Their God is Too Small

This volume examines contemporary theological challenges to classical Christian theism, particularly addressing perceived limitations in traditional conceptions of divine attributes. Bruce Ware assembles contributions that defend orthodox understandings of God's nature against revisionist theological movements, especially open theism and process theology. The work represents a vigorous reassertion of classical theistic commitments in response to what contributors view as reductionist tendencies in modern theology.

The collection engages primarily with theological movements that attempt to reconcile divine sovereignty with human freedom by limiting God's knowledge, power, or immutability. Contributors argue that such approaches create an impoverished conception of deity—hence the titular claim that "their God is too small." The volume particularly targets open theism's denial of exhaustive divine foreknowledge and process theology's rejection of divine immutability and sovereignty. Through biblical exegesis, philosophical argumentation, and historical theological analysis, authors defend traditional attributes including omniscience, omnipotence, immutability, and meticulous providence.

Ware's editorial framework positions the debate within broader evangelical concerns about theological method and biblical authority. Contributors employ a methodology that prioritizes scriptural testimony while engaging philosophical considerations, reflecting evangelical commitments to both biblical fidelity and intellectual rigor. The work addresses not merely academic theological disputes but pastoral and practical implications of competing conceptions of God. Authors argue that diminished views of divine attributes undermine Christian confidence in prayer, providence, and God's ability to fulfill promises.

The volume's significance extends beyond intramural evangelical debates to broader questions about divine perfection and the coherence of classical theism. By defending maximal conceptions of divine attributes, contributors engage perennial philosophical questions about the relationship between divine perfection and divine-human interaction. The work represents a conservative theological response to what it perceives as anthropocentric tendencies in contemporary theology that subordinate divine transcendence to creaturely concerns about freedom and relationship.

This collection matters for understanding early twenty-first century evangelical theological discourse and ongoing debates about divine attributes. It demonstrates how traditional theists marshal biblical, theological, and philosophical resources to defend classical conceptions against revisionist challenges. The volume's polemical edge reflects the perceived stakes of the debate: whether Christianity's God possesses the perfections necessary for worship, trust, and ultimate explanatory power, or whether modern sensibilities require a more limited deity.