Bryan Shields, March 24th, 2021

An essay responding to: Wirzba, Norman. From Nature to Creation: A Christian Vision for Understanding and Loving Our World. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2015.

Introduction

This paper replies to the provided writing prompt, “Other papers are welcome that engage Wirzba's book.” The engagement with Wirzba’s content in this paper centers around his insight into the dissonance between a ‘throw-away’ culture focused on the maximization of productivity and convenience and the belief that God has actually walked on this physical Earth in human flesh. While many Christians claim, or acknowledge, an attachment to both of these paradigms, Wirzba problematizes any such confluence of cosmologies.

The Body

“It is much easier to deal with a dead body,” writes Wirzba, “because as dead it does not call into question the truth claims we make about it.” Within this striking comment, he encapsulates his critique of modernity.  According to Wirzba, modern society, especially modern medicine, views the human body as a self-propelling machine—a manipulable series of chemical reactions that eventually becomes unsustainable and ceases. In this way, humans become nothing more than the sum of their parts, and human life becomes the pursuit and installation of those parts. This industrialization of the human race reduces human existence to “physiological functioning.”

Wirzba does not chide the medical community alone for its desire to “bracket and ignore the messiness” of humanity’s physical experience. Going back to the Greek and Roman roots of the Enlightenment, he traces the heritage of the philosophies underpinning an abandonment of anything beyond the material in regards to the human body. “Modern thinkers took the new step of lifting human beings out of creation altogether so as to rule over it in ways they saw fit.”

In order to remain masters of their own fate, many persons have come to think of themselves as above their creaturely status. If they are more secularly minded, they may doubt spiritual realities wholesale. Those unwilling to let go of spirituality, or perhaps Christian beliefs, may pursue a religion in which the spiritual aspects overshadow and supersede the physical—Gnostic-style. Some between these two camps may choose to settle in deistic territory and acknowledge “a mostly absent god, [one] making only brief appearances.”

But in order to accomplish any of these changes, a common step must be taken, and this is why these approaches share a similar opinion of the human body. Each of these belief-systems—agnosticism, Gnosticism, or deism—all “[take] human beings out of creation.” At the core of these systems is a divorce; the human race is uprooted from its birthplace and transplanted into a foreign climate. “By seeking this divine condition, people, in effect, refused their creaturely condition.”

The Soil

As a consequence of this refusal, Wirzba sees the actual, physical Earth losing its rightful identity, as well. “Just as human bodies have come to be understood as corpses to be fixed and manipulated, so too have land, plants, animals, and agricultural workers come to be seen as objects of control.” If the human race views itself as above creation, the effect upon the non-humans is that they also are removed to an existence outside creation. That is to say, one impact of making humans the apex of reality is often the imposition of a hierarchical system of value that places non-human entities further and further from any intrinsic meaning.

Wirzba takes his cue from an ethical commentator whose description of medical practices he sees as representative of “the dream of an ever-higher-yielding agriculture.” He quotes: “A metaphysics of efficient causation and an epistemology of stasis always result in a kind of violence, for one merely has to exert a greater force over the dying body in order to keep its matter in motion.” Basically, a humanity removed from a creationist frame of reference results in rapacious interactions with anything and everything unable to defend itself against the desires and ingenuity of that humanity. To slightly misquote an ancient text, “Nothing that they intend to do will be impossible for them.”

Wirzba traces this extortionate relationship with the Earth, by Christians and non-Christians alike, through the era of European exploration. He writes: 

"The land discovered by these Europeans was not perceived as God’s creation and as a gift to be gratefully received and nurtured and shared. Instead it appeared as so much virgin territory and raw material waiting to be turned into a possession that could then be modified to enrich its holders. It did not dawn on these Christian missionaries that the land and its people might have integrity that deserve respect or even sanctity that called for appropriate regard."

Since these persons had already adopted views of themselves outside, usually above, a created order, it was only natural for them to interact with other parties and places as outside (usually beneath themselves) that same created order. In fact, ‘nature’ becomes the preferred term for what had been called ‘creation.’ To live and move in a creation was to have some accountability: to move through nature was to be master of the universe. “Give a boy a hammer and the whole world becomes a nail…Form a nation to expect unending expansion and economic growth, and every land becomes territory waiting to be exploited.”

The Creation

In contrast, Wirzba offers a narrative of creation as defining and sustaining all that is; he offers a cosmological alternative to wind-up persons and disposable planets. “Creation,” Wirzba postulates, “describes the character of the world, why is the way that it is, what its significance is, and what it is ultimately for.” (emphasis original) He presents creation as a continual expression of God’s loving and gracious interaction with humanity. As such, creation enfolds both the body and the soil into itself. “‘Creation’ names the ongoing reality of human beings, animals, plants, land, and weather, all connected to each other and bound to God as their source, inspiration, and end.”

Paradigmatically, creation redraws the boundaries around the body by recognizing it as possessing worth aside from its functionality. Rather than simply exhibiting either biological persistence or collapse, the body is a carefully designed habitat for the Breath of God. Instead of serving only its own self-propagation, the body becomes the guardian and enhancer of all creation. All that exists is knit together in creation. Creation has God as its source, and therefore in creation all have their source in God.

This has a profound impact on how life is lived. “It is an act of faith and love to see the world in this way, because what we are doing, in the most basic sense, is engaging the world in ways that do not insist on our own way.” To engage with creation involves an attitude of surrender. When humanity steps back into creation, it relinquishes any opportunities of definition of self or others; all that is left is to explore and obey. When humanity recognizes the value of what is but denies creation, nature must, once again, be defined by humanity. This anthropocentric ontology defaults toward idolatry, since the object of veneration is itself derived from that which honors it.

The Incarnation

Why does any of this matter to adherents to the Christian faith? Is it not possible, perhaps best, to hold this Earth loosely and simply let go when death or Jesus calls? Wirzba’s response to this line of reasoning is direct and forceful. “It is a contradiction to profess belief in God the Creator and then live in ways that degrade and destroy God's creation.” He continues: “To become a follower of Jesus was not to wait for the time when souls could be freed from bodies and plucked into an ethereal heaven. It was instead to see oneself as invited and inspired to join with Christ in the healing of the whole world.”

Accepting the Incarnation as validation that creation is not an expendable component in the ultimately redemptive plan of God requires a paradigmatic shift. “To think this way about Jesus requires that we give up the notion that in Jesus God was mounting a massive rescue operation to save humanity (or, more specifically, human souls) from a damnable world.” Wirzba offers an alternative. “God became a human creature so that in Jesus God could show us how to better imagine and fully become creatures ourselves.”

The Incarnation is the prism through which the love of God shines illuminating the glory and splendor of all creation. Just as creation symbiotically draws into itself the body and the soil, so the Incarnation joins the created and the Creator in community and relationship. “He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Conclusion

“To be a creature is ‘to be in a relationship,’…There simply is no such thing as freedom from our entanglement in the lives of others.” The idea, “I can do what I want, when I want, to whom I want, just because I want!” has no place in creation. Nature is filled with power-driven dynamics: creation in permeated with attachment and cooperation. In Wirzba’s estimation, gratitude is the only appropriate human response to creation. This gratitude is not merely an affirmation of benefits received. Wirzba proclaims that, “to gratefully receive creation as a gift is to commit to live faithfully with other creatures so that mutual flourishing can happen.”

My son is about to have a birthday. Actually, it's tomorrow. And he's been telling me about it for months now. "Daddy, I want a bike, a basketball, ice skates, etc. for my birthday!" He has not seen any fruit from his labors; no presents have arrived in the house. This does not surprise him because I often wait until the last minute to buy gifts. :-)

So this morning, on the way to school, he started in again, "Daddy, is my birthday one day away?!" 

"Yes, my son, it is. It's tomorrow."

"Wow!" "Daddy, I want..."

"Okay, buddy. We'll see."

We had the same conversation we've had for months about what he wants for his birthday. And I just listened. Like always.

What my son does not know...is that there is a new bike in the back of my vehicle. In fact, it was the same vehicle we were riding in while he told me all this. And it's been there for over a week. I've got his gift ready and waiting...for the right moment. His birthday.

And God said to me...

"I've got your answer. It's right here next to me. When it's time, I'll give it to you. Until then, I'll listen to you just like you listen to your son." See, I've been bombarding Heaven about this need of mine. For several months now. Every time I talk to God I mention this need. Not angrily, or presumptuously, but consistently. Still no answer.

And now you see the parable. It was a powerful reminder of the love and attention my Father in Heaven focuses on me.

As I approached their yard, I anticipated the treat it would be to my eyes. I had spent a long day visiting several locations, and many of the homes I had been to had little in the way of landscaping of which to boast. But this yard...this yard was always sharp, clean, and expertly manicured. I had once seen the man of the house out mowing and complimented him on the beautiful lawn he kept. His pride was modestly admitted, and justly so; even in their tidy neighborhood, this yard stood out. The green carpet of grass, bordered by crisp edges and tasteful flower beds. Even the mailbox out front had its own planting around the base. Gorgeous. And it was obviously maintained very carefully.

So as I pulled into the drive and got out of my truck, I was puzzled to notice some out-of-place greenery near the front door. It was big and leafy. Spreading all over the flower bed out of which it seemed to be springing. It threw off the balance of colors around the front of the house and was even laying over the sidewalk leading up to the front porch. I stepped around it, treading cautiously on the pristine lawn, on my way into the house. Puzzled, I thought to myself, “Why on earth would these people plant what looks like vegetables in such a place? It makes no sense; it makes the whole front lawn look shabby?!”

A little later, as I left, I asked the homeowner about the plant. “I was admiring your squash plant”, I said, “How did that happen?!”

The man looked at me and said, “Well, our grandkid left a pumpkin lying there and it rotted. First thing you know, we’ve got all this!” Then he dropped his voice, looked at me out of the corner of his eye and conspiratorially said “We’re going to keep it”. What I saw in that moment was a loving grandpa that was more proud of his grandchild’s accidental accomplishment than of his own hard-won successes.

And God said to me...

“Bryan, I will keep the accidental, messy little things that you do in My world intact just so you can see the fruits of your labor. My ways are higher, my thoughts are wiser, and I can do no wrong. But I will let you plant pumpkins all over my eternally well-ordered Providence, just because I love you and I want you to know that even your little contributions to My kingdom are precious to Me!”

Yeah, I teared up a little….

Have you ever had God crash your devotional time? I just experienced this. As of 10 minutes ago. 

I'm in a restaurant. Reading and writing while I eat. It works for me. :-)
 The booth behind me has just been occupied by a young couple with one small child. Can't talk yet. Diapers. So young mother goes to the buffet bar to get little person some breakfast. The baby starts saying, "Uh oh", "Uh oh", in a cute little voice that is obviously meant for people he loves. Problem: mom's not at the table. Mom can't hear the "Uh oh"! Solution: say it with more volume. Obviously! :-) 

So this little guy is loudly proclaiming his, "Uh oh", "Uh oh", to whomever is nearby, evidently hoping his mom will notice, from wherever she's gone to. And she does! From over by the fruit, young mother replies with the obligatory response, "Uh oh", "Uh oh"!

And God leaned down and said to me...

"Isn't that sweet"?

"Yes!", I said, and smiled. 

He continued, "That baby hasn't learned to use his words for himself yet. He only knows they are for getting attention from his mom. He only knows she's happy when he says them. His language has no purpose outside of interacting with his mother; his words are only for her..."

Tears in my eyes.

So...

I'm learning this. Today. This morning. Wow. My words have been used for so many things, so many people. I've used my language abilities for my own purposes for as long as I can remember. Oh, of course, there's been moments of gratitude or building someone else up, but I've never seen a picture like this before. My Father in Heaven, listening for my words, to see if I'm saying them for Him! Like a mother with her ear tuned to the cute little nonsense she shares with her baby boy. Man! This hits hard!

"May the words of my mouth...be acceptable to You…"

I was sitting there, in the back of a church, watching my children's school Christmas program. The different classes were walking in and saying their parts at the front; some of the older kids played orchestral pieces. It was all very nice, but I was at the end of a long day and quite frankly only there because my family was part of the program.

Around the middle of the program, in walked the preschoolers. Small people are always such fun! I enjoyed them ringing the bells and butchering the carols, but I asked my wife, "Is she up there? I don't see her?" My wife replied that this was the class younger than my daughter. My attention instantly waned.

Then in came my baby girl. She was with her class and they went down front to sing. I watched her go down the aisle past us and take her place with the others on the stage. They sang, or attempted to sing, and it was great!

My wife, sitting beside me, laughed quietly and asked me, "Aren't those kids cute?!" "They're all so beautiful!" she said. I shrugged my shoulders and returned my eyes to my daughter, thinking to myself, "I really don't care about those other kids, my baby girl's pretty awesome, though".

And God said to me...

"Bryan, I only have eyes for you."

Now God is not a tired, worn out father wearily rationing out His attention to His favorites. He's focused, with all His heart, on each of us, all the time, at the same time. It's miraculous. He's God, after all.

But it hit home to me; He only has eyes for me. He looks through the crowd to see my face. He seeks me out. I'm his child. He loves me.

It was Haircut Day. Actually, the ritual was nowhere near that concrete; it was a Haircut Ambush :-) My son, all 3 and-a-half years of his life, has never appreciated haircuts, so they have typically happened on the spur of the moment when we’re getting ready to go somewhere. This time the precipitating event was my own haircut. As my wife finished cutting my hair, she got this look in her eye and turned to face our son as he began hurriedly backing out of the bathroom door; “Hey, buddy; let’s give you a haircut! Just like Daddy!”

The little guy had no real desire for such a haircut, and instantly began protesting. Unfortunately for him, he was truly in need of a wee bit of shearing; the haircut began. I jumped in the shower, still verbally supporting my wife and son, and began cleaning up from my own recent encounter with the scissors and clippers.

“Son!”, I shouted (both my wife and he were making some serious noise), “Daddy is so proud of you!” “Hang in there, buddy, it’ll be over real soon!” “You’re doing such a good job; being such a big boy!” “I am so proud of you!”

And God said to me…

“Bryan, why are you proud of your son?”

I quickly reflected. “Because he’s letting his mom cut his hair, Father?”

“Exactly”, He replied, “Because he’s letting you do to him what you know needs to be done.” And then I saw it.

My son was not happy with the haircut. He was not enjoying it, thanking us for it, or even cooperating very well with it, but he was not refusing it. And I was so proud of him for that!

See I’m not always very cooperative with my Heavenly Father’s actions in my life, either. Sometimes I cry, or yell, or squirm around and generally express my dislike for whatever He’s up to. But I have rarely chosen to refuse His touch. And for this, if only this, He is so proud of me!

I turned the steering-wheel sharply to the left at the last minute, barely missing the branch hanging down in front of me. Whipping the wheel back to the left, in order to avoid hitting the backyard shed, I circled back around to make another pass at the tree. The more grass I cut with the riding mower, the less I would have to worry about with the push mower later.

I thought about getting off the mower and cutting the branch, but I was in a hurry. Oddly, the branch seemed to have been partially broken at some point; this was evidently one reason why it was hanging so unnaturally low. The other reason was that almost all of the apples on the little tree were on that partially broken branch! A few more times I tried to duck under the broken, fruitful branch to cut closer to the little tree, and then gave up, steering for the more open area between the back of the shed and the pond.

As I thought more about that nearly severed, overly fruitful branch on the little apple tree, I realized two things. First, all the nutrition the little tree had poured into that fruit had passed through a compromised conduit; the branch was nearly broken in half. Second, that little tree, through whatever mystical process trees decide things, had chosen to make the fruitfulness and reproduction of this almost cut off branch its highest priority.

And God said to me…

“This is a picture of how my Kingdom works; I preserve every branch, even the almost-severed ones, and I make the broken branches the most fruitful of all!”

I was humbled. In a stubborn little apple tree, my Father in Heaven had illustrated His Redemption!

See I’m pretty much a broken branch on a little apple tree. Through my own failings, and those of others, I have experienced wounding and separation from many parts of the body, the True Vine, of Christ. I doubt I am alone in this; many of us are leading nearly-severed lives. But our Father, the Keeper of the Garden, chooses to bring some of His sweetest fruits to life in our brokenness. And rather than shame, we bear glory to His Name. In our weakness and pain, we showcase His enduring strength and beauty.

I never did cut that branch.