this book immensely. I love Stephen's humor, beautiful creative writing, and the way he speaks powerful truth in incredibly simple but meaningful ways. I found myself highlighting every other paragraph and just meditating upon the beauty of our God in deeper ways. Plus it's a short read with lots of meat! That's my style.
January 21, 2014
Highly recommend
This book will literally blow the top off any little box you have tried to stick God in. I highly recommend this book to anyone who thinks they already know what God is up to.
This book will literally blow the top off any little box you have tried to stick God in. I highly recommend this book to anyone who thinks they already know what God is up to.
April 6, 2015
This author's style of writing really brought the message of this book home to me. I plan to read more of his works as soon as I can.
September 24, 2018
great little powerful book about the glory and holiness of God.
April 21, 2014
Challenging, world rocking
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews