A Scandalous Beauty: The Artistry of God and the Way of the Cross [Hardcover]

Thomas Schmidt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2002

A creative exploration of Gods artistry in saving humanity through the cross of Christ.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Heaven forbid that God should turn out to be an artist," writes Schmidt in the introduction to this refreshing and unusual collection of essays about "the artistry, the imagination, the beauty of a particular event: the death of Jesus." Schmidt writes very well, offering perceptive interpretations of the age-old story of Christ's death and resurrection. The essays are related to one another, but they do not pull together into a single argument an indication of its postmodern sensibilities. One particularly fascinating chapter quite persuasively explores the role of alliteration as a symbol of the cross in Hebrews 2:14b. Imaginative and offbeat, these essays convince readers not only that God is an artist, but that Schmidt is one, too.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

In discussing the death of Jesus, we often focus on suffering, redemption, or other doctrinal aspects of the cross. Rarely, it seems, do we meditate on the paradoxical beauty of Christ's death. Here, Thomas Schmidt uses literary devices, powerful narratives, and moving portraits of ordinary people to express beauty and imagination in the details surrounding Christ's death and its world-changing effects. In a knowledgeable and perceptive reading of the New Testament, Schmidt shows us how God draws near to us through the scandalous beauty of the Son's death.

"Thomas Schmidt uses his scriptural skills to draw us into the poetry, beauty, and grandeur of God. Sometimes whimsical, often intensely profound, usually suggesting truth on a slant, this book stirs us to fresh wonder, enormous gratitude, and more vibrant faith." -Marva J. Dawn, author of Powers, Weakness, and the Tabernacling of God

"If it is true that the two shafts that most deeply pierce the human heart are pain and beauty, few people have been given the hard gift of being able to address it more effectively than Thomas Schmidt. May this book help many readers meet the God of miracles and hurricanes and sparrows. May it help them persevere until the day when there is no more scandal, only beauty." -John Ortberg, author of If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat and The Life You've Always Wanted

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587430177
• ISBN-13: 978-1587430176
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #927,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it now., September 8, 2009

By 

Joshua Tyler Nice - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Scandalous Beauty: The Artistry of God and the Way of the Cross (Hardcover)

This is an amazing book. You will probably see it on here for less that 50 cents. So, including shipping, this could be the best 4 dollars you have ever spent. One of my favorite books.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Perspective!, March 22, 2008

By 

Z. (Orlando, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Scandalous Beauty: The Artistry of God and the Way of the Cross (Hardcover)

The book is short, but sweet! If you are like me, sometimes I get very annoyed by books that expound on a topic to the point that it sucks the life out of the reading. Detail can be very good, but it can also turn very quickly into rambling, especially when the book is not intended to be a work of research. Thankfully, this book does not get caught in the details. Instead, it paints a wonderful picture of the passion event (Christ's suffering and death) that I don't think many people see. Perhaps you have never thought of God as an artist, that is, in the context of the death of His Son. This book, for me at least, brought a fresh new perspective on Christ's sacrifice that I had not thought on before. I am much appreciative!