Becoming Worldly Saints by Michael Wittmer (Review)

Becoming Worldly Saints: Can You Serve Jesus and Still Enjoy Your Life? by Michael Wittmer is about enjoying the world God gives us. I found his book funny, readable, and thought-provoking. Michael Wittmer, a professor at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, dates his work with cultural references from his youth. His point is consistent with his previous books. He offers thoughts about a new heavens and new earth (Revelations 21:1, 4). The popular concept of heaven is some other dimension that is purely spiritual. Professor Wittmer pushes back to redeem matter. His book is 188 pages, with discussion questions at the end. The chapters are short and informative. 

From Amazon, 

Do you feel the tension between the pleasures of earth and the purpose of heaven? You want to enjoy life in this world--the beauty of God's creation and the rich love of deep relationships with others--yet you wonder if you were made for more. You long to be radically committed to Jesus, but you're not sure what that means for your everyday life.

Michael Wittmer explains how to bring your human and Christian lives together. When you grasp God's story, you'll understand that not only is it possible to serve Jesus and still enjoy your life, but it's the only way you can.

Written in a devotional style that is theologically rich and biblically accurate, Becoming Worldly Saintshelps you understand who you are and why you are here. You can live with joy--free from false guilt--in a not-yet-redeemed world.

QUOTES: 

• But rather than light a fuse and walk away, washing his hands of our sordid mess, God chose to enter our world and set things right. p. 22
• From the moment we acquired object permanence, we sought out permanence in objects. p. 72
• This entire book that you have in your hands attempts to help solve this problem, explaining how we may follow Jesus as Lord without falling in the trap of legalism. p.136
• Our loathsome mutiny against God went viral and ravaged the rest of creation, which now groans  "in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." p. 141
• God doesn't make junk, and he doesn't junk what he has made. Albert Wolters p. 159