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The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts
The world is full of good things.
Ice-cold lemonade. The laughter of children. College football. Scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. But what happens to these earthly pleasures when Jesus shows up? Do the things of earth grow strangely dim? Or does he shine in all that's fair?
In this book, Joe Rigney offers a breath of fresh air to Christians who are burdened by false standards, impossible expectations, and misguided notions of holiness. Steering a middle course between idolatry on the one hand and ingratitude on the other, this much-needed book reminds us that every good gift comes from the Father's hand, that God's blessings should drive us to worship and generosity, and that a passion for God's glory is as wide as the world.
Ice-cold lemonade. The laughter of children. College football. Scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. But what happens to these earthly pleasures when Jesus shows up? Do the things of earth grow strangely dim? Or does he shine in all that's fair?
In this book, Joe Rigney offers a breath of fresh air to Christians who are burdened by false standards, impossible expectations, and misguided notions of holiness. Steering a middle course between idolatry on the one hand and ingratitude on the other, this much-needed book reminds us that every good gift comes from the Father's hand, that God's blessings should drive us to worship and generosity, and that a passion for God's glory is as wide as the world.
271 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 2014
329 people are currently reading
3368 people want to read
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December 11, 2019
Really fine book. Nailed it.
November 22, 2024
I may never have gotten to this book, although it's the kind of book I love to read. The reason for that is that I thought I knew most of what would be in it already, and I thought I'd probably want to underline a lot of things as well, and I didn't want to take the time to do that (as I said, since I thought it wouldn't be ground-breaking for my thinking). And while it wasn't ground-breaking for my thinking, since I had heard most of it before, the book sparkles like a jewel—this really is the kind of topic that doesn't get old, at least not for me, especially having grown up in fundamentalism, where the focus was on spiritual things. The reason I finally got around to reading this book is that I had gotten a free audio copy, and I finally got Bluetooth set up in my old car, so I could play it from my phone. Glad I did.
One great thing about this book is that Rigney isn't afraid to compliment Doug Wilson (or Nate); no tip-toeing around, no qualifying this and that, no elitist scorn, no faux "concern"—just "Thanks for your ministry" and "I've learned a lot." Recommended here. Companion videos here.
The reason for so much theology at the beginning of the book is that creation points to God. So Rigney takes time setting up the importance of the Trinity and God's relationship to His creation before getting into the goodness of stuff.
Forward (by Piper): Rigney's book is a good complement to the suffering emphasis in Piper's Xn hedonism
Introduction: What are we to do with the things of earth?
1 Tim. 4:4–5: received God's good gifts with thanksgiving
battle of the hymns ("Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" vs. "This Is My Father's World" [Horton makes this point somewhere])
Watts hymn: "How vain are all things here below!"
list of lessons from Xn hedonism
major influences on Rigney: Jonathan Edwards, C. S. Lewis, John Piper, Doug Wilson
Ch. 1: The Glory of the Triune God
models of the Trinity (e.g., psychological, family, etc.)
What does it mean to glorify God?
C. S. Lewis's "Weight of Glory"
Ch. 2: The Author and His Story
O'Connor, Lewis, N. D. Wilson
Gen. 45:4,8 (you sent / God sent)
Ch. 3: Creation as Communication
epigraphs by Calvin, Shakespeare, Hopkins, and Lewis
typology, analogy, and metaphor
The honey part might be paralleled in his Davenant talk.
Ch. 4: Created to Be a Creature
What does it mean to be made in God's image?
"principle of proportionate regard" (Jonathan Edwards)
Ch. 5: The Gospel Solution to Idolatry
If grateful, then love for the creation doesn't threaten love for the Creator. Your enjoyment of God through the creation is why the Creator created it.
Lewis: put first things first, and you get second things thrown in; put second things first, and you get neither.
Augustine (Confessions 10.29): "He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake."
Ch. 6: Rhythms of Godwardness
Screwtape calls God a hedonist.
Herbert's poem "The Elixir" (B. B. Warfield profited from this poem: The Religious Life of Theological Students)
Ch. 7: Naming the World
great epigraphs by Dante and Lewis
cultural mandate focus
quotes by Henry Van Til, Chesterton, Robert Farrer Capon
Lewis: praise is the consummation of joy (Reflections on the Psalms)
interesting progression from priest (ears) to king (eyes) to prophet (mouth)
Plunder the Egyptians, sure, but don't go dumpster diving in Egypt.
Ch. 8: Desiring Not-God
epigraphs by Hopkins, Chesterton, and Lewis
imitation
poems for sons: Samuel Jonathan, Peter William
Ch. 9: Sacrifice, Self-Denial, and Generosity
foundations are important, but they are for building on
1 Tim. 6:17–19: God gives riches/wealth for our enjoyment
grateful reception of gifts increases our generosity
guilt is bad motivation for giving
Ch. 10: When War-Time Goes Wrong
"Jesus did not die on the cross to deliver me from the sin of being born in America."
Anecdote about infertility and good gifts
don't judge others for making different sacrifices; some "sacrifices" are easy (so we shouldn't feel proud about making them)
buy gifts that show that you are dialed in to their desires
generosity toward children makes them generous [but don't spoil them]
progression of duties: family > church > local > global [hierarchy of loves]
short-term saving isn't always the most strategic (e.g., buy a cheap desk that will need to be replaced often)
Value of plumbing, music, literature: see here
helpful economic principles: no free lunch (someone always pays), value of time (saving money might mean wasting lots of time), wealth isn't a zero-sum game (gaining does not always mean that someone else is losing)
Ch. 11: Suffering, Death, and the Loss of Good Gifts
Tremendous loss can deepen our capacity for gifts (stretching our souls).
If we take gifts with gratitude, we cannot love them too much—anguish at the loss is not sin, although we must not curse God.
Ch. 12: Embrace Your Creatureliness
good summary
One great thing about this book is that Rigney isn't afraid to compliment Doug Wilson (or Nate); no tip-toeing around, no qualifying this and that, no elitist scorn, no faux "concern"—just "Thanks for your ministry" and "I've learned a lot." Recommended here. Companion videos here.
The reason for so much theology at the beginning of the book is that creation points to God. So Rigney takes time setting up the importance of the Trinity and God's relationship to His creation before getting into the goodness of stuff.
Forward (by Piper): Rigney's book is a good complement to the suffering emphasis in Piper's Xn hedonism
Introduction: What are we to do with the things of earth?
1 Tim. 4:4–5: received God's good gifts with thanksgiving
battle of the hymns ("Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" vs. "This Is My Father's World" [Horton makes this point somewhere])
Watts hymn: "How vain are all things here below!"
list of lessons from Xn hedonism
major influences on Rigney: Jonathan Edwards, C. S. Lewis, John Piper, Doug Wilson
Ch. 1: The Glory of the Triune God
models of the Trinity (e.g., psychological, family, etc.)
What does it mean to glorify God?
C. S. Lewis's "Weight of Glory"
Ch. 2: The Author and His Story
O'Connor, Lewis, N. D. Wilson
Gen. 45:4,8 (you sent / God sent)
Ch. 3: Creation as Communication
epigraphs by Calvin, Shakespeare, Hopkins, and Lewis
typology, analogy, and metaphor
The honey part might be paralleled in his Davenant talk.
Ch. 4: Created to Be a Creature
What does it mean to be made in God's image?
"principle of proportionate regard" (Jonathan Edwards)
Ch. 5: The Gospel Solution to Idolatry
If grateful, then love for the creation doesn't threaten love for the Creator. Your enjoyment of God through the creation is why the Creator created it.
Lewis: put first things first, and you get second things thrown in; put second things first, and you get neither.
Augustine (Confessions 10.29): "He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake."
Ch. 6: Rhythms of Godwardness
Screwtape calls God a hedonist.
Herbert's poem "The Elixir" (B. B. Warfield profited from this poem: The Religious Life of Theological Students)
Ch. 7: Naming the World
great epigraphs by Dante and Lewis
cultural mandate focus
quotes by Henry Van Til, Chesterton, Robert Farrer Capon
Lewis: praise is the consummation of joy (Reflections on the Psalms)
interesting progression from priest (ears) to king (eyes) to prophet (mouth)
Plunder the Egyptians, sure, but don't go dumpster diving in Egypt.
Ch. 8: Desiring Not-God
epigraphs by Hopkins, Chesterton, and Lewis
imitation
poems for sons: Samuel Jonathan, Peter William
Ch. 9: Sacrifice, Self-Denial, and Generosity
foundations are important, but they are for building on
1 Tim. 6:17–19: God gives riches/wealth for our enjoyment
grateful reception of gifts increases our generosity
guilt is bad motivation for giving
Ch. 10: When War-Time Goes Wrong
"Jesus did not die on the cross to deliver me from the sin of being born in America."
Anecdote about infertility and good gifts
don't judge others for making different sacrifices; some "sacrifices" are easy (so we shouldn't feel proud about making them)
buy gifts that show that you are dialed in to their desires
generosity toward children makes them generous [but don't spoil them]
progression of duties: family > church > local > global [hierarchy of loves]
short-term saving isn't always the most strategic (e.g., buy a cheap desk that will need to be replaced often)
Value of plumbing, music, literature: see here
helpful economic principles: no free lunch (someone always pays), value of time (saving money might mean wasting lots of time), wealth isn't a zero-sum game (gaining does not always mean that someone else is losing)
Ch. 11: Suffering, Death, and the Loss of Good Gifts
Tremendous loss can deepen our capacity for gifts (stretching our souls).
If we take gifts with gratitude, we cannot love them too much—anguish at the loss is not sin, although we must not curse God.
Ch. 12: Embrace Your Creatureliness
good summary
February 17, 2015
Having grown up at the very epicenter of Christian Hedonism I found Joe Rigney's book to be a very helpful corrective of the weaknesses and support of the strengths. For those reformed people who follow the teachings of John Piper, this book is the counter-balance you need. It strengthens the weak points and emphasizes the under-emphasized, specifically as it pertains to things like guilt about wealth and enjoying the basic pleasures of life. But it is not a critical or antagonistic work. Quite the opposite, actually. It is a work that takes teachings Rigney believes in and makes them more palatable and balanced. It is especially helpful for the young, vigorous reformed folks who may lack a level head and a wise mind. Ringer provides both with much joy, a dash of humor, and a clear pleasure in the life God has given.
January 5, 2021
Melhor livro de 2017!!! Não passem dessa vida sem ler esse livro! !
December 26, 2018
2018: Such a great book. I love it! You have probably read books and listened to sermons on how to deal and receive hard Providences in your life; but have you been taught how to enjoy God's gifts without feeling guilty or without falling in the lie of the prosperity gospel? A must read for sure.
2016: WOW! Excellent book! This book is a wonderful read along with J. Burrough's The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
2016: WOW! Excellent book! This book is a wonderful read along with J. Burrough's The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
June 6, 2021
This is a tremendous book that has made my heart swell and brought tears to my eyes. It's challenged my thinking and put into words deeply held ideas and principles that live by and want others to know. It's about how we can love the things of the earth and love God at the same time. Read this book or the shorter version called "Strangely Bright".
January 16, 2021
esse é o tipo de livro que te abala, que te tira da teoria e te mostra o caráter de Deus impresso em coisas que você nem sequer se atentava. é o tipo de livro que te faz chorar às 2 horas da manhã ao se deparar com a realidade de que Deus se comunica conosco através de Sua criação. depois desse livro eu nunca mais vou beber um café quentinho do mesmo jeito e nem vou olhar para a criação de forma indiferente. em todo bom livro que eu ler verei o mal sendo derrotado e o bem triunfando como prenúncio do Dia do Senhor. que o Senhor me ensine a ser grata por cada dádiva, amá-lo de forma que esse amor - bem ajustado - me faça aproveitar cada uma delas e de forma generosa compartilhá-las com meu próximo.
February 23, 2019
Muito bom! Este livro é realmente marcante. Ele é mais teológico que eu pensei que seria, o que faz a leitura ficar "densa" em alguns capítulos. Mas um destes capítulos, o primeiro, tem uma abordagem excelente dos conceitos de Trindade. Além disso, ele aborda alguns dos grandes dilemas sobre o prazer na criação sem fugir do risco de incentivar o e hedonismo (no conceito secular), mas incentivando um hedonismo cristão (com um propósito).
April 27, 2015
Wow. What a book. WHAT a book.
The thesis of Rigney's book is one of those fairly simple things that can often be surprisingly controversial: We do not have to choose between a love of our glorious and sovereign God, and a love of his delectable gifts. Approached rightly, argues Rigney, (with many quotations from all the people I read, from ND Wilson to Charles Williams) there is no right love of God without a deep, glad and unstinting love for his creation. Rather, each feeds the other. When one skyrockets, the other is dragged along with it; lawful earthly pleasure IS heavenly pleasure.
If you are an orthodox Christian, you should know all this stuff already. But bad theology besets us, and it's hard not to get confused by the tension between what Williams calls the "way of Affirmation of Images" and the "way of Denial of Images" - "this is Thou, and also this is not Thou." God reveals himself to us in everything, and yet nothing really fully reveals him. How then to handle the tension? This book is a thoroughly illuminating and freeing, to say nothing of Biblical, answer to many of these questions. Reading it was a gladdening, encouraging experience.
I did have a complaint. I thought there was too much emphasis on receiving gifts, and too little emphasis on employing them in our mission *on the earth*. There are some wonderful moments, like the one where Rigney takes a moment to say that being made in the image of God is less about who we are than it is about what we do - our dominion work as priests, prophets, and kings of creation. But his ultimate emphasis is more on contemplation of God than it is on shaping the world. Christianity is not just about getting to heaven and the new Earth after we die, it's also about teaching the nations to obey all of Christ's commandments. I would have liked to have seen Rigney apply his formidable theological acumen, not just to the tension between earthly and heavenly pleasures, but also to the tension between our earthly and our heavenly hopes: we remember that we are strangers in this world, but we pray that "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" in the hope and expectation that our prayer will be answered.
Apart from that, this book was fantastic in lots of ways. Get a copy, read it, and then loan it to all the fussers you know who labour under a burden of false guilt.
The thesis of Rigney's book is one of those fairly simple things that can often be surprisingly controversial: We do not have to choose between a love of our glorious and sovereign God, and a love of his delectable gifts. Approached rightly, argues Rigney, (with many quotations from all the people I read, from ND Wilson to Charles Williams) there is no right love of God without a deep, glad and unstinting love for his creation. Rather, each feeds the other. When one skyrockets, the other is dragged along with it; lawful earthly pleasure IS heavenly pleasure.
If you are an orthodox Christian, you should know all this stuff already. But bad theology besets us, and it's hard not to get confused by the tension between what Williams calls the "way of Affirmation of Images" and the "way of Denial of Images" - "this is Thou, and also this is not Thou." God reveals himself to us in everything, and yet nothing really fully reveals him. How then to handle the tension? This book is a thoroughly illuminating and freeing, to say nothing of Biblical, answer to many of these questions. Reading it was a gladdening, encouraging experience.
I did have a complaint. I thought there was too much emphasis on receiving gifts, and too little emphasis on employing them in our mission *on the earth*. There are some wonderful moments, like the one where Rigney takes a moment to say that being made in the image of God is less about who we are than it is about what we do - our dominion work as priests, prophets, and kings of creation. But his ultimate emphasis is more on contemplation of God than it is on shaping the world. Christianity is not just about getting to heaven and the new Earth after we die, it's also about teaching the nations to obey all of Christ's commandments. I would have liked to have seen Rigney apply his formidable theological acumen, not just to the tension between earthly and heavenly pleasures, but also to the tension between our earthly and our heavenly hopes: we remember that we are strangers in this world, but we pray that "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" in the hope and expectation that our prayer will be answered.
Apart from that, this book was fantastic in lots of ways. Get a copy, read it, and then loan it to all the fussers you know who labour under a burden of false guilt.
May 1, 2021
É um livro realmente fascinante, pelas conexões, e aplicações que o autor faz, principalmente, de muitos conceitos já conhecidos dos evangélicos.
É uma ótima sequência para o livro Notas da Xícara Maluca.
Ainda escreverei mais sobre ele. Quero agora, maturar um pouco mais sobre o que li, e fazer considerações mais abalizadas.
De qualquer forma, já o recomendo.
É uma ótima sequência para o livro Notas da Xícara Maluca.
Ainda escreverei mais sobre ele. Quero agora, maturar um pouco mais sobre o que li, e fazer considerações mais abalizadas.
De qualquer forma, já o recomendo.
October 16, 2017
Uma das melhores leituras desse ano, talvez a melhor! Recomendo demais esse livro para todos os cristãos.
January 10, 2024
I especially appreciated the final chapters and the emphasis on gratitude and the abundance of grace.
January 15, 2024
“God’s love for God led him to create the world from nothing. Therefore, our love for God, if it is to be an accurate reflection of God’s love, must also lead us to a deep and profound and fitting love for creation. God’s love for God pushes him into creation. So should ours.” 62
“He loves Thee too little, who enjoys not Thy gifts, which Thou hast given to enlarge our minds and expand our hearts and enrich our souls and increase our strength, that we might love Thee fully and supremely and expansively forever.” 115
“The great privilege of man is to receive everything that God gives in all the ways that he gives it, and then to know it and enjoy it and delight in it and sing about it, and to know him in it and to enjoy him in it and to sing about him in it.” 234
“He loves Thee too little, who enjoys not Thy gifts, which Thou hast given to enlarge our minds and expand our hearts and enrich our souls and increase our strength, that we might love Thee fully and supremely and expansively forever.” 115
“The great privilege of man is to receive everything that God gives in all the ways that he gives it, and then to know it and enjoy it and delight in it and sing about it, and to know him in it and to enjoy him in it and to sing about him in it.” 234
January 13, 2024
Helpful reminders that God has given gifts to His creation and they are intended for both joy and for pleasure. Some gifts are easily abused while other gifts are neglected altogether. In both cases, we are allowing the gift to have precedence over the gift-giver. It is as Piper once quipped “Is Jesus your trucker, bringing you the stuff that makes you happy? Or is he the truckload of treasure that makes you happy?” Helpful thoughts all around.
November 8, 2024
Truly excellent theological work here, and a great expansion on Strangely Bright. I wish I'd had the leisure to read it more carefully—will probably have to come back to it sometime soon.
January 24, 2025
This book was great. Definitely one I think I’ll read again and will get even more out of because it was just super dense!
March 15, 2023
Such a helpful book that has helped me explode with joy and gratitude for all the wonderful gifts in my life that I have received from God. Instead of feeling false guilt out of fear of idolatry, Rignney argues how as Christians we can lean into the good gifts to enjoy God better, and become more generous with others. Rigney remained biblically faithful as all his arguments were very well supported. Some of the theology was quite dense and slowed me down in order to properly understand it, but Rigbey also included his own personal examples to help explain different points.
Will have to reread this yearly.
Will have to reread this yearly.
March 2, 2018
Que livro!! Excelente! Quer aprender a ser mais agradecido? Leia este livro! Quer aprender a desfrutar daquilo que Deus te dá da melhor forma? Leia este livro! Quer ver a graça de Deus até nas perdas? Leia este livro! Seja feliz, se alegre muito, sem remorsos, tudo isso pra glória de Deus!
March 19, 2025
Just as good as every other time. Makes me miss his classes and extremely thankful for what I learned from both in the class and this book.
December 23, 2017
Ótimo livro, que trata de como podemos nos deleitar em Deus, a partir das coisas que ele criou, sem sermos idólatras ou ascéticos.
Embora a argumentação do autor seja bastante robusta, o ponto alto deste livro é o capítulo 8, em que o texto argumentativo dá lugar a pequenas narrações do cotidiano do autor, as quais exaltam a glória de Deus nas coisas simples do dia a dia.
Recomendo!
Embora a argumentação do autor seja bastante robusta, o ponto alto deste livro é o capítulo 8, em que o texto argumentativo dá lugar a pequenas narrações do cotidiano do autor, as quais exaltam a glória de Deus nas coisas simples do dia a dia.
Recomendo!
March 8, 2025
If you’ve ever felt guilty for enjoying things of this earth (materials goods, food, spouses, children, etc…), this book is for you. If you have feared you love these things more than you think you should, this book is for you.
This is just a wonderful book about the joy believers are free to feel in the good gifts God gives us. Read it.
This is just a wonderful book about the joy believers are free to feel in the good gifts God gives us. Read it.
October 28, 2023
This was an absolute must-read for me.... again. (I read it almost all the way through years ago, and finally followed up by reading the whole thing again, INCLUDING the last chapter this time.)
Joe Rigney struggles with the same things I struggle with, asks the questions I want to ask, and answers them with rich theology. He does this all while striking the Tim Keller standard of being erudite and professional, yet relatable. His book is a Godsend (literally) for people like me, who are suspicious that everything they enjoy is probably an idol, so to be safe we should probably either give it up or have the "decency" to feel guilty about it. This Godward book truly freed me up to enjoy God in more ways. I remember my first read-through, years ago, when I realized, "God is GOOD! Like, actually good. Christians say that not because we feel like we have to say that, but because He IS SO GOOD!"
Great for anyone who has the constant creeping suspicion that God probably doesn't want you to like what you like, even if it's not blatantly sinful. Calling on Scripture, church fathers, and modern theologians, Rigney shows that, contrary to my hard thoughts of Him, God wants me to show Him the honor of enjoying that thing that He made, which He also wired me to like. He wants me to receive it with thankfulness, to His glory.
Joe Rigney struggles with the same things I struggle with, asks the questions I want to ask, and answers them with rich theology. He does this all while striking the Tim Keller standard of being erudite and professional, yet relatable. His book is a Godsend (literally) for people like me, who are suspicious that everything they enjoy is probably an idol, so to be safe we should probably either give it up or have the "decency" to feel guilty about it. This Godward book truly freed me up to enjoy God in more ways. I remember my first read-through, years ago, when I realized, "God is GOOD! Like, actually good. Christians say that not because we feel like we have to say that, but because He IS SO GOOD!"
Great for anyone who has the constant creeping suspicion that God probably doesn't want you to like what you like, even if it's not blatantly sinful. Calling on Scripture, church fathers, and modern theologians, Rigney shows that, contrary to my hard thoughts of Him, God wants me to show Him the honor of enjoying that thing that He made, which He also wired me to like. He wants me to receive it with thankfulness, to His glory.
April 30, 2015
An excellent, beautiful book. It’s crammed with rich theology that will make your head spin (in a good way!), yet also full of intensely practical and down-to-earth insights and wisdom. The tone is so winsome—-warm, humble, empathetic, contagiously excited about who God is and what He gives. Rigney writes in a clear, compelling way, taking aim at false guilt and casting a vision for how to live abundantly and generously.
If you’ve ever feared that maybe you love your blessings too much, or if you’ve ever wondered how to navigate a healthy, godly balance between enjoying earthly pleasures and sacrificing for the sake of the gospel, or if you’ve struggled with how to respond when blessings are lost, you’ll find this book immensely helpful.
The book provides an especially valuable counterbalance to John Piper’s teaching (which Piper himself says in the foreword), but I certainly wouldn’t limit my recommendation to those who are familiar with Piper. It’s an important, God-centered perspective to for anyone to take to heart, a way to think rightly in the midst of frequent Christian calls for gratitude or radical self-denial.
If you’ve ever feared that maybe you love your blessings too much, or if you’ve ever wondered how to navigate a healthy, godly balance between enjoying earthly pleasures and sacrificing for the sake of the gospel, or if you’ve struggled with how to respond when blessings are lost, you’ll find this book immensely helpful.
The book provides an especially valuable counterbalance to John Piper’s teaching (which Piper himself says in the foreword), but I certainly wouldn’t limit my recommendation to those who are familiar with Piper. It’s an important, God-centered perspective to for anyone to take to heart, a way to think rightly in the midst of frequent Christian calls for gratitude or radical self-denial.
October 9, 2024
If Goodreads would let me assign six stars to just one book, I'd pick this one. On almost every page, something inside me leaped to its feet and shouted, "Yes!" Rigney does a remarkable job of articulating and defending a Christian vision of the world that rightly finds delight and pleasure in the good gifts of God. It's a fitting answer to a more ascetic version of Christianity that turns away from the good things of the world.
September 1, 2021
Earlier this year, I read and loved Rigney’s “Strangely Bright: Can You Love God and Enjoy This World?” This book gives a more in-depth analysis of the same ideas, with additional scriptural support and even more helpful real-life applications.
Here’s my review of Strangely Bright, which works for this one too.
I think this longer book is even better, but I’d recommend reading at least one of them!
Here’s my review of Strangely Bright, which works for this one too.
I think this longer book is even better, but I’d recommend reading at least one of them!
May 2, 2025
I am left feeling very contemplative on completion of this book. I still don't know quite what to make of it. It isn't that my perspective is radically different, or that I learned a great deal from it, or that I'm overly enamoured by Rigney's writing style. I really liked Rigney's 'Live Like A Narnian', and wasn't so entirely convinced by 'Leadership and Emotional Sabotage', but what I heartily admire in his writing is his zeal for his subject, and his zeal for life, in general. The subject matter of this book was a particular struggle in Rigney's own life, and his compassion for those struggling similarly is palpable. He is unafraid of emotion, unafraid of naming his own faults, unafraid of inviting myriads of people into intimate moments of his life. Looking back at my review of 'Live Like A Narnian', I echo again what I said there: this book tells me more about Rigney than anything else, and he is a character that I have enjoyed catching glimpses of.
As to content, chapters 8 (Desiring Not-God) and 11 (Suffering, Death, and the Loss of Good Gifts) are by far my favourites. The first half is enormously spent in orienting the book in the Trinity, which I suppose is fair, even though I still find his captivation with Edwards perplexing. I like Rigney's conclusions throughout. His exhortation to love the gifts of God to an emotional intensity (mirroring Job, Christ!) is difficult to argue against. Why are you afraid, o man, of making an idol of your wife? She is a gift from God, who has multiplied that gift (children, home, etc), a blessing in every way. So long as your adoration of her is directed first in thanksgiving to God, have no fear of how fierce a love you possess for her. Why are you afraid, o man, of making an idol of golf? Is not God the one who gave you strength and dexterity and working limbs and mathematics to factor in wind speed and type of iron to use and a host of other things? So long as your pleasure is directed first in thanksgiving to God, have no fear of how many hazards you accumulate or how many grass stains get on your trousers.
And, as Rigney states over and over, anything can be abused. But, we can have nice things without biting our nails to the quick over our idolisation of materials that we are really in no danger of idolising. A good reorientation in a lot of ways. Recommend.
As to content, chapters 8 (Desiring Not-God) and 11 (Suffering, Death, and the Loss of Good Gifts) are by far my favourites. The first half is enormously spent in orienting the book in the Trinity, which I suppose is fair, even though I still find his captivation with Edwards perplexing. I like Rigney's conclusions throughout. His exhortation to love the gifts of God to an emotional intensity (mirroring Job, Christ!) is difficult to argue against. Why are you afraid, o man, of making an idol of your wife? She is a gift from God, who has multiplied that gift (children, home, etc), a blessing in every way. So long as your adoration of her is directed first in thanksgiving to God, have no fear of how fierce a love you possess for her. Why are you afraid, o man, of making an idol of golf? Is not God the one who gave you strength and dexterity and working limbs and mathematics to factor in wind speed and type of iron to use and a host of other things? So long as your pleasure is directed first in thanksgiving to God, have no fear of how many hazards you accumulate or how many grass stains get on your trousers.
And, as Rigney states over and over, anything can be abused. But, we can have nice things without biting our nails to the quick over our idolisation of materials that we are really in no danger of idolising. A good reorientation in a lot of ways. Recommend.
November 2, 2024
For many years I have been trying to wage a war against the pietism that is so natural to me and into which I was discipled early in my Christian life. The constant low grade guilt for not being generous enough, or not reading the Bible enough was compounded by being depressed all the time because I was always sin hunting in my own life.
Jesus calls us to a fuller, freer and far more joyful Christian life. Now to be sure we should be generous and read the Bible and kill our sin. But, we’re to do them in the proper context. And there is more to the Christian life than just these pietistic activities (what I call perfunctory piety, or checkbox Christianity).
Rigney provides a helpful paradigm to see that ALL life is meant to draw us into communion with God: Direct and indirect Godwardness. Direct Godwardness is all the activities we usually think of with piety: quiet times, prayer, etc. all of which are good for communing with God, but not the ONLY way to commune with God (which is where pietism often goes wrong). God has also given us his gifts - this entire world - which he created good and intends for us to enjoy. When we properly enjoy the things of earth we are engaged in indirect Godwardness. Rigney argues that by enjoying God’s gifts rightly we are actually communing with him and glorifying him by having true gratitude for His gifts to us.
This is a message I think a lot of American evangelicals need to hear: be more joyful and enjoy that beer.
Of course someone could take Rigney’s argument and point out how it could be abused by people who want to fall into the other ditch of easy believism, or “I’m free in Christ so I can do whatever I want even if the Bible says I shouldn’t” Christianity. But as far as this book goes, it’s an excellent take down of pietism.
Jesus calls us to a fuller, freer and far more joyful Christian life. Now to be sure we should be generous and read the Bible and kill our sin. But, we’re to do them in the proper context. And there is more to the Christian life than just these pietistic activities (what I call perfunctory piety, or checkbox Christianity).
Rigney provides a helpful paradigm to see that ALL life is meant to draw us into communion with God: Direct and indirect Godwardness. Direct Godwardness is all the activities we usually think of with piety: quiet times, prayer, etc. all of which are good for communing with God, but not the ONLY way to commune with God (which is where pietism often goes wrong). God has also given us his gifts - this entire world - which he created good and intends for us to enjoy. When we properly enjoy the things of earth we are engaged in indirect Godwardness. Rigney argues that by enjoying God’s gifts rightly we are actually communing with him and glorifying him by having true gratitude for His gifts to us.
This is a message I think a lot of American evangelicals need to hear: be more joyful and enjoy that beer.
Of course someone could take Rigney’s argument and point out how it could be abused by people who want to fall into the other ditch of easy believism, or “I’m free in Christ so I can do whatever I want even if the Bible says I shouldn’t” Christianity. But as far as this book goes, it’s an excellent take down of pietism.
March 8, 2025
Any book that quotes Hopkins on the back cover is sure to be a winner.
This is like the more theologically robust, less artsy sibling of "Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl" (a book I adore, and which Rigney quotes from and is clearly inspired by). At times it was a bit dense for my toddler/newborn-addled brain but Rigney is professorial, i.e. he's a teacher at heart and he wants to help you understand.
Page 130 has what I would consider to be a good one-sentence summary of the book. "In Christ, God is restoring what has been lost and reintegrating our love for him and our enjoyment of his gifts so that they do not compete with each other but instead mutually serve and enhance each other for his glory and our joy."
This is like the more theologically robust, less artsy sibling of "Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl" (a book I adore, and which Rigney quotes from and is clearly inspired by). At times it was a bit dense for my toddler/newborn-addled brain but Rigney is professorial, i.e. he's a teacher at heart and he wants to help you understand.
Page 130 has what I would consider to be a good one-sentence summary of the book. "In Christ, God is restoring what has been lost and reintegrating our love for him and our enjoyment of his gifts so that they do not compete with each other but instead mutually serve and enhance each other for his glory and our joy."
January 9, 2024
I have been savoring this book chapter by chapter over the past two years, reading and rereading chapters. Rigney's way of navigating the complicated yet imperative posture of the Christian regarding how to enjoy God's good gifts has changed the way I interact with the world for the better. This book has been a comfort through cancer, permission to dive into celebration, conviction when lacking generosity and grace towards neighbor. This book, I would say, is one of the books I would give credit to changing the way I view life entirely. Thus, it's been life-changing for me and God has used in immensely.
September 7, 2024
“God’s love for God led him to create the world from nothing. Therefore, our love for God, if it is to be an accurate reflection of God’s love, must also lead us to a deep and profound and fitting love for creation. God’s love for God, pushes him into creation. So should ours. “ pg 62
Love love loveeeee this book!!! Rigney did an excellent job of explaining that we don’t have to choose between a love for God and a love for His gifts. He explains how Christians are to rightly enjoy the things God has given us without falling to materialism or asceticism.
Love love loveeeee this book!!! Rigney did an excellent job of explaining that we don’t have to choose between a love for God and a love for His gifts. He explains how Christians are to rightly enjoy the things God has given us without falling to materialism or asceticism.
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