Garbage Theology: The Unseen World of Waste and What It Means for the Salvation of Every Person, Every Place, and Every Thing

by Caleb Cray Haynes

What if you looked out your window and saw Jesus going through your trash can?
Would that surprise you?
The greatest illusion of our time comes in the form of waste. From landfills, to micro-trash, to invisible emissions, to imperceivable pollutants, to the factories and shores we never see... it's all hidden away from our sight. However, the harmful effects of this global wastefulness reaches far and wide. It's touching the lives of everyone you love, every place you've been, and every single thing you can imagine.

So, what if God is actually very interested in your waste?
What if your faith requires a greater awareness about the things you eat, buy, and throw away?

Could it be that your salvation is tied to all of God's creation and that you have the opportunity to join God's work of restoration?

While addressing the environmental challenges of our time, Garbage Theology seeks to connect our Biblical call to keep and serve creation with how we live our lives today. Through personal stories extracted from years of working in the trash and recycling industry while pastoring a local church, author Caleb Cray Haynes introduces and examines a theology of waste through the lens of Scripture and our story as the people of God in the context of our current global waste emergency.

304 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2021

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

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for people of faith. Haynes refuses to offer a "one size fix all" answer to the crisis of waste and overconsumption currently plaguing the globe. Part theology, part Scripture, part explanations the problem(s) alongside practical ideas, the book is accessible for multiple audiences. He includes questions for discussion and reflection at the end of each chapter. I highly recommend to anyone (eco-minded or not!) who wants to follow Jesus into deeper places.

[Rachel Hafler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous exploration of God's call to care for the earth and everything in it. Our lives and our flourishing are inextricably bound up with the health of our planet (soil, plants, water, air, animals, and other humans...). Caleb communicates so well the weight of what is at stake here ecologically, while also making the small steps to change our relationship with waste seem practical and doable.

I especially appreciated Caleb's re-framing of common Scripture passages that made me think deeply about how I see 'waste' and what the kingdom of God might really look like. The way that he uses questions is very inviting and thought provoking. Highly recommend this book. #jesuswantstosaveyoursoil

[Kevin Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an eye-opener to the extreme! Caleb did an excellent job explaining where are things come from and where they go and how to better source what we own. It was a hard read, especially when it came to the issue of slavery and the prevalence of it in the creation of our goods. I strongly suggest that everyone read this book.

[Nelson Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freshness from Garbage (theology)

I wish I had the words to get everyone to read this book. Pastor Caleb asks many questions to get us thinking about a new a way to live and be happier. I love it and it makes for great group studies.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking to your system; everything from major to minor life decisions are pushed to question our impact on Earth. Read it, feel it, then act on it.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garbage Theology is a unique and well-timed accessible theology book about how we look at our waste, how we consume, and what it means for the salvation of every person, every place, and every thing. Littered with engaging personal stories about being a garbage hauler and bivocational pastor, Rev. Haynes has created a engaging, thought-provoking way for the people of God to wrap their faith around the garbage emergency that corresponds to the climate crises of our day. Practical action steps, small group discussion questions, and the necessary connections to the biblical mandate to love God and neighbor, Garbage Theology is a must read for the people of God in our day.