Making the Best of It: Following Christ in the Real WorldWhat should be the Christian's attitude toward society? When so much of our contemporary culture is at odds with Christian beliefs and mores, it may seem that serious Christians now have only two choices: transform society completely according to Christian values or retreat into the cloister of sectarian fellowship. In Making the Best of It, John Stackhouse explores the history of the Christian encounter with society, the biblical record, and various theological models of cultural engagement to offer a more balanced and fruitful alternative to these extremes. He argues that, rather than trying to root up the weeds in the cultural field, or trying to shun them, Christians should practice persistence in gardening God's world and building toward the New Jerusalem. Examining the lives and works of C. S. Lewis, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer for example and direction, Stackhouse suggests that our mission is to make the most of life in the world in cooperation with God's own mission of redeeming the world he loves. This model takes seriously the pattern of God's activity in the Bible, and in subsequent history, of working through earthly means--through individuals, communities, and institutions that are deeply flawed but nonetheless capable of accomplishing God's purposes. Christians must find a way to live in this world and at the same time do work that honors God and God's plan for us. In an era of increasing religious and cultural tensions, both internationally and domestically, the model that Stackhouse develops discourages the "all or nothing" attitudes that afflict so much of contemporary Christianity. Instead, he offers a fresh, and refreshingly nuanced, take on the question of what it means to be a Christian in the world today. |
Contents
PART II | 54 |
S Lewiss Para bles | 77 |
Prophet of Christian Realism | 112 |
The Christian and the Church | 83 |
PART III | 134 |
SEVEN Vocation | 290 |
EIGHT Principles of a New Realism | 38 |
Making the Best of | 42 |
The Shape of Our Lives | 49 |
Behaving in Public | 64 |
Governing Motifs | 89 |
57 | |
106 | |
Other editions - View all
Making the Best of It: Following Christ in the Real World John G. Stackhouse Jr. Limited preview - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
affirms believe better Bible Biblical Bonhoeffer’s C. S. Lewis Christ and Culture Christian ethics Christian faith Christian Realism Christology church creation commandments Dietrich Bonhoeffer disciples discipleship divine earth Eberhard Bethge Eerdmans enjoy evangelism evil fact freedom fundamental Furthermore Gilkey glory God’s gospel grace Grand Rapids groups Hauerwas Holy Spirit hope human Ibid individual Jerusalem Jesus Christ John de Gruchy John Howard Yoder justice Kingdom Lewis’s liberal live Lord man’s matter means Meilaender Mere Christianity mission moral Nature and Destiny neighbors never Nicholas Wolterstorff offer Old Testament one’s ourselves paradox particular perhaps political question reality recognize redemption Reinhold Niebuhr religion religious responsibility revelation Richard Niebuhr Scripture sense shalom simply situation social society speak Stanley Hauerwas story teaching theme theology things tradition true typology understanding University Press vocation word worship writes