Redeeming the time

by Leland Ryken

The Christian faith offers a unique and enriching perspective on the activities that occupy our waking hours. Yet very few works attempt to analyze and apply the biblical principles that relate to work and leisure. With this book, Leland Ryken hopes to change that, reframing labor and leisure around God's purposes for a holistic lifestyle. Work and leisure are both creation ordinances, he avers, and trying to bifurcate them will only create more confusion. This work addresses key issues concerning toil and play. The author defines the nature of work and leisure, explains the problems they present, and offers solutions. Ryken finds the answers in Scripture and in the rich heritage of theological thinking (particularly the Reformers and the Puritans). He weaves together insights drawn from a wide array of sources--social science, literature, history, theology, and biblical studies.