The Beauty & Consistent of The Christian Ethic

One of Jake Meador’s central concerns, in his potential deconversion and now in this book, is answering: what’s wrong with the world? And Meador not only gives a compelling answer, but he also teases out a vision for how the world should be.

Jake Meador says we can’t follow our Western tradition. The Christian vision for the world is something better, more holistic, more generous, and more human, even if it comes with a few additional burdens and responsibilities along the way.

Jake says:

>> our vision of the Christian life has too often been implicitly conditioned and defined to leave the characteristic idols of the Western world untouched, unscathed, and unchallenged.

He calls the industrial and sexual revolutions disastrous. He critiques various points in European history - the colonial spirit that brought about violence and racism. He destroys the idea that life would be so much better if we went back to the way things were. There is nuance needed.

If Carl Trueman presented an intellectual history that led to the sexual ethics of our day in The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, then Meador brings forth a social history that led to today’s lonely, racist, sexually-selfish and consumeristic world in What Are Christians For?

The consistent problem faced by society is this: people and systems perpetuate the myth that we can and should "impose our will onto the world by force." That is the central problem, the central sin, which according to Meador started first in the Garden of Eden.

The first few chapters show how this myth surfaced in race, nature, industrialism, the sexual revolution, and in “the unmaking of the real.” Then in the last few chapters, Meador unpacks Christian social doctrine (against industrialism), how Christians should view the land (against aspects of colonialism), a vision for belonging (against the sexual revolution), and the benefits of wonder in the real world. For a more detailed description of each chapter, see the highlights I captured here.

Throughout the book, Meador weaves his own personal stories, doctrinal foundations from Martin Bucer (16th-century reformer) and Herman Bavinck (Dutch neo-Calvinist), as well as modern examples of Christians doing life together.

Critique and Recommendation

One thing that this book lacks is Biblical exegesis. It’s more history and social vision casting rather than being a breakdown of what the Bible says. Meador does ground his ideas in Scripture, and I don’t find him to contradict it, but you shouldn’t get this book if you’re looking for Biblical commentary.

But I do very much recommend What Are Christians For? It engages you in ways others don't. It is imaginative in so many ways. How would I care for my own dad if he suffered like Meador's dad did? How am I complicit in perpetuating the same sins as racist slave owners? How do I view God's creation not as a republican or democrat, but as a Christian? Who are the Christians that I know that I could try to live closer to? How do I embrace rather than hide from the burdens my family carries?

There are some aspects to the book that are highly specific and practical; Meador recommends studying ecology, learning cooking techniques, moving closer to other Christians or living with them, and being skeptical of new technology as a Luddite would. You don't have to follow all of these things precisely. And I think Meador himself would say that specific applications are going to vary. But Meador succeeds in helping us imagine better ways of living together.

Since this book condemns various political ideals of both the left and the right, starting with the failings of the ideals of the conservative right, this book provides a helpful apologetic in defending Christian sexual ethics to those on the left. Perhaps this book is especially helpful to "progressive Christians" who don't hold to Biblical sexual ethics. Meador might help persuade them in that direction. For example, here’s how Meador examples why the Christian view of sexuality is more restrictive yet more humane than the view currently in favor in the world:

>> In the Christian conception of sexuality, the self’s identity is secured ultimately in Christ but also proximally in the covenant of marriage. This securing of the self makes it possible to view sex as chiefly an act of self-giving rather than of self-realization. It re-orients the sexual act away from our own needs, experiences, and desires and toward the needs, experiences, and desires of the other. It is able to do this because [in the Christian view] sex is ultimately unnecessary for defining our identity. Sex is not necessary to live a good life. All the pressures that come with sex when it is seen as a primary way to self-designate are removed in the Christian vision of sexuality. A person can see their sexual life as chiefly serving and loving their partner.

I could have given other examples, but I hope this review helps convince you of the value of this book. It's heady and academic yet personal and inspiring. You should read it.

Originally written for: https://andrewnoble.substack.com/

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