Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60842 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

Synopsis
This work talks about terrorism, same-sex marriage, debt cancellation, the AIDS pandemic. "Issues Facing Christians Today"-helps thinking Christians sift through and respond to a sweeping array of complex and pressing topics. Fully endorsed by John Stott, this fourth edition of his time-tested book has been thoroughly revised and updated by Roy McCloughry. The authors bring important current issues under the lens of biblically informed thinking. Combining a keen global awareness with a gift for penetrating analysis, they examine such concerns as: Pluralism and Christian witness; Cohabitation; Environmentalism and ecological stewardship; War and peace; Abortion and euthanasia ...and much more. An entirely new chapter on bio-engineering has been contributed by Professor John Wyatt of London University. Including a study guide, "Issues Facing Christians Today" is essential reading for Christians who wish to engage our culture with insight, passion, and faith. It will remain a critical contribution, helping to define Christian social and ethical thinking in the years ahead.

Customer Reviews

Hang on a minute - you've missed the point i fear
I think that the previous review is unfair, or at least misunderstands the purpose of this book. For transparency's sake, i should say that i'm on the Staff of All Souls Langham Place where John Stott is still the Rector Emeritus. But that doesn't detract from my comments i hope. This book has had a huge influence on both sides of hte Atlantic, not least because of Stott's balance, care and range of topics. He would certainly be horrified by the idea that it is simply a collection of his personal views, although of course it contains his own conclusions based on the evidence before him (it would be frustrating if he didn't, don't you think?). This is because he clearly submits to the authority of the Bible - his task is to ascertain the ethical principles that the Bible teaches and then apply them to the various (and sometimes incredibly complex) challenges of our time.

Stott's purpose in writing the book was to fill a huge gap in contemporary evangelical thinking - for too long evangelical Christians have merely sought to 'preach the gospel' and not worry too much about anything else like ethics. Since it was first written in 1984 and subsequently revised several times, the need has remained all the greater (not least because technological advances have complicated ethical decision-making still further). I can't think of another book that provides such a brilliant and accessible introduction. It is not the last word on these issues, but you would do a lot worse than to start here.

Not A Real Ethical Analysis
I saw this book in a library and was attracted to it by the prospect of reading an analysis of the issues facing Christians today, as the title suggests.

However upon reading it I was somewhat disappointed at the fact that the author does not give an equal, unbiased review of current issues as I would have expected but rather, at times, presents the issues present and (attempts to) renounce those views which he does not agree with and instead present his personal views of the arguments and issues raised.
The book is at times mainly an outlet for the authors' obviously strong beliefs on some issues.

If you wish to have an overview of current Christian ethics then I would not recommend this book.

Quality material
This is an outstanding resource for equipping Christians to be informed about contemporary issues and then discuss them with an educated response rather than 'I think...'