Pointing to the Pasturelands
Where can you find the best writing from someone who truly knew God? In Pointing to the Pasturelands, Lexham Press presents reflections on evangelicalism, doctrine, and culture from J. I. Packer. This new edition in the “Best of Christianity Today” series is a treasure.
Columns, Articles, and Answers
After an excellent foreword by Russell Moore, the book is divided into three parts. The first third are Packer’s columns -- short, pithy, and profound. The middle section are Packer’s articles, and they are substantive without compromising his compelling voice. The book ends with a section titled Good Questions, where Packer answers reader inquiries about the Bible, doctrine, and the Christian life. He is approachable and articulate. The book was a pleasure to read; I couldn’t put it down.
What I most appreciate are the ways that Packer’s personality gets through in his writing. He is bright and humble. He is kindly wise. And he clearly knows God. It is astounding to see this come across in his writing.
Faith and the World
What most interested me was the way Packer is able to write about a variety of subjects. In one section, he says that he is an “accidental” and an “odd” writer. He says he has a narrow writing range. But in these selections, he writes about a variety of topics including music and medicine, humor and heaven. He knows how to reconcile our faith to the realities of this world.
As someone with an interest in reading and writing, I felt like I was learning from a master at the top of his craft. From the titles of his columns (”It’s Wrong to Eat People”) to the style of his writing (”Fan Mail to Calvin”) -- this is a tour-de-force of the written word. And better yet -- it is revealing in how he communicates Christ.
Truth and Wisdom
The book concludes with Packer reflecting on the happy surprises in his life -- the way that he sees God arranging and ordering his days. It made him grateful and glad in God, and I found it to be characteristic throughout the writings of this Calvinist, Anglican, and Evangelical.
Early on in the book, Packer says that he wants to be remembered as a voice -- “a voice that called people back to old paths of truth and wisdom.” Undoubtedly, he had John the Baptist in mind. Packer’s voice is still crying out in the wilderness of this world. Come hear him now -- he will help you see Christ.
I received a media copy of Pointing to the Pasturelands 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.