Byron Snapp

Book 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. 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 tax 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 It 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 of God: Studies in
Wisdom and CivilizationJrom the
Book of 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. 1: 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
Wisd6m of Solomon 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 :
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 author 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
understanding 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 traditional 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