Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action

by Kyle Meyaard-Schaap

Have you ever looked at the effects of climate change and the apathy of so many around you and wondered, "What are we missing here?" Climate activist Kyle Meyaard-Schaap understands this feeling from personal experience. But in his years of speaking to and equipping Christians to work for climate action, he's seen the trend begin to shift. More and more young Christians are waking up to the realities of climate change. They want to help, but they're not sure how. Through stories from the field, theological and scriptural exploration, and practical advice, Meyaard-Schaap offers hope to Christians paralyzed by the scale of the crisis, helping us turn our paralysis into meaningful action. Following Jesus in a Warming World is a field guide for Christian climate action―one grounded not in a sense of guilt or drudgery, but in the joy of caring for creation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Faith, Climate Change, Christianity, Spirituality, Religion

200 pages, Paperback

Published February 21, 2023

Reviews

[Eleanor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay I LOVED the beginning of the book. This guy came to visit my philosophy class my freshman year, and his talk was so interesting I quickly asked for this book as a present. The way he uses the Bible to uncover a (new?) way of viewing humans’ relationship to Creation is super awesome. However, I have twice before stopped reading at roughly the same spot. The fourth quarter of the book is repetitive, and honestly my eyes were glazing over reading it at work this week (but I was getting paid to read/finish so I can’t really complain). I see the vision, but it wasn’t motivating me. I do feel bad for this dude though, because the other reviews are pretty much either 1) he’s clearly pushing a liberal agenda, this book is bad but somehow also 2) he reframed being pro-life as wanting everyone to live so he doesn’t respect pro-choice arguments, this book is too conservative and it’s like guys c’mon. He manages to be open-minded but also very firm—I honestly think he did a great job talking about why a touchy subject shouldn’t be touchy.

[Abi Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a great theology of climate action and creation care. I hope that more Christians will write on this subject in the years to come, but I deeply appreciate the work of groundbreakers like Meyaard-Schaap and Sandra L. Richter (author of Stewards of Eden) to start a movement in this direction.

The first half of the book delves into the scriptural basis for caring for the environment. The second half outlines very practical ways to advocate for the earth, including a guide for conversations with climate change skeptics, which I found to be insightful. It is clear that Meyaard-Schnaap has deep understanding and broad experience.

[Ali C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I care deeply about the stewardship of our planet. I care very little about getting into political banter about climate change and prefer to focus on small, sustainable, practical solutions that I can implement in my own life. Unfortunately, this book was a little too philosophical and,at times, argumentative, for me. I appreciate the author's passion and his wrestling, but I was hoping for more practical tips of how to honor God through how I steward the Earth. This is what I found in the 'Spiritual Disciplines of Climate Action' in the Appendix, but I had really hoped that it would have been more of the book's thesis.

I believe that some readers will really enjoy this book and resonate with it, especially those who have more interest in political/legislative/governmental involvement in climate change. For me, it just wasn't a great fit.

Thank you NetGalley and IVP for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Aniah Dowdy]

I can’t rate this book because I still don’t know how I feel about it but my first thoughts are that it has challenging and compelling aspects with great tools for next steps and thorough evidence of climate change and his study of Genesis, but it also contains a few sections that I disagreed with like his interpretation of the Scripture in different areas, and at times I felt like the author was too loose with his words in how he described both God and Jesus

[Jody Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me reread Scripture I had read many times before and gave me a new way at looking at an individual's role in a world of climate change. It made me realize being pro-life goes beyond defending the unborn. It's a short book and easy to read but filled with many thought provoking ideas.

[Lukas Stock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to IVP for providing a review copy ahead of an interview with the author.

Meyaard-Schaap presents a popular-level argument for Christian engagement in climate action. His argument is primarily based on the principles of God's love for creation and Christ's call to love neighbor. The effects of climate change that result in destruction and suffering must be opposed and solved by Christians as an aspect of loving the world God made and our neighbors who are suffering.

There's nothing wrong with his premise, and he does a good job of presenting his case clearly and succinctly. The book is well researched and woven throughout are powerful anecdotes of the impacts of climate change on real people.

Issues arise in some places with the structure of arguments. This is most evident in Chapter 2, "How Did We Get Here?" which is a historical look at the stories that have influenced the evangelical church's general silence to climate issues. He ascribes a devaluation of the natural world to a "Platonic" emphasis on the immaterial, spiritual world (see p. 29), and even chalks the Arian, Docetic, and Nestorian heresies to Platonic influence. The problem, of course, is that this ignores not only a more thorough reading of Platonic or Neoplatonic sources, but the Neoplatonic influences on early Christian theology. Ironically, "Plato is bad, Nature is actually good" becomes a new dualism implied by his argument.

Another example is his claim that white evangelicals are more susceptible to misinformation (see pp. 31-32). His evidence is a series of statistics of narratives believed by a large percentage of white evangelicals that are assumed by him to be false. This is at best insufficient, and at worst circular.

Now, to be clear, I agree with the majority of the conclusions about the importance of dealing with climate change and the fact that it is ridiculous that conservative Christians have come to associate climate action with supposedly "unchristian" politics. My problem with this work is the conclusions seem to reflect an idealistic, generically liberal outlook favored by certain streams of Christian publishing in the US today. Most of the action points drawn in the final chapters of the book reflect a basic affirmation of the efficacy of modern liberal democracy and working within this system to reform the economic and social structures that have led to the climate crisis. "in liberal democracies like the United States and most other Western, industrialized countries, we are the ones who make policy ... Elected officials derive their power from us" (p. 134). Is this really true in a system where corporate donors fund and lobby candidates who will support their interests and where most elected officials cannot be recalled?

Meyaard-Schaap clearly demonstrates the systemic causes and scale of the climate crisis that have come as a result of industrial capitalism (see especially pp. 85-88). This is the best part of the book. My burning question for him is how the private practices he advocates for (especially in Appendix A) and the reform advocacy he envisions as the hard work of Christian citizenship are capable of achieving the radical change he rightly identifies as necessary. Don't we perhaps need a Christian citizenship that is not a way of being a liberal-democratic-republican-subject and instead something different that can change the structures that create the conditions of climate change?

It is easy to be critical of an author's work and write up a brief review about it. It is another to be involved in doing the work needed to address real social, economic, and political challenges and problems. I commend the work Kyle Meyaard-Schaap is attempting to do, or at least the principles motivating him. It is interesting to begin to see mainstream evangelical publishers allocating resources to the topic of climate change and action. I am, of course, hopeful that works like this one will help younger people in the church become aware of some of the problems related to climate change and get them interested in real, systemic change. I just worry that being an activist isn't enough.

[Sarah M. Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the time I became a Christian in college, the foundation of my love for the natural world had been laid. Pastors and teachers taught me many things, but the occasional sermon on the beginning of Genesis with a token mention of our role as stewards of the earth was the most that I ever remember hearing about caring for creation.

The world of horticulture, ecology, and conservation I loved existed in one bubble, and God’s people I loved existed in another. For a long, long time, there was very little overlap between those two bubbles. Why should Christians care about plants and animals when there are souls to be saved from eternal damnation?! People first, then planet.

Over the years, I’ve learned more and more about how intricately connected people are to the planet. God created all of us—elephant and alligator, dung beetle and dandelion—to be reliant on each other for a balanced and healthy ecosystem, and we’re right in the middle of it.

A healthy planet means healthy people. Caring for creation is such a vital expression of love for God and love for others that it can’t be relegated to a corner, separate from our faith. It needs to be front and center, right alongside all of the other initiatives we have in place to reach people for Christ.

For a long time now, Christians—especially those of us raised in or formed by evangelicalism—have been silent, or worse, cynical and critical, about creation care, or climate change, or conservation efforts. However, many Christians in the Millennial and Gen Z generations grew up with a growing concern and awareness about the plight of our planet, wondering if their faith had anything to say about our responsibility to the earth.

In his book Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action, Kyle Meyaard-Schaap calls for an end to the silence.

(Read the rest of my review at rootandvinenews.com.)

[Willemina Barber-Wixtrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find his optimism hard to match, but I'm not studied enough on the topic to know if I'm just being a cynic.

Also, it's a pretty glaring omission to not talk about the age of the earth. If the church is trying to unite itself on climate action, then we need to confront the specter of young earth creationism. All good evidence for man made climate change relies on old earth scientific models, and we cannot actually mobilize ourselves if we're still seeing Nephilim and dragons in the fossil record

[Philemon Schott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too focused on the US for such a global issue. This is particularly evident by the fact that every aspect of the climate crisis is always linked to its impact on the US. The same goes for the theological arguments that seem to only address a particular brand of Christianity, that is US evangelicalism (e.g., a whole chapter is dedicated to pro-life).
Nevertheless, I am grateful that the book even exists. I hope that books like this can have a positive influence on US evangelicalism.

[Stephanie’s Ninth Suitcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.

Scripture Connection

“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’”
Gen. 1:27-28

What to Expect

Following Jesus in a Warming World turned out to be different than what I had expected. This is, however, one of those cases where I drew my conclusions in spite of (and not because of) the title. I was expecting for the book to offer Christians a biblical rationale for the importance of caring for the environment, with examples of how we can take care of the earth on an individual basis. While the book does contain a bit about this, there is also a good deal devoted to advocacy in its various forms (i.e., sharing your story, calling Congress, submitting editorials to the local paper).

Outline

The book consists of nine chapters, plus an intro, an epilogue and two appendixes.

I would say that the first four chapters (“Coal and the Greatest Commandment,” ��How Did We Get Here,” “Recovering the Big Story” and “Climate Action is Good News”) do address the question of the Scriptural precedent for taking care of the planet. However, rather than offering a concordance of all the references to “the land” in the Bible (Sarah Augustine actually supplies quite a few in The Land is Not Empty, if you’re interested), Meyaard-Schaap delves into the principle behind some of the directives we see in Scripture. For example, chapter one cites Jesus’s command to “love God and love your neighbor.” The author notes that loving our neighbors means caring for the oppressed, including those who wreak the devastating effects of climate change, without even contributing to it.

More along the lines of what I expected to find in the book, chapter three is about the Genesis account of Creation, with the instructions to “rule over” the earth.

The latter half of the book (chapters 5-9) is more action-oriented. Chapter five is about carrying prolife ethics beyond the womb and caring for those children born into a polluted world– where illness is especially rampant in poorer communities. Chapter six emphasizes the importance of sharing your personal story (why you care about climate change, as a Christian), with others in your sphere of influence. Chapter seven is about finding joy in ecological action, eight is about political action and nine is about how our faith informs what our day-to-day advocacy looks like.

The appendixes offer tangible instructions: practical, everyday ways to combat climate change, plus a step-by-step tutorial on writing an op-ed.

Favorite Quote

“Let us be clear on one thing: the status quo is not neutral. The world in which we live and move and have our being has been shaped by laws and policies that benefit some to the detriment of others.”
p. 135

Contextually, this quote is from a section about our ability, as constituents, to affect large-scale change. I think this is an excellent quote, in general, about the nature of systemic oppression.

What I Liked

The book’s introduction immediately grabbed my attention. Meyaard-Schaap begins with an anecdote about his older brother coming home from college and declaring that he’d adopted a vegetarian lifestyle. Meyaard-Schaap reveals his feelings of confusion and consternation, in the face of his brother’s announcement. After all, vegetarianism isn’t exactly a tenet of Conservative Christianity.

I liked the hook for a few reasons. First, it was well-written. Second, it resonated with me, as a reader who has observed the wide gulf between ecological action and Conservative Christianity. Like Meyaard-Schaap, I had a time when I thought that concern for “global warming” had nothing to do with faith, and I think other readers will resonate with this experience. Lastly, I only recently embraced a vegetarian lifestyle, so this was very timely.

“This book is for every Christian who has walked this lonely journey… who has looked out at a world ravaged by the impacts of climate change, at the inability of their seemingly oblivious faith community to do or say anything about it, and quietly wondered if they’re losing their mind.”
p. 3

What a refreshing and comforting quote! Here, Meyaard-Schaap beautifully articulates the loneliness that members of the Christian community are experiencing, inviting readers to find community within the pages of the book.

Introduction aside, chapter three is my favorite because it is all about what stewardship means, dispelling the notion that God wants us to exploit a disposable world. This chapter is also rich with Scripture, and it’s cool to read these familiar verses with stewardship in mind. For example, referencing a verse from my favorite passage (Rev. 21:5), Meyaard-Schaap writes, “John… is making plain that God’s not starting over with His people or His cration. Instead, God is restoring His masterpiece.” This is evidenced by the Greek term used for “new,” which is not indicative of something “brand new,” but rather of something fully restored.

Just as I liked the introduction, I also appreciated the author’s retelling of the years of his youth, growing up in an Evangelical church. Meeyard-Schaap seems to be just a bit older than me and I could strongly relate to some of his experiences. For example, he describes the pressure for young people to evangelize, going on to argue that climate action is good news, because it is about fighting for the cause of the oppressed. Since the term “evangelism” comes from the Greek for “good news,” it makes sense to talk about good news in the context of evangelizing. And, of course, the Bible is FULL of the message of the call to fight for those who are being hurt and oppressed.

I also appreciate that Following Jesus in a Warming World is not only about the author’s personal journey. Also embedded into the work are the accounts of people he has met, who have experienced, firsthand, the effects of climate change. I feel this is an immensely important contribution, because it removes the issue from an abstract realm and makes it more tangible and real. While many readers of this book may not have experienced the effects of climate change (and particularly not to the extent described in the book), Meyaard-Schaap’s storytelling puts faces to the facts.

Content Notes

In Following Jesus in a Warming World, there are a few instances where the LGBTQ movement is referenced in terms of social justice. This is something I do not endorse. I am passionate about racial reconciliation and dismantling systemic injustice, but I am wary of Christian endorsement of this lifestyle. I also feel that classifying LGBT as an oppressed community is a disservice to oppressed people groups.

Respectful Discussion

While most of the commentary is presented with humility, I feel there are a few instances where the author makes assumptions about his audience, resulting in potential alienation, rather than kinship.

For instance, there’s a discussion about misinformation, which includes references to those holding unpopular views about the COVID vaccine, within the Evangelical community. The author also references those who voted for Donald Trump, “because that is what the political story that had formed them told them to do.” I can absolutely appreciate the author’s point: There’s something wrong going on when voters feel that they must vote based on a ticket, regardless of the ethics involved (and environmental reform, which is an important cause for Christians, is not usually a red-ticket item). However, I feel uncomfortable with the implication that voters were behaving thoughtlessly because they did select a given candidate.

I agree with the author’s assertion that there is more than one “Christian” way to vote. Therefore, I disagree with his near-dismissal of one such way to vote.

I do, however, heartily agree with the author’s contention that we need to widen our understanding of what it means to vote as a Christian and of what it means to vote pro-life.

Recommendation Status

This is a Christian book about following Jesus in the midst of climate change. As such, the driving point is that climate action is important, for Christians. While I don’t agree with every single point that the author makes, I am very happy to see this title from a Christian publisher, and I do appreciate the author’s humility, thoughtfulness and compassion in the writing.

Recommended for those who feel alienated in their desire to steward the planet, as Christians. Recommended, also, for those who would like suggestions about how to advocate for ecological reform.

[Diane Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, it's about time that more Christian books on Creation Care were published. We do exist out here, but often the idea is that if you are a Christian, you view the natural world around you as disposable and as here for your consumption and exploitation. In his book, Meynaard-Schaap deconstructs where that fundamental idea came from (politics and voting trends), and goes through the evidence that scripture has not been fully contextualized on this topic. If you liked Stewards of Eden by Sandra L. Richter (same publisher), you will enjoy this. If you have not read her book I suggest the two in tandem. Please IVP publish more of this type of content, I'm all for it, and so are the 1,000s of Gen-Z, ers and Millenials who have left the church on Sundays feeling like it is highly disconnected to the world we inherited and the ethical ground that says that caring for our neighbour is connected to the environment, when we see floods taking peoples homes, or causing droughts where many starve, the challenge of this era will be to look around you, and see how its all connected.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: By combining biblical and theological framing with personal narrative, offers hope and practical steps to those daunted by the immensity, and perceived hopelessness, of the realities of climate change.

Kyle Meyaard-Schaap grew up in a conservative, Christian-schooled community voting heavily Republican. The one social issue his community cared about was a pro-life opposition to abortion. Until his brother came home one day and announced himself as a vegetarian. He had not deconstructed his faith. As they talked, it became more and more apparent that his brother was living into biblical truths they had been raised upon, and commitments to life that were dear to them.

Meyaard-Schaap traces his own journey to becoming an evangelical environmental activist, currently serving as vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network. Part of the book is theological. He overviews the sweep of scripture from creation and our mandate to serve and protect creation, the impacts of human fallenness, and God’s purposes for new creation, where heaven comes down to earth as we reign with Christ and restore creation with him to what he intended. He argues that this is good news, and in one of the distinctive contributions to the Christian environmental conversation, contends that climate action motivated by the vision of the kingdom, is evangelism. He also proposes that climate activism is pro-life. Climate change is killing people. In the decimation of forested land, new diseases are arising for which we have no immunities, and vector-born diseases are expanding into formerly temperate zones. Especially, climate change is killing those with the least resources to protect themselves in coastal communities and rapidly warming parts of the world where temperatures are exceeding what the human body can tolerate for any length of time.

The news about climate change seems daunting and Meyaard-Schaap acknowledges how many of his generation have lost hope. They are not having children. From his field experiences, he shares the power of stories. Defying the image of guilt and drudgery, he relates how both advocacy and personal disciplines of climate care are sources of joy and hope. He discusses how we replace climate arguments with conversations about the things we care about together in God’s world and how we can ensure their continued existence. He offers practical instructions on effective climate citizenship and various forms of advocacy, including an appendix on how to write an effective letter to the editor or op-ed piece. And he lists practical disciplines of good creation care.

Some of the book draws upon the thought of others, notably Dr, Katherine Hayhoe’s framework for climate conversations that bond, connect, and inspire. What is unique about this book is his account of his own journey through conversations like that with his brother and his ability to connect theologically with concerns of evangelical Christians around the creation, the return of Christ, evangelism, and the pro-life cause. He shows in his own life that becoming active in climate causes reflects Christian faithfulness rather than deconstructed faith. He offers practical advice drawn from his own experiences in advocacy.

What I thought most significant is that he addresses at different points the decision many are making not to have children, perhaps most eloquently in a letter to a grandchild at commencement in 2066. He writes:

By the time your dad was born in 2018, though, the consequences of our [climate] procrastination were becoming harder and harder to ignore. There were some our age, even then, choosing not to have kids. Deciding that the future was too dangerous, to unpredictable to morally justify yoking a human life to it without that human’s prior and informed consent, a sentiment your grandma and I could certainly understand, though never quite embrace. I guess our hope in God’s good plans for the world has always been more stubborn than our fear of our ability to derail them. But that doesn’t mean the fear hasn’t been there, ever mingling with the hope.

On the day your father came into the world, that alloy of hope and fear was forged in my heart for good….It’s a phenomenon that repeats itself whenever we make the dangerous, awesome choice to love (p. 176).

In sum, what Kyle Meyaard-Schaap offers is an account of Christian climate action that is nothing more nor less than faithful Christian discipleship, following Jesus.

____________________

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher.

[Josh Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up as a conservative evangelical, I knew we were supposed to be suspicious of global warming. There were two reasons for this: First, God wouldn’t let the earth be destroyed until it was his time to destroy it. Second, Al Gore. In the decades since then, Gore’s warnings have proved prescient and the scientific evidence is nearly insurmountable. We live in a warming world. Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action blends a how-we-got-here history and a where-do-we-go-from-here activism that results in a clear and practical blueprint enacting ecological justice.

Kyle Meyaard-Schaap is currently the vice president of the Evangelical Environmental Network and formerly a spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. He’s been in the trenches of both evangelicalism and ecological justice, understands them both, and is able to bring the two to reconciliation. Of all the things I expected in Following Jesus in a Warming World—a discussion about evangelicalism/fundamentalism’s questioning of science, the irrefutability of climate change, etc.—the thing I did not expect was that the book would be so theological.

Meyaard-Schaap knows his audience. So he grounds his plan for ecological justice in Scripture, showing how Adam’s “dominion mandate” is best interpreted as a responsibility to care for the earth and everything in it. He positions this ecological responsibility as part of the imago dei—that because we are made in the image of God, we have a duty for Creation care. This theological background helps break down the sociopolitical barriers that some Christians might have when it comes to creation care.

Following Jesus in a Warming World also presents combating climate change as a pro-life issue, discussing how life of all kind—but human flourishing in particular—is harmed by the changes wrought by the warming world. By focusing on the theological and moral aspects, Meyaard-Schapp is able to get heads nodding and agreeing before turning to more controversial elements. He also advocates that we use the method of storytelling to combat antagonism to climate change rather than trying to simply quote statistics, scientists, or Al Gore. Learning the real-life human cost of climate change—the qualitative, rather than the quantitative cost—can help change the narrative and make people more amenable to change in their own lives.

Following Jesus in a Warming World offers several simple and practical actions that individuals can do to combat climate change. However, it’s also clear the climate change is a systematic problem that requires a systematic solution. Christian action is two-tiered: First, we change our personal behaviors to enact ecological justice where we can, even if our individual actions are imperceptibly small. Second, we use our ability to advocate for change in corporations, governments, and the ultra-wealthy who account for most of climate change. Meyaard-Schaap grounds all of this in a Christian ethic that you’d be hard-pressed to disagree with. Following Jesus in a Warming World is a call for Christians to reflect the image of their Maker and care for the world that has been entrusted to them.

[Patrick Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concern about the climate crisis should energize the best intentions and actions of thoughtful, committed Christians. Following Jesus in a Warming World can accomplish much in activating that concern and it should be widely read in the Evangelical community especially. It’s a well-written, passionate book designed not to stoke fear but to inform the reader of current and likely future conditions while identifying sound Christ-centered reasons for taking action.

Those reasons include the vulnerability of the world’s poorest populations to the worst effects of climate change and Christian’s call to care for those populations. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap also applies a broader understanding of the phrase “pro life,” one that covers our need to care for all living beings, including but not limited to the unborn.

Following Jesus in a Warming World is published by InterVarsity Press. They collected endorsements from an impressive list of Christian leaders, so you don’t have to just take my word on the quality of this book. I am especially impressed by and grateful for the work that the entire InterVarsity organization does in elevating science in the Evangelical Christian world. Following Jesus in a Warming World is a worthy addition to that work.

[annis · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok welp this book was a bit disappointing to me. i had listened to the author speak at hope in april and was really excited about this topic and decided to read his book. it started off pretty good, but then it started to get pretty political (and not just about the environment). i understood why he was talking about abortion and what his point was, but i just didn’t agree with it. this stopped about halfway through the book, but at that point, i was kinda turned off to his argument. i think more christians should care about the environment and that we are called to do just that. but, i don’t think being pro environment and pro animals’ lives means that i am therefore pro life regarding abortions. he was making some pretty strong arguments and generalizations for ALL christians and i don’t agree with him. i appreciated how later in the book, he discussed how much environmental justice is a social justice issue, but at that point in the book, i had kinda turned away from his argument. i don’t know how to say this, but you can just really tell this was written by someone from west michigan. i think this book would be good for a christian who is republican and wants to learn more creation care. if this is a topic you are already passionate about, i don’t think this book is for you.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the author was first exposed to the practice of environmental stewardship as a Christian practice, he was startled. Why hadn't he ever heard this within the walls of his church? He begins to lay the foundation for a theological framework to begin a personal practice of environmental spiritual practice, and provides tips for personal practice, political activism, and proactive discussion with other Christians. Some of his arguments fell a little flat with our church's study group (which already leans activist on the environment), but we still appreciated his enthusiasm and desire for more Christians to view environmentalism as a Christian and spiritual act. We especially appreciated his tips on discussing caring for the planet with other Christians who may not have adopted it as an act of our faith. Entertaining, easy to read, and produced some good discussion in our study group.

[Hallelujah Brews Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

With tomorrow being Earth Day, I figure there is no time like the present to jump into ecotheology. Time to review 'Following Jesus in a Warming World' written by @kylemeyaardschaap

I found this book inspiring and hopeful, and also quite entertaining. It's a quick read, and Kyle's stories keep the reader engaged.

This book challenges the reader to carefully and thoughtfully consider how the two greatest commandments (love God and love others) should inspire and launch Christians into climate action. If one desires to live out Jesus's command to love the poor and oppressed, then climate action evidenced by policy making and lifestyle change is the result. It is time Christians acknowledge climate change and act as stewards of creation.

5🌟/5🌟

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful call to action for Christians who care (and who should care) about the ongoing climate crisis! I appreciated the incorporation of personal stories from the author's own life and the lives of those he knows or has met. I appreciated the honesty, the calm style of writing, and the practical advice and wisdom. It was a good mix of emotional appeal, facts and statistics, criticism of current responses in the evangelical community, and options for ongoing action and hope in the face of it all.

"A holistic pro-life posture in a warming world would recognize the threats that pollution and climate change pose to human life around the world and would fight for policies to slow its progress and to assist as many people as possible as they adapt to its impacts" (page 95)

[Suzanne McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wise, encouraging, and engaging book to help especially those Christians whose roots (like the author's) have been in 'conservative' churches that are skeptical about climate change. It spells out some scriptural foundations and gospel imperatives for action, and also helps folks to recognize some of the reasons that have led to such churches take the stance that they do. Along the way, there are plenty of stories, and although the focus of the book is not to be a 'how to' guide for living more sustainably, there are also practical tips for taking next steps, both in terms of personal lifestyle and advocacy.

With thanks to IVP for sending me an advance copy!

[Julie Maring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for all Christians. Kyle Meyaard-Schaap provides evidence why Christ followers should care about climate change and how we can joyfully engage others to care as well. He gives good advice on listening to those with different opinions and connecting through common interests. I felt encouraged that we can make a difference for future generations if we all work together. I will be sharing this book with my family and friends to help spark change.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book. There are books and writers that I wish were around when I was a younger woman, and this is one of them. Meyaard-Schaap does an amazing job showing why climate change matters to God, and why it should matter to us; he also gives practical hows. This book also gives examples of how we Christians can be good citizens and advocates. It unlocked a piece of me that has been dormant for some time and I am thankful.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book is pretty good and I agree with much of the content. I'm hopeful that, due to its short length, it will be an accessible tool to those just starting to learn about Christian environmentalism. I docked a couple stars because the book was in need of some real editing (repetitive paragraphs, sentences twice as long as they should be), and because the tone was more argumentative than it needed to be in many places.

[Laura Veenema · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who cares about creation or the Creator, this is a must-read. It preaches without being preachy, it’s heady without being pretentious, it’s challenging but doesn’t leave us hopeless. It’s not Bible-bashy or impractical or anti-conservative or smug. Meyaard-Schaap is a masterful story-teller and thoughtful guide through complex information and implications.
I love this book so much.

[Steven May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meyaard-Schaap challenges and expands Christian thought on loving God and creation to caring about the impact climate change is having on our world. The book questions whether we are effective caring stewards of that creation or simply using it for our personal benefit? He challenges us to engage in personal and community impact.

[Bethany Keeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really appreciated the way this author used anecdotes and research to shape his argument. Also glad for the focus on acting in community and with joy, and not avoiding politics. Recommend especially to folks struggling to square this issue with a conservative upbringing, or talk to conservative loved ones about climate change.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book after seeing an interview with the author and becoming curious about his views on an Evangelical Christian argument for protecting the environment. The book is good; thorough, and very practical, though of course more focused on speaking to his specific Christian audience.

[Mark VanderWerf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear, compelling, and gracious call to Christians to take the full biblical Story seriously and its implications for caring for the world…

“…for God so loved the world…”

[Alison Wabeke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The imagery in the beginning of how we humans are called by God to fiercely protect and love the earth is one I will not forget!

[Drew Timmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost a good read... should be titled "How to be a political Christian in a warming world."

[Travis West · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest, thoughtful, insightful, and inspiring reflection on the sometimes fraught and divisive issues of climate advocacy within Christianity. Meyaard-Schaap does a really good job of framing the issues, relating them to the whole span of Scripture, and speaking directly to the concerns, hesitations, uncertainties, and questions of his readers. Highly recommend!