Creation Regained

Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview

Albert M. Wolters

“Perhaps the most fitting symbol of the development of creation from the primordial past to the eschatological future is the fact that the Bible begins with a garden and ends with a city…”

Creation Regained is a fascinating piece of writing. Perhaps alarmingly, Wolters weaves fluidly between Scripture, theology and philosophy, and often does so in the same paragraph. Equally meandering is his flow of thought. He appears to be primarily concerned with three noteworthy themes, and although they clearly relate to one another, shadowing him as he moves between them can be taxing. The first concept of a “Reformational worldview” is unlikely to raise many evangelical eyebrows; that our set of basic beliefs be informed and tested by Scripture. The second theme of a particular theology of an inherently good creation ushers one immediately to the third theme, that the task of a Christian is to discern what is “structural” in her life and discerning whether the “direction” of this structure is toward or away from God’s glorification.

Reading the argument of Creation Regained felt to me like swimming out to sea on the tail of a stronger friend; the swim is exciting until one looks down to discover deeper water than one anticipated. Wolters invites us to take every facet of our life, be it politics, sexuality or business, and hone it for God’s glory. The crux of the matter, however, seems to be a matter of one’s eschatological tastes, namely whether creation will be refined by fire or destroyed. For the reader of the first camp, this book will compellingly exhort her to fulfil the creation mandate. But it is to the reader of the second camp, those who consider our sole task to be the Great Commission of Matthew 28, that I strongly recommend this book. It seems to me that a rich, holistic way of living for Jesus is at stake.

7.5/10