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Why You're Here: Ethics for the Real World

John G. Stackhouse Jr. (Goodreads Author)

4.13 · Rating details · 23 ratings · 5 reviews

What are Christians to be and to do in the world? What does faithfulness look like in these complex and confusing times?
Christians are often told either to take over the world in God's name or to withdraw into faithful sanctuaries of counter-cultural witness. John Stackhouse offers a concise, vivid, and practical alternative based on the teachings of Scripture about the m ...more

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Paperback, 328 pages

Published December 1st 2017 by Oxford University Press, USA

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Feb 21, 2018 Tony Dickinson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Why You’re Here: Ethics for the Real World is John Stackhouse’s contribution to a conversation about ethics. For Stackhouse, ethics are not a simple list of good things and bad things but are instead the character or essence of the thing. Stackhouse uses this definition to suggest a reason why we are here: to maximize shalom. Maximizing shalom means we have a job to do. The book begins with a statement of what God expects of all people, then does the same regarding God’s expectation of Chris Why You’re Here: Ethics for the Real World is John Stackhouse’s contribution to a conversation about ethics. For Stackhouse, ethics are not a simple list of good things and bad things but are instead the character or essence of the thing. Stackhouse uses this definition to suggest a reason why we are here: to maximize shalom. Maximizing shalom means we have a job to do. The book begins with a statement of what God expects of all people, then does the same regarding God’s expectation of Christians in particular, and then closes with some thoughts about what this looks like in practicality, which is where I found the majority of benefit in reading.

Stackhouse uses the opening of Genesis to suggest what he calls “the basic calling of humanity,” which is to care for creation. This means that all people are rulers on earth and have the responsibility to rule in a way that acknowledges the goodness of creation. This is done by fulfilling the “creation commandments” to love God and to love your neighbour as yourself. Similarly, all Christians have a basic calling. Unlike the basic human calling, which was given prior to the fall and would still be in place even if the fall had not occurred, the basic Christian calling is necessary because people turned from God. The calling is to make disciples.

With the understanding that these two calls are in place for Christians (who are after all humans), we can look at what maximizing shalom looks like. This is where the idea for ethics for the real world comes in. The task for the Christian is to maximize shalom in a world corrupted by the Fall, which has an enemy that is looking to corrupt it further.

In such a world, then, we should expect to encounter sin, waste, stupidity, and absurdity – both inside and outside of ourselves. Our focus should not be on following rules but instead should be listening for Jesus’ guidance to ensure we respond in a way that creates the best possible outcome to a given situation. This does not mean that we can do whatever we wish whenever we wish it. The principle of good and bad still exist and it is typically proper to follow it, but in a given situation, our primary question should be, Where is God working and am I willing to join with him and his other followers? We respond to this question with a Christian realism that responds to what the world is, what God reveals in Scripture, and the history of the church. Such realism helps shape our public behaviour. We begin by showing people that we in fact do want what is best, while also acknowledging their own freedom to make a choice that we don’t like. With extreme exceptions aside, we cannot look at people who make different choices from us and totally write them off. Instead, on issues of commonality we should count them as allies. We then tell people the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why You’re Here is beneficial for Christians trying to live out their faith in “the real world.” As usual, Stackhouse provides a compelling yet readable argument. In the introduction, Stackhouse points out that this book is an adaptation of his previous academic work Making the Best of It: Following Christ in the Real World. This new book is partly written to be accessible to “non-specialists”. I’ve read both books and, although I have some theological training, I count myself as a non-specialist. I work for a Christian ministry that seeks to make life better for people experiencing poverty. Theological writing is important to informing what I do, but I am not a professional theologian, ethicist, or scholar. I found this adaptation quite helpful as I consider the work I do, which seems to include a lot of the grey areas.

The theological and ethical weight behind this book did not surprise me, but I was surprised, pleasantly, by what I will call “pockets of devotional literature” throughout the book. One such pocket comes in chapter 8. It is an injunction to ask yourself a question: “How does this help me be who I am supposed to be for Jesus Christ, today?” Such a question may help us remove anything in the way of being a good disciple of Jesus. Another pleasant surprise is that I thought about sharing this book with a few friends who do not share my faith because it does a good job at explaining why I approach life as a Christian the way I do. While I cannot speak to whether they would take the book from me, the tone and accessibility here are such that I would be comfortable trying to use it as a discussion starter with one of these friends. ...more

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May 29, 2018 Martin R rated it it was amazing

Stackhouse develops a cogent ethic from twin vocations: the 'Human' calling we were created for, to 'maximise shalom', and the 'Christian' calling of the Church as agents of salvation. These impel us to act, even though our options and outcomes will routinely be compromised in this time between Christ's ascension and return. Stackhouse explores that tension for individuals, communities, and the public sphere.

I plan to share the book with several friends, both new to and familiar with theological ...more

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May 30, 2018 Lee Bertsch rated it it was amazing

Shelves: theological-all

This is an adaptation of a previous book. In the introduction Stackhouse indicates that there have been a number of substantive developments in his thought in the meantime. Respect for an author increases when there is this ongoing rethink of material previously and eloquently addressed. I would put the word "REAL" in the subtitle in bold letters as that is truly the strength of this book. It is hopeful without being Pollyannaish. This quote toward the end of the book expresses well his overall ...more

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Jan 29, 2019 Mar rated it it was ok

Probably a 3 is more accurate, but again, not for me. I like Stackhouse and what he has to say in general, but found the style to be a bit dry--even though this book is a revision of his more scholarly book on the same topic. General idea is that being a faithful Christian is not always black and white. Most situations are not the extremes of "should I lie to the Nazi's banging on the door about the Jews hiding in my basement?", and so the right thing to do is not always simple. Sometimes turnin ...more

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Feb 04, 2018 Peter rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book is about big picture ethics, not your own personal life ethics though they are connected. He says christians have two commands to follow: bring Shalom to all relationships, God, people, the earth; and temporarily, make disciples. He argues that christians need, must be, in the world in all flavours, bringing the Christian perspective but working for the good of all. Comprise is an essential part of this, wisdom is needed to know how and when.

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About John G. Stackhouse Jr.

John G. Stackhouse Jr.

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Until 2015, John Stackhouse held the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Chair of Theology and Culture at Regent College, an international graduate school of Christian studies affiliated with the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. In September of that year, he took the Samuel J. Mikolaski Chair of Religious Studies at Crandall University in Moncton, New Brunswick, where he also serves as Dean o ...more