Plowing in Hope: Towards a Biblical Theology of Culture [Paperback]

David Bruce Hegeman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 2007

Culture is a continuing, forward process—the gradual unveiling of truth as life. But often we get ensnarled. We can only imagine culture as a war, a gritty ideological and religious struggle where every arena is bloody with strife: art, philosophy, cuisine, music, literature, science. But at its foundation, culture is about building, not conflict. The time has come for us to beat our swords into plowshares.

By realizing the Bible's vision for a cultivated earth, we can build a more comprehensive, radical, holistic culture, resistant to compromise and dedicated to a Trinitarian aesthetic. What does this culture look like? It is the development of the earth into a global fabric of gardens and cities in harmony with nature—a glorious garden-city.

Our "cultural mandate" finds its roots in God's command for us to rule the earth and till the ground, causing hidden potential to flourish. The New Testament boldly reverberates this calling. God has given central preeminence to our cultural "plowing," weaving it into the whole tapestry of mankind's history, from the very beginning to the consummation and beyond. Plowing in Hope provides a positive, clear, and colorful introduction to this transformational topic.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Plowing in Hope seeks to affirm the power and glory of human culture within a clearly defined biblical theology. True culture, Hegeman writes, "is not an activity to keep mankind occupied until something else (presumably better) happens. It has a particular God-ordained end in view: the development of the earth into a global network of gardens and cities in harmony with nature--a glorious garden-city." Placing the development of human culture in a biblical context through a close examination of key words in Greek and Hebrew ("work," for example), the author explores the true importance of the labor we do upon the world, arguing that true work must involve the "threefold connotation of work, service, and worship.

Not all will agree with Hegeman's conclusions; he rejects the monastic ideal of celibacy, for example, as a "denial of the normative goodness of marriage and the culturative commandment to fill the earth," and assumes that much of "non-Christian art" is useful in that it "may be given over to God's people for their use and enjoyment." Nonetheless, the book will be helpful to Bible-focused Christians who are looking for an affirmation of human culture in a Christ-centered context. --Doug Thorpe --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

"Many Christians are beginning to recognize that in the absence of a godly culture our civilization will continue its free fall, no matter political they get. But when modern believers address culture, it appears they do little more than criticize Hollywood while doing "Christian" MTV. David Hegeman's approach is refreshingly different. He maps out a positive theology of culture building rooted in Creation and extending into the New Jerusalem. His wonderful little book, based on sound Biblical exegesis, presents a compelling case for why and how we should build a culture that magnifies God and ennobles men." -- David Ayers, Chair of Social Sciences, Grove City College

"Romantic naturalists and pragmatic city dwellers alike must grapple with God's call to create culture. Plowing provides biblical purpose as many of us grapple with our paradoxical desires to be both farmer and technologist. Hegeman's artistic language, engaging examples, and thoughtful reasoning make for fruitful reading; he offers joyful expectancy to all faithful and hard-working servants of the Lord. -- Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. President, National Home Education Research Institute --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Canon Press; 2nd edition (December 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591280494
• ISBN-13: 978-1591280491
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #434,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, May 15, 2001

By 

David A. Vosseller "davhoops" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plowing In Hope: Toward a Biblical Theology of Culture (Paperback)

Christians desperately need books of this kind to think about God's view of human culture. The author does a wonderful job of laying out a biblical theology of culture. I especially appreciated his demonstration of the progressiveness of God's redemptive work in culture as well as in us! If you are tired of "culture wars" and "boycott lists" as the only interaction many evangelicals have with culture- this book is for you.

The book is well written and solidly argued. A must for anyone interested in reforming all of life for the glory of God!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Our Role in God's Creation, July 22, 2007

By 

A. Blake White (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plowing In Hope: Toward a Biblical Theology of Culture (Paperback)

David Hegeman has written an interesting book called 'Plowing in Hope: Toward a Biblical Theology of Culture.' Noting that the Bible begins with a garden and ends with a city, Hegeman walks through the Scripture showing the importance of culture, and our role in it. It is his prayer that " this book will help the bride of Jesus Christ recover her vital call to rule, fill, work, and preserve the earth as a high and indispensable priority. Culture-making is not optional; it is a command which from the very beginning has never been revoked" (23). This book is helpful for anyone desiring to know what the Scripture says concerning culture.
----Quotes:
----This is the goal of the culturative enterprise. We rule as vice-regents of the Creator, bringing the whole earth under human subjection so that we in turn may present the creation to God. Our rule of the earth has its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's perfect rule." 43
----"We are redeemed so that we may work! The human race is brought back to a state of righteousness so that we might return to our Edenic calling to develop ('work') the earth into a glorious garden-city and finally take possession of our long-awaited inheritance." 71

5.0 out of 5 stars ENLIGHTENING, December 25, 2008

By 

John Diele (Hollywood, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plowing in Hope: Towards a Biblical Theology of Culture (Paperback)

DAVID BRUCE HEGEMAN IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY GIFTED AUTHOR WITH AN INHERENT ABILITY TO PRESENT INSIGHTFUL INTERPRETATIONS IN A FORTHRIGHT AND EQUALLY PRECISE MANNER. 'PLOWING IN HOPE' IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE.