Hand in Hand, by Randy Alcorn

This volume is a theological study of God's sovereignty and our human will. Alcorn uses the Scripture throughout this book in his analysis of these two seemingly paradoxical realities. He provides thorough analysis of the different theological systems of thought within the Christian community. The two main diverse thought systems are Calvinism and Arminianism, with radicalized and modified versions of both these thought systems. Alcorn calls for all of us in the Christian community, no matter where we stand on how God's sovereignty and human choice relate to and interact with each other, search all the Scriptures about both and pursue loving Christian unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ who disagree with us. After each chapter Alcorn includes endnotes where the sources he used to compile his information, can be found and this bolsters his credibility and shows that he researched his subject.

For me to read and follow this book took some work. It made me think just how I see both the sovereignty of God as related to my ability to make choices. If you are like me, you are aware that you have the ability to make meaningful choices but given where you stand with God, you may not have considered that He will hold us accountable for the choices that you and I make. Those of us in the Christian community believe that God's sovereignty and human choice, while seeming to condradict each other, really do not. I found all the analysis of how those who subscribe to Calvinism or to Arminianism think about both God's sovereignty and human choice, to be rather head-spinning and I had to work to think along with much of the book. I found this book to be pretty much all I expected, as I have read some of Alcorn's earlier works and I have read a few other books of this same topic. Reading this book, I was encouraged and challenged to see how God's sovereignty and my ability to choose work together in and should motivate me to live the way God tells me to. Also, I was encouraged that nothing, nothing that happens is random, takes God by surprise or causes Him to wring HIs hands or cry "Oops! I messed up!" We can choose but, when it all comes down, God is in control. Praise Him.

This book is targeted to the Christian community. But if you are a non-Christian who is curious about God, you may find this book not only interesting but challenging and enlightening. If you are such a person, I will provide a link below where you can get this book free, under certain conditions that can be found on the site. I recommend all Pastors, would-be missionaries, and Christian leaders to read this book so they will get their thinking straightened out on how God's choices and ours relate. This book is for all adults who are eager to learn more and more about God. New Christians may be overwhelmed by the heavy theology in this book.

I received a free copy of this book through Blogging For Books, in exchange for an honest review of the book and was not required to give this book a favorable review.

More info

Author's Bio