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8/12/2019 1994 Issue 3 - Book Reviews: Books by Bolch and Lyons, Kelley, And Wolwode - Counsel of Chalcedon
1/2
yronSnapp
ook Reviews
ApocalypseNot:Sdence
Economics and Environmentalism
by
Ben
Bolch and Harold
Lyons.
Cato Institute 1000 Massachusetts
Ave. N.W. Washington, D.C.
20001. 140 pp. with index. pb.
$10.95. 1993.
'From the title readers
can
expect to read a contemporary
understandable examination of
claims made by the modem
environmentalists. e a d ~ s will
not be disappointed. The two
authors, one a former
bUsiness
and economics professor and the
other a former professor in
biochemistry and environmental
chemistry, point out, in
telling
fashion, that much of the modem
environmental movement is an
attack on reasonable thinking, and
individual freedom. Separate
chapters focus on the false
claim
of overpopUlation,
the Alar
scare,
the fear of exposure to radon, an
examination of the greenhouse
effect and the supposed depletion
of the ozone layer. Final chapters
explore the effects of acid rain, the
validity of nuclear power and
concluding remarks in regard
to
handling valid pollution
problems.
The authors show how much
information given
to
the
American
public is really misinformation.
Thus they arm the reader with
very practical clearly written
arguments to counter the false
claims so often made by
environmentalists. Scientific
research that so often'yields .
opposite results from
environmentalists' reports too
frequently remains hidden
from
the public
eye. As
a result much of
what the environmentalists state
leads to a demand
for
the civil
government
to
do something.
So
often
as
the
authors point out,
this
leads
to
a great
waste
of t x
dollars
;as money is spent on problems
. that
are
often non-existent.
As
a
result of government inyolvement,
greater regulation and loss of
personal freedom
are
so often the
major tangible results.
while not written
from an
openly Christian approach this
book
is of
great value
to
Christians. Of all people,
Christians should be the most
concerned about the environment.
Creation is a work of God and
brings glory to Him.
He
has
commanded man
to
take
dominion of t under Him
(Gen.
1:26-28)
We
live in a fallen world, not
Paradise, thus there will be
environmental problems. However
Christians need to be informed as
to what
are
real environmental
problems and what are not. Sadly
today many Christians blindly
argue increased government
involvemenUn life. The authors
rightly point out that increased
government involvement
is a
problem itself. They argue
for
a
free
market approach while
at the
same
time lawfully
dealing with
true environmental problems. This
sane book will equip the
individual with much intellectual
ammunition to counteract
the
false claims
so
often portrayed
as
truth today.
18
IHE
COUNSEL of Chalcedon April,
1994
The Burden o God Studies in
Wisdom and CivilizationJrom the
Book
o
Ecclesiastes by Michael
Kelley Contra Mundum Books
P.O. Box 32652 Fridley, MN.
554321993151 pages pb $11.00
While I was reading this book a
friend remarked, That must be a
heavy book. After all, who Can
carry
God's
burden? The title is
based on Ecclesiastes. :13 and
refers
to
the great burden God bas
placed on man as men strive
to
give
meaning to all of life while in
rebellion to God, the Creator and
Sustainer
of
life. Seeing this as the
theme
of.Ecclesiastes,
the author
shows that no part of
life
or the
events of
life
can be understood
unless man is in a saving relation-
.ship (a covenant -keeper) with
God through Jesus Christ.
Mr. Kelley does an excellent
job of'providing a
Biblical
under
standing of
godly wisdom and
contrasting it with the wisdom of
ancient Egypt
and
Greece
as it
centered on man and more par
ticularly
the
power of
the
state
over man. While the God-given
Wisd6mofSolomon was great, it
was nothing
i::ompared to
the
perfect
wisdom
of Christ. The
author Writes Solomon's words
might be a witness of life, but
Jesus' words
are
life
itself.
The
difference consists not in the truth
which each speaks but in the
ability that each has
to
make that
. . truth
effect:ive
against the corrosive
consequences
of
sin.
Solomon's
wisdom lacked the power to
it efficacious for eternal
life,
and
so genuine covenant life lacked its
true ground. (p.4?)
Sadly, we hear extremely few
sermons or Sunday School lessons :
8/12/2019 1994 Issue 3 - Book Reviews: Books by Bolch and Lyons, Kelley, And Wolwode - Counsel of Chalcedon
2/2
from this portion of Scripture. For
this reason alone you ought to
purchase this well-written read
able book.
like
the times of the
inspired writer (the au thor be
lieves Ecclesiastes was a post-exile
book, thus
not
written by King
Solomon)
our day
is one that
relishes man-centered wisdom.
The growing power of civil gov
ernment is being touted as the
humane way to govern. Increas
ingly society is cutting off any
association
with God and is thus
qUickly being carried into mean
inglessness. Ecclesiastes, properly
understood, is extremely relevant
for our day.
Christians
need
to understand
that wisdom that is not
God-centered is not wisdom. As
Mr.
Kelley points out, the author
of Ecclesiastes approaches life
from a covenantal perspective
and
shows the futility of understand
ing any aspect oflife outside of
God-centered thinking and action.
A correct understanding of
Ecclesiastes leads to encourage
ment. We
are reminded that man
cannot
understand
all things that
occur. He is
not
God. Yet cov
enant man has God-given faith in
the One who has a
purpose
for all
things and will bring His purpose
into reality that results in glory to
God and ultimate good for God's
people.
The book is also evangelistic.
The
author
writes the following
in
his concluding chapter, We
think
the viewpoint of Ecclesiastes is
apparent. Man must relinqUish his
self-declared independence from
God his Creator and Redeemer if
he does
not
want to have lived his
life truly in vain. (p. 149)
I believe you will grow
in
your
unders tanding of SClipture
by
reading this book.
In
so doing you
will better understand how Scrip
ture applies to our current culture
and
see again
that
our covenantal
God provides the only answer.
This certainly makes this volume
worthwhile reading.
ACTS: A writer s rejJections on
the
Church writing and
his
own
life
by Lany
Woiwode. Harper
Collins Pnblishers 10 East 53rd St.
New York, N.Y. 10022. 1993 244
pp. hb.
$17.00
(USA)
$23.00
(CAN.).
Readers familiar with the
author's previous works will
not
be
disappointed in this verbally
picturesque work. Mr. Woiwode
approaches the book of Acts from
a Refonned, covenantal
perspective. As a writer, he is
drawn to Acts because it is the
most ovenly narrative book of
the
New Testament, and narrative is
the writer's business. (p. 1). He
then takes the reader through
Luke's inspired recording of the
Church's advance
as
recorded
in
Acts, unfolding the major events
in
his own well-crafted narrative
style.
As
he progresses through the
events recorded in Acts,
he
stops
along the way
and
makes excellent
theological points regardu1g
interpreting Scripture, the Spirit's
descent, and the funding of
missionaries
as
well
as
numerous other
topiCS.
Throughout the book, he
reflects on how the inspired Acts
applies to our life and culture.
Thus writing
on
the acts of Christ
in the early church as detailed by
inspired Luke,
he
allows the reader
to learn of God's saving work in
his life. Reading this, if you are a
Christian, you will no doubt pause
and
be
reminded of God's
sovereign saving activity in your
own life.
Readers interested in a
Christian view
of
writing will
be
well-rewarded by reading Mr.
Woiwode's SCripturally based
insights
on
this subject inserted
throughout the book.
The author has written this
book out
of
a deep love for the
triune God, the church today and
the world God
has commanded
His people to subdue and have
dominion over for His glory. Byread
mg it, we cannot help
but
examine
our own views of God, the church
and
culture
in
light of Scripture.
His reasonmg from Scripture is
an
example to
be
followed by us in
establishmg our own view even
when it may differ from his.
This book
can
also be placed in
the hands of individuals who have
no
desire to open the Bible. The
author, a former teacher, has a
deep desire to reach those
who
are,
for whatever reason, ignorant of
the Bible. I wanted to give them a
sense of the tradit ional view of the
teachings of the Old and New
Covenants and of the Church, and
also to acknowledge to them, with
their attentiveness to hypocrisy,
the ways in which the present
church has deviated from the
Church that develops in Acts. (p.
2). He
has
succeeded
in
writmg a
well-crafted book from which
Christians
and
non-Christians can
profit. Don't miss
out on
this
opportunity to
share
this
book
with someone who as yet, has no
interest
in
opening
up
and readmg
God's Word yet loves to
read.a
April,
1994 f lRE
COUNSEL
of Chalcedon 19
Recommended