Ordinary Splendor
What does creation have to do with Christians? In Ordinary Splendor, Lydia Jaeger presents the doctrine of creation and what it means to live it out.
Grounded in the Bible
At just under 200 pages, this book is curious about what it means to live in a created world. Starting at Genesis 1:1, Jaeger explores what it means to be created and to have a creator.
This book is not a defense for the doctrine of creation -- pitting faith against science. However, Jaeger is not afraid to interact with theologians, Greek, mythology, philosophers, and other creation stories from the ancient near east. She stays grounded in the Bible, showing the beauty of our God.
Order and Structure
I was most interested to see that our God is one of order and structure. This has profound effects on how we view our own knowledge and intelligence. And while our knowledge is derivative in nature, this is what gives us the possibility of actually knowing the true world. Hunan intelligence and nature are both created by God. This should give us confidence as we set out to explore the world.
It’s remarkable how much can be learned from studying the doctrine of creation so closely. Jaeger speaks on human dignity, entering into God’s blessing, and accepting your limits. Of course, Jaeger also speaks on distinguishing between women and men, and embracing a fully human sexuality.
God Cares About his Creation
I was most challenged with the chapter on accepting your limits. Localization in space and time is an example of a God-given limit. No amount of technical progress can free us from the human condition. We have one life to live. But Christians have hope — the limit of death is done away with at the cross.
The book calls us to enter into God’s rest. Jaeger assures us that God cares about our human condition in its entirety. Reading this book will help you see that God does care about his creation. Moreover, he cares to redeem his creation.
I received a media copy of Ordinary Splendor and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.