Engaging God's World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living

by Cornelius Plantinga Jr.

The Bible admonishes Christians to love God with the mind as well as with the heart.  Engaging God's World  clearly links this scriptural mandate with the pursuit of academic life, extolling the crucial role of Christian higher education in the intellectual and spiritual formation of believers.

Chiefly intended to serve as a primer for students beginning college careers but valuable to thoughtful Christians at every stage of life, this volume spells out the central themes of the Christian faith from a Reformed perspective. More important, however, the book shows how Christian higher education fits inside a view of the world and of human life that is formed by these ideas.

"Learning," Cornelius Plantinga writes, "is a  spiritual  calling; properly done, it attaches us to God." Approaching the topic of education from a variety of angles, Plantinga shows that Christ-centered learning teaches people to correctly see the world as God's creation, to see providence in history, to handle secular knowledge critically, to develop good judgment and, ultimately, to use faith-filled learning in the service of God's kingdom.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Education

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church and has served as a pastor in Webster, NY and supply preacher in Cliffwood Beach, NJ. Before joining the faculty at Calvin Theological Seminary, Cornelius Plantinga Jr. taught at Princeton Theological Seminary (1976 - 78), Fuller Theological Seminary (1985, 1987) and Regent College (1997). From 1996 to 2002 he served as the first ever Dean of the Chapel at Calvin College. He now serves as President of the seminary and teaches systematic theology.

Reviews

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though some parts of this book leaves a bit to be desired, the overall premise is wonderful. The author express how Christians are to appropriately engage the world, while at the same time avoiding the trappings of living a sheltered life separated from the world.

[Ryan]

A sweeping exhortation to students and young adults to find themselves in the drama of God’s redemption story. Plantinga uses the Reformed framework to help his readers discern what in means to have a “vocation” in God’s kingdom (re-shalom-ing) of creation. At times his anti-public-University (“secular school”) bias came out a little too strong for my taste, which was ironic after reflections on common grace.

[Timothy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great reminder of our cultural mandate as we seek first God's kingdom. It reminded me of a saying by my former pastor, "We are not called to just sit on our blessed assurance, but to engage in the business of the kingdom." The involvement of getting to know God more and more, and to be about the business of making Him known is costly - it exacts the ownership of our lives, but the reward is beyond measure. Our habits forecast our character, and this matters greatly if we are to attend seriously to our cultural mandate, to 'shalom', and the flourishing of our world.
Plantinga covers the subjects of: longing and hope; themes of creation, the fall, and redemption; and finally vocation in the kingdom of God.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plantinga lays out some of the basics of a Christian worldview and theology and and argues for the potential benefits of a Christian liberal arts college for building upon this foundation. This overview is excellent and would be of significant value for Christian high schoolers, especially those who are considering going to college.

He makes a good case for the value of a Christian higher education that is dedicated to a robust examination of the world God made. One that understands that all truth is God’s truth. One like the one Plantinga is affiliated with, Calvin College.
The appendices contain further information about the history of this institution and its educational philosophy, etc.

I probably bought this several years ago when I was thinking about my eldest son choosing a college, but it’s been languishing on my TBR list for so long I decided to finally crack its spine. I likely would have appreciated it more back when I purchased it.

[Lorelai Westerlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plantinga Jr. Takes basic doctrines such as creation the fall and redemption among others and applies it to a day-to-day way of life the way that it should affect our actions and our mindset.

It’s a very easy read, but the words really cut deep, talking about things that get missed within the church or get subconsciously demeaned as you were living at Christian life.

Is he student in a Christian college? I felt very seen by this book and it discussed matters that I or people close to me have struggled with in the past and gave comfort to their struggle.

Very good book

[Anna McLain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Creation/Fall/Redemption book. Catered towards Christian college students and pretty practical. I will definitely be using this as a framework for my Bible classes but also teaching in general. Very minor disagreements here and there, but a fantastic resource for thinking through Christian education

[Eddie Mercado · Rating 2 out of 5]

A theology of the kingdom of God under the Creation, Fall, Redemption paradigm. But a crucial piece of the pie is missing when using CFR: Consummation. We are not kingdom
builders; Christ, the eschatological consummator of history, is the builder.

[Jesse Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatly encouraged me and expanded my perspective on what it is to be a Christian in God's world. This should be required reading at all Christian colleges.

[Cole Kaminski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading for a class. Spent a semester reading and then rereading and annotating. A great book for college students or anyone who wants to connect a love of learning with God’s world.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plantinga writes the purpose of his book in his preface: to encourage students to receive Christian education and engage the Scriptures as they form their own personal worldviews and prepare to enter the “secular” world, ready to defend their faith and be prime citizens of the kingdom. As he describes the common themes of the Christian faith, however, that purpose is sometimes forgotten. He thoroughly explains the meaning and significance of creation, the fall, and redemption, but at times it seems that he does not explain how these three things relate to the necessity of education.

At times it seems disproportionate to spend three chapters on the ins and outs of the Christian faith and just one chapter on vocation within the kingdom of God. Plantinga writes only briefly about how learning is a “calling” that humanity has, and yet his purpose is to encourage students to partake in a Christian education. Some may know where Paul stresses learning in his epistles, but others may not. It is exceedingly important to understand the significance of creation, the fall, and redemption, but it is also quite necessary to expand on how Christians are expected and encouraged within the Scriptures and their knowledge of Christian history to further their educations.

Another issue that may arise is the Christian education versus the secular education: is the Christian education better in every situation? Many secular colleges have Christian groups on campus, such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ, and so on. Not everyone is meant to go to a Christian college; some appreciate it, while others are glad they are at a secular university, as they have the opportunity to reach people who do not yet know Christ. Some students have gone to Christian schools all their lives and look forward to the day they may go to a secular college or university, while others wouldn’t dream of it unless they were visiting a friend. Still others can’t afford a Christian post-secondary education. Christian education is important, but perhaps Christian fellowship is even more important in shaping how one develops his or her worldview and lives it out as a prime citizen in the kingdom of God.

However, Plantinga does argue for a Christian education very well, particularly in the last chapter and epilogue of his book. He recognizes the need for and importance of a strong Christian background and worldview, and stresses the significance of being prime citizens in the kingdom of God. The idea of one’s Christian education also being his vocation during that time is a valid one: college is more than just job training. It’s preparation for life in the kingdom of God. Each student must prepare for the challenge, and if they prepare poorly, their lives will be that much more difficult because of it. Christian education can be expensive, but if it produces a competent college graduate who is ready to take his place in the world and fulfill his calling as a child of God, then it is worth it.

Walt Whitman wrote, “The question, O me! so sad, recurring – What good amid these, O me, o life? Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” Plantinga develops a similar philosophy in Engaging God’s World, challenging readers to make their lives extraordinary and contribute a unique verse to God’s kingdom strategy. What will your verse be?

[Sarah Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, Plantinga offers a well-rounded reflection on the integration of life and faith. I particularly loved his premise that all of the earth needs to be redeemed and that the implications of this should influence every aspect of how we live. I also appreciated his wonderful ability to pull from a deep well of knowledge by referencing Scripture, historical texts, theologians, and authors, and then weave it into his own observations of the Biblical metanarrative.

However, I felt that the final pages of his last chapter unhelpfully diverged from the main message of the book into a less relevant discussion on the importance (i.e. necessity) of attending a Christian college. While I didn't necessarily disagree with his thoughts on this subject, it read too much like an advertisement for his own alma mater and resulted in a rather unsatisfactory ending.

[Laney Dugan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed getting to read another Cornelius Plantinga Jr. book, and am always excited about a book that walks through the movements of the biblical narrative (Creation, Fall, Redemption, New Creation) with fresh perspective. I especially appreciate the way Plantinga works through the concept and reality of sin. This book was geared toward students stepping into a college experience, I think, which makes it sorta a niche book. But I enjoyed it and would recommend it — especially for college students!

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to read this book for my Foundations of Worldview class. Every Christian college student should be reading this book to better understand Creation, The Fall, and Our Redemption. Plantinga ends the book challenging students on how we 1) view the Kingdom of God 2) are we even living it out and 3) are we allowing the truth of the Kingdom penetrate our every day lives and actions. Convicting, humbling, and very encouraging!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Calum Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but I’m not sure it’s what I thought it was…this is really aimed at American college students so as a British, middle-aged man I wasn’t the target audience.

There were lots of positives and re-explained elements of faith = creation > the fall > redemption being the main sections but then it zeroes in on college students with advice etc

This was good but if I was at college I might hv thought it was brilliant

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for class and I thought it was very insightful. Plantinga supported his ideas with good references. He talked about the different aspects of humans and gives many explanations that science has not been able to make claims to answer. It hold the human responsible for the outcomes of their choices, while also speaking from a place of hope. I would recommend this book!

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, enlightening book. It is very truthful and convicting. Plantinga Jr. writes with purposeful and direct language. I had to read this for a class, and ended up enjoying it and learning a lot from it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in becoming more christlike and a true servant of God.

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traditional outlining of the Reformed understanding of creation, fall, redemption in the world. The final chapter on how it ties to vocation was the most interesting to me. The appendix has questions on each chapter that encourage deeper thinking and I think they would be useful to discuss in a group or class setting.

[Ronald J. Pauleus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cornelius pens amazing truth and has sound theology. My heart and mind was challeneged as I was confronted with his discourse. Robust truth, I said and penned in my book "WOW" many times as I read.

"So when Christians strive to make God's purposes their own, they tilt forward toward God's restoration of all things, the final coming of the kingdom."

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed and was challenged by this book. I greatly benefited from this delving into the Gospel, shalom, and the kingdom of God and how we fit into it.

Primary audience is technically students at a Christian college (this comes out more at the end of the book), but most of this book is applicable for all Christians.

[Emily Fernett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author examines the world around us in light of Scripture, reason, and men and women of the faith, by outlining the purpose of education. Education from a Christian worldview provides a rich narrative of the world and man’s place inside it, a worldview that satisfies every human desire in light of Christ’s redeeming work.

[Elijah Renz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't my favorite. It really dives into the Creation, Fall, Redemption story which is crucial. Towards the end, it is very inspiring and motivating for a student around college age. Lots of thoughts about how to live in this world.

[Tommy Kiedis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neal Plantinga wrote Engaging God’s World to drive home the point that “education is for service in the kingdom of God — or for shalom in God’s Kingdom. (137) He frames education through the big themes of creation, fall, redemption, vocation, and the kingdom of God with the view of helping students and schools recognize and articulate a Christian “world and life view.” (xvi)

This book is outstanding. In the words of Francis Bacon, Engaging God’s World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living is "meant to be chewed and digested." I highly recommend it.

Please visit On My Walk for my complete review.

[Timothy Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, but comprehensive explanation of the Christian worldview, particularly a Reformed Christian worldview. I enjoyed Plantinga's writing style and found the content to be a helpful refresher course on Christian worldview. I thought Chapter 1: Longing and Hope was particularly good.

[Sydney Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was edifying to my soul and encouraging to me as I start my journey at a Christian college! It is full of wisdom and a profound understanding of the biblical story and how the coming kingdom should impact our lives now.

[Ellaryn Kraak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another assigned reading, but quite good. It had some good messages, and it felt very convicting because it didn't always default to masculine pronouns. I felt very included in the narrative.

It was definitely meant for college-aged students, so keep that in mind if that isn't you.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christian educator should read this book!

[Kyle Grow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good except the last chapter

[Philip Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good thoughts, but was not a fan of his Kuyperian framework.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the reasoning and framework supporting Christian education. Plantinga made it easy and enjoyable.

[Vickie Weers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

I enjoyed reading it. It was for a class. Worth a read. Helped me to see some new perspective on education and the kingdom of God.