"Evangelical Ethics"

Recently I have been teaching on the Christian worldview and how we are to respond to various moral and ethical questions in the cultural context.  Issues like war and peace, capital punishment, business and work, immigration, racism, sexism, abortion, infanticide, eugenics, euthanasia, sex, sexuality, homosexuality, transgenderism, marriage, divorce, cohabitation, etc. One of the books I have returned to time and time again is John Jefferson Davis' book Evangelical Ethics: Issues Facing the Church Today.

What I like about Davis' book is how he puts everything into a cultural and historical context.  On contraception, for example, he takes the time to trace how humans have used contraception for millenia.  At times barbaric methods were used in order to prevent the birth of children. I guess some things do not change. I have access and own several books that go into depth over many of these issues - especially regarding life, sexuality, and politics - but few frame these issues in context and deal with them from a biblical perspective.

For the most part, I agree with most of Davis' conclusions.  I have learned over the years that there is no perfect evangelical ethics book as no two evangelicals agree on everything.  But when it comes to things clearly revealed in the gospel, Davis is dead on. He affirms life, stands against homosexuality, and offers a helpful guide into using contraception.

Overall, this is a helpful book for those wanting to know more about these difficult issues. He frames them in a way that allows us to see the big picture first beyond the headlines and political maneuvering.  I would recommend this book to anyone serious about the Christian worldview and how to think about these difficult issues.


For more:
Reviews - "Human Dignity in a Biotech Century" by Charles Colson