Why You're Here: Ethics for the Real World by John G. Stackhouse Jr.

Why You're Here: Ethics for the Real World Reviews

• 
  Tony Dickinson

  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.      
• 
  Lee Bertsch

  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 approach:
  "Full engagement with culture - which entails patience, compromise, and persistence in the face of setbacks and no more than partial success - must never succumb to the sloth of capitulation or any kind of hopeless resignation of "Oh, well, what can you do?" What you can do, what we all can do, is the will of God: to cultivate as much shalom as we can in every situation. We will not give up, nor will we expect to fully triumph. Thus we will maintain a constant, creative pressure on every situation toward its improvement, while maintaining a "holy discontent" (John R.W. Stott) with every outcome until the New Jerusalem descends (Rev.21).
  It was also a breath of fresh air to read an author fully conversant with Canadian culture, especially his take on pluralism.
• 
  Mar

  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 turning the other cheek seems a good idea; other times pacifism may not be the best solution.
  Stackhouse says the main job of Christians is to bring shalom to the world and that should govern how we make decisions. We also need to work to be faithful in responding to the call of Jesus as we work in the world amongst many who don't share our beliefs.
• 
  Peter

  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.