Books

Freedom and the Moral Life

David Gushee reviews essay collection The Freedom of a Christian.

Steering between the extremes of legalism and libertinism, bioethicist (and Lutheran theologian) Gilbert Meilaender attempts to answer this question: “If the gospel announces that sinners are pardoned and that God is pleased with them, what more could possibly need doing?”

Drawing on Merlin, King Arthur, Sherlock Holmes, and Achilles, this accessible and well-informed essay collection looks at freedom through the lenses of grace, vocation, and human nature.

Meilaender advocates “the obedience of faith within a life of Christian freedom.” He also examines the freedom inherent in God’s call: “For large stretches of life, vocation becomes permission to determine the person we will be, and even our duties are transformed.”

Meilaender reminds us that the moral life at its best is a natural response to a loving God: “Beyond principles, beyond law, beyond reason, lies a Person.”

Finally, Meilaender ponders the notion of “embodied humanity” to reflect on bioethical issues such as genetic research, stem cells, and health care at the end of life. Following C. S. Lewis, Meilaender argues that the temptation to use our freedom to be more than human leaves us less so.

“Some exercise godlike mastery,” Meilaender notes, “others (like the beasts) are put out of their misery.”

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

The Freedom of a Christian is available at ChristianBook.com and other book retailers.

Gilbert Meilaender discussed life ethics with CT in “When to Pull a Feeding Tube.”

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Our Latest

News

Black Clergy and Christians Grapple with Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

Many say the activist’s inflammatory statements on race should inform how we remember his life.

News

A Sudden Death: Voddie Baucham, Who Warned the Church of Fault Lines

Known for confronting critical theory, moral relativism, and secular ideologies, Baucham died a month into leading a new seminary in Florida.

Why Many Black Christians Reject the Evangelical and Mainline Labels

The history of a prominent church pastored by MLK in Alabama shows the reason African Americans often don’t embrace either term.

News

Pastor Abducted in Nigeria Amid Escalating Kidnapping Crisis

Armed gang continues to hold him after family paid the ransom.

Review

The Liturgy of American Charisma

Historian Molly Worthen studies dynamic leaders, eager followers, and their shared efforts to “consecrate a new reality.”

Inside the Ministry

The Next Gen Initiative

Casting a captivating vision of following Jesus for the next generation.

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Bruce Deel: Mercy With A Spine

Creating real pathways to stability so families can flourish through housing, work, and dignity.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube