Imagination Redeemed [eBook]

Glorifying God with a Neglected Part of Your Mind

Your imagination matters.

Contrary to popular perception, the imagination isn’t just for kids, artists, or fans of science fiction. Rather, it’s what bridges our thinking and feeling, allowing us to do everything from planning a weekend getaway to remembering what we ate for breakfast.

In Imagination Redeemed, Gene Veith and Matthew Ristuccia uncover the imagination’s importance for Christians, helping us understand who God is, what his Word teaches, and how we should live in the world today. Here is a call to embrace this forgotten part of the mind as a gift from God designed to bolster faith, hope, and love in his people.

Gene Edward Veith Jr. (PhD, University of Kansas) serves as provost and professor of literature at Patrick Henry College. He is the author of numerous books, including Reading Between the Lines: A Christian Guide to Literature and State of the Arts: From Bezalel to Mapplethorpe.

Matthew P. Ristuccia (DMin, Dallas Theological Seminary) has served as senior pastor of Westerly Road Church in Princeton, New Jersey, since 1985. He is a nationally published columnist and author.

“Imagination—a gift from God—is not just for daydream or fantasy. It’s critical to objective recall and idea development. A thought-provoking gem, this is a must-read.”
—Bob Doll, Chief Equity Strategist and Senior Portfolio Manager, Nuveen Asset Management

“For many, the imagination is synonymous with fantasy and childishness—something to outgrow as we mature. But Veith and Ristuccia have done the church an incredible service in lifting up the critical role of the imagination in the Christian life. Their insights help us realize that it’s only when our imaginations are engaged that we are able to live out our calling faithfully in every arena of life.”
—David H. Kim, Executive Director, Center for Faith and Work, Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City, New York; author, Glimpses of a Greater Glory and 20 and Something

“Defenses of the imagination are somewhat common, but this one combines the perspectives of a literary scholar and a biblical expositor. The result is a unique defense of the imagination. The book is reader friendly, and the defense of the imagination is comprehensive. A particular strength is the demonstration of how the imagination relates to the Bible.”
—Leland Ryken, Emeritus Professor of English, Wheaton College

“This is a biblically grounded, down-to-earth, and eminently accessible book. It deserves to be widely read.”
—Jeremy S. Begbie, Thomas A. Langford Research Professor of Theology, Duke Divinity School; author, Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the World of Music

“Veith and Ristuccia offer practical steps for keeping our imaginations captive to Christ. Veith clearly defines imagination and explains its role in our daily lives, tracing our understanding of imagination through key figures in history. Ristuccia insightfully exposits sections of Ezekiel, showing how God engages our imagination to reveal his character and plan of salvation. Reading this book will help you, as it helped me, fulfill the great command to love God with all your mind. I highly recommend it.”
—Danielle Sallade, Campus Minister, Princeton Evangelical Fellowship, Princeton University

“Veith and Ristuccia have teamed up to give us a mind-stretching introduction to imagination from a biblical perspective. As I read this book, I learned things I had never thought about before and was often made to stop, think, and pray.”
—Ajith Fernando, Teaching Director, Youth for Christ, Sri Lanka