Michael Hardin is a theologian, founder of Preaching Peace, and author of The Jesus Driven Life. He's got a rather colourful background and doesn't mince his words, which always makes for an interesting interview. So we asked him whether God is really as violent as the Old Testament makes out, and whether he really had to kill his own son in order to forgive us. 

“Every ‘penal substitutionist’ at some point has to engage in a tit-for-tat logic. No matter how they play their theory out, forgiveness is essentially earned. They can claim grace, they can claim that they’re dealing with God’s unconditional love. But essentially, you have to accept what God gave you or you’re doomed.” - Michael Hardin

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