The Wood Between the Worlds - by Brian Zahnd (Hardcover)

About the Book

The cross is the heart of Scripture, the axis upon which the biblical story turns. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, Brian Zahnd helps us see that there are infinite ways to behold the cross of Christ as the beautiful form that saves the world. Accept the invitation to encounter the cross of Christ anew.

Book Synopsis

Experience the Kaleidoscopic Mystery of the Cross

Everything about the gospel message leads to the cross, and proceeds from the cross. In fact, within the narrative of Scripture, the crucifixion of Jesus is literally the crux of the story--the axis upon which the biblical story turns. But it would be a mistake to think we could sum up the significance of the crucifixion in a tidy sentence or two. That kind of thinking only insulates us from the magnificence of what God has done. In our ongoing quest to make meaning of the cross, we need to recognize that this conversation will never conclude--that there is always something more to be said.

Brian Zahnd reminds us that the meaning of the cross is multifaceted and should touch every aspect of our lives. Just as gazing through the eyepiece of a kaleidoscope reveals a new geometric image with every turn, Zahnd helps us see that there are infinite ways to behold the cross of Christ as the beautiful form that saves the world. In The Wood Between the Worlds, you'll find:

• A compelling theopoetics of the cross that will bring deeper curiosity, appreciation, and wonder for the cross of Christ,
• References to music, art, literature, and culture that bring new perspectives to our understanding of the cross, and
• Zahnd's keen insights that liberate readers from flawed atonement theories and open us to experience anew the mystery of the cross.

The Wood Between the Worlds is an invitation to encounter the cross of Christ anew.

Review Quotes

". . . this is the most cross-centered book I've read in years -- a worthwhile meditation on theodicy, atonement, and the shape of a cruciform life.

"Drawing on interlocutors including John Coltrane, Søren Kierkegaard, and Jürgen Moltmann, Zahnd's invitation to be 'drawn into a contemplative orbit around' the cross is lucid, gracious, and suffused with erudition and humility. . . . It's a worthy look at a familiar emblem of Christianity."

"In the liminal Wood Between the Worlds, Brian Zahnd encounters the inexhaustible cross. Perhaps you are more familiar with the absent Protestant Christ or the afflicted Catholic Christ or the victorious classical Christ? Each one is true and speaks a faithful message. (Which one speaks to you? Which one pushes you away?) Brian's book invites us to contemplate the kaleidoscopic mystery of Christ. Will we stop and be still before the mystery? Will we let this irreligious symbol transform all our notions of religion?"

"Zahnd addresses specific theological perspectives on the cross, but he does so in a reflective, meditative way, drawing upon such items as paintings, sculptures, novels, poems, and hymns. This creative and fresh approach encourages readers to think reflectively as well. He sees the crucifixion as relevant not just to the past but to the present as well."

About the Author

Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. Known for his theologically informed preaching and his embrace of the deep and long history of the church, Zahnd provides a forum for pastors to engage with leading theologians and is a frequent conference speaker. He is the author of several books, including When Everything's on Fire, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, A Farewell to Mars, and Beauty Will Save the World.