Earthbound Christian: Flourishing Within Limits in the Age of Infinite Growth

by Caleb Cray Haynes, Hannah Gibson (Illustrator)

In an age held captive by Al, space capitalism, and unlimited everything, what if the flourishing life we are made for is not "out there" but "down here" on Earth? What if being limited, finite, earthy people is exactly what God wants us to be? What if we are created to be heaven-bound and earth-bound?

This is a book about being human on Earth, the Christian faith, society's fascination with technology, the worship of economic growth, the insights of indigenous peoples, and American values. It is a book about discovering what true progress is as we learn from gravity, stars, soil, and the wisdom of God in creation. The lives we are created for are meant to offer healing for God's world, and in that place of renewal is a better future than we can imagine!

242 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

Rev. Caleb Cray Haynes is co-founder of Nazarenes for Creation Care, a grassroots organization working toward Christian environmental justice, he is an ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene and co-pastors Kaleo Nashville with his wife, Emily. Caleb is a partner with the Evangelical Environmental Network, and he enjoys writing and speaking on the intersection of faith and ecology. More at CalebCrayHaynes.com

Reviews

[Melanie Pond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like a letter from a good friend. Caleb has the ability to inspire to action in what can seem like a hopeless situation. Filled with facts, theology, and wisdom, the book makes a clear connection between living in harmony with nature and loving our neighbor as ourselves. With a humble spirit, Caleb lays out how we must acknowledge our limits and return to living connected to nature in order to save ourselves. And he does so in a heartfelt, down-to-earth (pun intended) way.

[Hanna Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like reading a letter from a friend who really wants the best for you.
Familiar and humorous inflection, that is not afraid to call out where things are wrong- its honest, enlightening, and encouraging.
With a word on hope, healing, and being more human and more HERE-
Earthbound is a fun read that's still a serious conversation

[Rachel Hafler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what the church needs right now. Caleb writes beautifully about embracing our human limits and how that can actually be a good thing! I appreciate Caleb's humor and his curious posture towards questions of faith and caring for creation. Earthbound Christian offers us a grounded, compelling vision for how we can practically show up in the world as people of loving presence and radical justice. It's convicting and encouraging and you should absolutely read it.

A few of my favorite quotes-
'True progress will only be found through discovering a new and healing relationship with the soil under our feet and the souls we share this planet with.' (pg.59)
'What if, at some point, human advancement doesn't look like more or higher or bigger or better, but rather less and lower?' (pg. 70)
'Can we follow Christ and continue to blindly participate in systems that aren't Christlike? Can we continue attempting to spread the message of the Creator while participating in the devouring of creation?' (pg. 104)
'There is a reason God's covenant extends from humanity to also include the earth and all living things. Healing can happen no other way.' (pg. 121)
'The soil is where resurrection happens in real time.' (pg. 145)

[Ashley Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received a free, advanced copy of this book and this is my honest review.**

This book is chock full of important information on the climate crisis and human impact on the earth. For the first half of the book, I felt depressed and guilty to the point I almost didn’t finish it. But the last half took a hopeful turn. Living as humans bound to the earth has the potential to heal the earth and ourselves. Now excuse me while I go play in the dirt. :)

[Morgan Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received a free, advanced copy of this book and this is my honest review.**


In Earthbound Christian, author Caleb Cray Haynes tackles the conflict present with Christians today between a church that has shaped its gospel around escapism while the Bible teaches us that Jesus' arrival on earth initiates the coming of heaven to our world. We are not just called to be people of heaven, but people of earth.

Caleb also tackles a variety of topics that challenge Christians to care for creation as God originally intended. He dives into how technology and other advances have made this more difficult and offers applicable wisdom to how we might re-engage with this call to keep and care for creation.

I recommend this book for anyone looking to learn more about how we should be living out our faith HERE as earthbound Christians.