LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
Book Critique: Reviving Evangelical Ethics
Submitted to Dr. Douglas Blount
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
THEO 650-B01
Ethics and Christian Ministry
By
Adrian McNair
February 17, 2019
Introduction
Reuschling in her book, Reviving Evangelical Ethics investigates the classic views of
ethics and morals to give her thoughts on why they conflict with the Christian perspective on
ethics. The author tries to inform the readers on the different parts to ethics. Christian ethics is
very important in the life of the saints of God. I believe that this subject is rarely touched on in
Christian Churches. Christians must be able to have the right morals and right Christian living.
“While I embrace the renewed commitment to spiritual formation as a normative aspect of
Christian faith, I am concerned to name the ways in which spiritual formation is hijacked by a
therapeutic context that equates spiritual formation with self-actualization, as opposed to moral
formation, character, and commitments to just practices in the world. I am a woman called to
ministry who has been both supported and demonized in evangelicalism.”1
The writer’s goal is not to abandon the old classical way of ethical thinking but to project
the Christian ethical way of thinking. Evangelicals need to focus on being involved in the
Christian ethical thinking.
Summary
Reuschling expresses her thoughts on Immanuel Kant, John Mills, and the Greek
Philosopher Aristotle’s stance on ethics. “I use The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals by
Immanuel Kant to investigate his understanding of duty. By so doing I highlight salient aspects
of Kant’s universal deontology for its contribution to ethics but also to alert us to the dangers of
duty as a sole criterion for fostering moral commitment and behavior, especially when applied to
the role of the Bible in ethics.”2 The writer explains the dangers of just relying on Kant’s belief
of ethics. Christians must have a biblical based view of morals and ethics. “John Stuart Mill’s
1 Wyndy Corban Reuschling, Reviving Evangelical Ethics: The Promises and Pitfalls of Classic Models of
Morality (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Books, 2008), Introduction.
2 Ibid., Intro.
Utilitarianism is the primary source through which I examine the context and the claims of
utilitarianism for both its contribution to ethical discourse and its limitations for Christian ethics
in an evangelical context when ethics takes on a decidedly pragmatic bent in an understanding of
church growth and discipleship.”3 Reuschling does a good job breaking down the views of the
classical ethical views. This gives the readers a background on the views of the past.
“By exploring Aristotle’s classic work Nicomachean Ethics, I articulate the dimensions of
virtue ethics as Aristotle proposed them, discerning their use in a Christian context but also
looking for their pitfalls when virtues are co-opted by the ideology of individualism and a
commitment to personal piety as a guarantee of moral competence.”4 The problem I have with
this is that Aristotle was a pagan and not a Christian. As well all the Greek philosophers of the
time were pagans and worshiped false gods. From my perspective, I wouldn’t have used pagan
beliefs to explain Christian Ethics. The Bible is the source of all Ethics which came from God
himself.
Chapter one begins with the author providing a description of the three classical theories
about Ethics. Deontology, teleology, and virtue ethics are explained using works from classic
works. In this section, the writer breaks down the theories and then interjects how that Christians
should apply the Christian view into them. Both the positive and negative effects are looked at in
this chapter. “And finally, for those who view the Bible as the timeless, universal depository of
truth that ought to be obeyed by everyone, regardless persuasion, Kant’s moral theory provides a
way to view the Bible and select teachings as simply a bunch of rules to be obeyed.”5 The Bible
3 Ibid., Intro.
4 Ibid., Intro.
5 Wyndy Corban Reuschling, Reviving Evangelical Ethics: The Promises and Pitfalls of Classic Models of
Morality (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishing, 2015), Chapter 1.
is the main source for ethics. In Teleology, it focuses on duties and what makes the individual
happy. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is the focal point in this classic theory of ethics.
“That Mill’s ethic is appealing is obvious, given his influence on our understanding of
“majority rule,” the pursuit of human happiness and liberty as inherent rights, and the lack of
moral consensus in favor of whatever actions maximize human happiness, as we so define
it.”6Even though Mill’s theory maybe appealing but it still lacks biblically sound doctrine to
compel people to live biblically ethical in everyday life. Next, the author views one the great
Greek philosophers of his time which was Aristotle. “Perhaps Aristotle’s notion of virtue
complements a view that Christian morality is the same as personal piety and a compilation of
characteristics and qualities that are pleasing to God. I am not contending that duties, outcomes,
and virtues have no place in Christian morality.”7
Reuschling in Chapter 2 focuses on Deontology and what happens when we limit the
Christian morals that is focused on the Bible. “A deontological approach to the Bible reduces the
moral life to one that is concerned with simply following rules. Ethics is restricted to decision
making and taking positions on given issues, with little regard to other crucial dimensions, such
as character formation and conscience. In this approach, I really do not need to engage in moral
reflection with the scriptures or with the long-standing traditions of the Christian faith in their
engagement with biblical texts or to experience fundamental conversion in my character or
worldview. I simply need to “trust and obey.”8
Chapter 3 discusses the limitations of the theory of utilitarianism and how the writer feels
about its results. Reuschling gives her four concerns about this theory or view of morals.
6 Ibid., Chapter 1.
7 Ibid., Chapter 1.
8 Wyndy Corban Reuschling, Reviving Evangelical Ethics: The Promises and Pitfalls of Classic Models of
Morality (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishing, 2015), Chapter 2.
Utilitarianism does not focus on the bible or the function the church of God. “A utilitarian
perspective may foster an understanding of the church as functional, not for the purposes of
helping us in our utility and calling to live out a Christian narrative, but for the purposes of
meeting individual needs in the pursuit of our own happiness. The call to discipleship and the
communal shaping of the moral life by a community of Christ followers is irrelevant or
secondary at best.”9 This lets the Christian know that the best reliable source for ethics is the
word of God. The writer gives detail expressions about the three classical view and spends too
much time trying to compare to the biblical view about ethics.
Chapter 4 focuses on Aristotle’s view on virtue. Virtues reflect the character of an
individual. Virtues let people know about how the person is. They also reveal what the person
stands for as a human being. “In other words, Christian virtues are not an individual’s personal
possession of piety. Being right with God is no guarantee that one will live a life characterized by
righteousness and justice. Christian virtues are lived out, exercised, and applied in social contexts
just as Jesus did.”10 Virtues do have to be practiced out in life based upon the word of God.
Personal piety or godliness is something that a Christian ought to have because we all belong to
Christ. Believers must live out the gospel in their own individual life and be example to the
unbelievers of the world.
In Chapter 5, Reuschling gives her real purpose for critiquing the three classical views on
morals. She gives her solution to the problems of these three views and offers insight on morality
to the evangelical mindset. “Along with moral discourse and deliberation, the early church also
provided us an example of a community of moral discernment. [48] Moral discernment aids in
the development of practical wisdom, the perception to understand what it is fitting in terms of
9 Wyndy Corbin Reuschling, Reviving Evangelical Ethics: The Promises and Pitfalls of Classic Models of
Morality (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishing, 2015), Chapter 3.
10 Ibid., Chapter 4.
attitudes and actions according to the gospel. While moral discourse starts with the important
“what” of ethical reflection, complemented by the “why” of reasoned moral deliberation, moral
discernment involves asking “how” we are to act “fitting to, or worthy of, the gospel.”11
Conclusion
In Reuschling’s conclusion, she recaps on Deontology, Teleology, and Virtue Ethics. She
proposes that these classic view on ethics are important to morals and values. The writer informs
that the art of preaching, forming small groups, and service is an important factor to Christian
morals and understanding. “I see our commitments to practices in preaching, small group
gathering, and service as crucial for moral formation in an evangelical context and for the roles
they might play in forming conscience and heightening our moral sensitivities and commitments.
It’s not just that we preach, gather in small groups, and serve in various areas. It matters what we
preach, why we gather, and how and whom we serve.”12 The three classical views on ethics may
have some important aspects that Christians can use in relating to ethics but our source it the
Bible.
Reuschling’s overall book was done well and reflected much historical importance on the
issue we still must deal with today. Virtues are written in the bible and Christians should aim to
practice the fruit of the Spirit. This in turn will produce good ethics and right Christian living. It
is amazing that there is nothing new under the sun. The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote about
virtues which is connected to ethics and morals. Morals does reflect a person’s character and
what they stand for. As believers in Christ, we must live of the gospel of Christ and have godly
morals. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of
11 Ibid., Chapter 5.
12 Ibid., Conclusion.
the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord.”13
Virtue Ethics in my book, would be the closest thing to biblical doctrine. Aristotle had
some similar concepts that are found in the bible on how to treat people. His views probably
seemed righteous or trustworthy in the sight of people but fell short of Scripture. There was no
grace or baseness of mind in his views. Without grace, then you are bound to fail. Only people
that are born again will have morals backed by the truth of the gospel of Christ.
Bibliography
13 2 Corinthians 3:18, Kjv.
Reuschling, Wyndy Corbin. Reviving Evangelical Ethics: The Promises and Pitfalls of Classic
Models of Morality. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishing, 2015.
