I don’t celebrate Earth Day. But I think about the environment quite a bit. And I do so from within a worldview that forces me to reckon with nature, my place in it, and the entire trajectory of the created order.
If you have been around Casting Across for any length of time, you are probably aware that I am a pastor. These days, it is necessary to qualify that statement with the follow up that I am a pastor who believes in the Bible. Funny days, these.
Similarly, if you’ve been reading or listening to Casting Across you undoubtedly know that I hold books in high regard. Fly fishing books are one of the pillars of my angling appreciation. But for every one fishing volume I own, I probably have another dozen books touching on some various aspect of theology.
So today, “in honor of Earth Day” (albeit a few days late), I’m sharing some books on nature from my other library. There isn’t anything here about casting, fly selection, or where to catch the biggest trout in the lower 48. But the concepts and questions books like these will encourage you to think through address the very ground beneath your wading boots.
Are you a Christian who wants to pursue a more theologically rigorous conception of the world around you? Are you a skeptic who has only heard the stale, one-note church choir sing about using it up because the end is near? Here are four books worth reading that present a Biblical worldview of the creation:
Pollution and the Death of Man
, Francis Schaeffer
One of the most profound philosopher/ministers of the 20th century, Schaeffer was keen at illustrating how everything is interconnected. Art, life, worship, and the soil are not disparate elements. Working from an objective presuppositional standpoint, he explains why we have abused “our fair sister.” He then forges a path forward. It is not one of idealism and theory. Such a plan would be dated 50-plus years later. It is one that embraces what is True, good, and beautiful .
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The Reenchantment of Nature, Alister McGrath
While I disagree with McGrath on a number of significant points, I can’t deny that he is a compelling communicator who forces you to think through the multifaceted nature of any argument. In Reenchantment, the most valuable benefit is historical overview of how western culture has gone through a number of perspectives when it comes to man’s place in the natural world. Brutally honest, his assessment of the culture (and the church’s) shortcomings beg the reader to ask what traditions shape his view of nature.
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Nature’s Case for God
, John Frame
Perhaps the most “preachy” of the selections, this short work seeks to reclaim natural theology within an orthodox framework. That is to say, it rejoices in the value of reading the book of nature to learn more about it’s author. Consequently, it benefits both the churchman and the person who is curious about what the Bible says about the world around us. Frame is concise and readable.
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Kingdom Prologue
, Meredith Kline
By no means is this an environmental book. But Kline was an expert expositor of the early chapters of Genesis. Since these first books of the Bible truly outline the relationship between God, man, and creation, it is necessary to think the right thoughts about what they communicate. Kingdom Prologue is all about relationship. Expanding upon his other covenant-based works, Kline articulates why stewardship and use of the natural world are part and parcel with right worship.
Questions? Comments? Accusations? As always, let me know by leaving a comment or emailing me at Matthew[at]CastingAcross.com.