A Beautiful View

""God will never be mad at you!"" Although the Bible assures us that God's essential nature is love, how seldom one hears such encouraging words in church. Maybe you are one of the many people who have dropped out of the church because of its prevalent portrayal of God as an unfriendly old man who is always angry with those who don't shape up and, worse yet, plans to punish those who don't believe and behave correctly with eternal conscious torment. If you've ever wondered whether the Bible supports such an irritated image of God, this book is for you. Looking closely at major beliefs and key passages of Scripture, author Morgan Roberts introduces us to a friendlier God, a God who is incapable of anything other than love, a God who will never give up on anyone--a God who even loves our enemies! Such a beautiful view of God is the result of the author's lifetime journey as a pastor and teacher, a journey that began when, as a teenager, he happened to find a copy of the New Testament and began reading about a God who is endlessly, foolishly, and incredibly merciful.

""Morgan Roberts . . . offers a glimpse of what he calls a 'friendlier Christianity.' What began as a study guide of key Christian beliefs became 'more about a way of life.' In an engaging style, Morgan provides a marvelous resource for any interested in exploring a fresh view of a compassionate Christianity.""
--W. Eugene March, Author of The Wide, Wide Circle of Divine Love: A Biblical Case for Religious Diversity

""One of the most brilliant raconteurs of our time, Morgan Roberts uses the power of story to cast new, shattering light on old, immutable truths of the biblical narratives regarding God's inviolable love and inscrutable inclusivity. So fresh his words, so profound his insights, that--in the reading of A Beautiful View--we seem to discover God's authentic love as if for the very first time. A Friendlier Christianity: an imperative for pastors and congregations.""
--C. Coolidge Wilson, Author of A Box of Crosses

""Morgan Roberts musters a convincing array of evidence into an elegantly persuasive 'final argument' to make the case that a 'friendlier Christlike faith' is more durable, more authoritative, more fruitful, more personally satisfying and more consistent with gospel teachings. Drawing on his ninety years of reflection, his wide circle of companions developed along the way, his disciplined intellect, and his proven gift of eloquence, he retells and reinterprets in a consumer-friendly fashion a sampling of time-honored biblical teachings and traditions, wisely distilling their lessons into a legacy of love that will inform our days and lead us all home.""
--Sarah Evans Barker, Senior United States District Judge


F. Morgan Roberts is Pastor Emeritus of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. A widely known preacher, he has served churches in New York, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Alabama. He is the author of Are There Horses in Heaven? and (with John M. Mulder) 28 Hymns to Sing Before You Die and 28 Carols to Sing at Christmas. He is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature, and has contributed essays to several multi-volume scholarly works.