How Should I Live in This World?

Crucial Questions #5

by R.C. Sproul

It’s common to hear people say that they “want to do the right thing.” But it can be tough to know what the right thing is. On what basis do we make our decisions?

In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul argues that the Bible is the supreme source for ethical guidance. While it doesn’t contain commands for every situation, it does provide clear principles. With wisdom and thoroughness, Dr. Sproul helps us apply these principles to several major ethical dilemmas.

The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christianity, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality

122 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 1998

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Ligia Rus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sproul somehow summarizes the ABC of christian ethics, touching some of the hotly debated ethical matters.

I found the chapter on capital punisment and war and the one on abortion particularly useful in clarifying the Biblical perspective on these topics.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a bit confusing at the start but I figured it out. Sproul is just smarter than me😂

[John Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXAMINE WHAT YOU STAND FOR . . . OR YOU’LL FALL FOR ANYTHING!
This is the 5th of Sproul’s 17-book series about the fundamentals of Christianity. In this book he talks about ethics in a well-thought-out & easy-to-understand way. He’s VERY thorough and starts with a basic question that I bet most people don't know the answer to - “What’s the difference between ETHICS & MORALS?”
I enjoyed Sproul’s approach very much - he’s comprehensive and pays great attention to detail. He starts at the beginning - with a discussion of what ethics & morals really are. As with so many words/themes in the English language, the words have been muddied (sometimes purposely in attempts to “spin” meaning or public opinion) from their original meanings. It is therefore very helpful to start with a clear definition of the vocabulary.
After opening with the basics he covers the three schools of ethical thought - theonomy, autonomy, & heteronomy. I love the way that as Sproul covers the beliefs & theories of each possibility you can begin to wonder if he’s actually espousing one that is clearly ungodly, but after reviewing these theories he then clearly points out areas where they’re in conflict with The Bible or where their logic falls apart.
After exploring the spectrum thoroughly, he focuses on the variations within the main ethical theory that those who call themselves Christians hold to (theonomy of course). Here he examines the spectrum between legalism (and all its forms) and antinomianism (and its varied branches). I especially enjoyed his thorough coverage of “situational ethics”.
Finally, after laying all this groundwork, Sproul explores a few of our biggest ethical questions - materialism (wealth vs. poverty), capital punishment, war, and abortion. I especially admired his discussion on abortion as he faced each question & opinion head on (e.g., When does life begin? Is it murder or medicine? Who should decide? Ought there to be a law? etc.).
Gosh this was an EXCELLENT book & I enjoyed every page . . . every word! I might even recommend this book more highly than all the others so far - although they each cover vital topics to a Christian’s maturing. And, again, I can hardly wait to read the next in the series - “What Does It Mean To Be Born Again?”! =^D

[Laurel · Rating 5 out of 5]

To take an ethical stand on the foundation of divine revelation is to bring oneself into serious and at times radical conflict with the opinions of men.

This booklet discusses Christian ethics, the difference between ethics and morals, and then applies those ethics to some ethical considerations Christians may find themselves face with today, including capital punishment, war and abortion, among a few others. Sproul clearly indicates his position on various points (not just the ethical considerations, but also theologically), but is not afraid to explain the position of someone who may disagree with him. Very well-balanced and sober, this isn't an emotionally charged text, but is instead rational and evidence-based.

I enjoy reading R.C. Sproul's books because they are clearly written, accessible and Bible-based. Sproul's knowledge of the Bible, theology and biblical history enables him to provide a comprehensive backdrop to the various issues, explaining them in a manner that can be easily understood by someone not trained in a Bible School, and enabling the reader to understand more clearly different positions taken and what the biblical perspective is and should be.

[Ryan Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great. Especially chapters 3, 4, and 5 which deal with antinomianism, legalism, materialism, and capital punishment. It's only shortcoming is it's brevity. Many of the topics covered are deserving of an entire book.

[DevotedToHope · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.C.Sproul’s writing is superb! He clearly details the Truth.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a small book trying to answer a very big question, and it does okay. It's a good starting point for learning about the topics that are covered, but I do think there could have been more direct guidance about how the Bible should direct our thinking. Some topics were better explained than others.

Did really like the section on legalism though-- "We tend to give God the cheapest gifts. Which is easier, to develop the fruit of the Spirit, conquering pride, covetousness, greed, and impatience, or to avoid going to movie theaters or dancing? We also yearn for clearly observable measuring rods of growth...It is much more difficult to measure the disposition of our hearts than it is to measure the number of movies we attend" (34-35).

[Amy Passanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read that covers several big topics :)

[Daniel Bandrabur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good introduction course in Christian ethics and morality

[Leonardo Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

una breve introducción a problemas éticos modernos

El libro tiene muchas cosas buenas:

- su discusión de la diferencia entre ética y moral es fundamental para estas discusiones
- tambien encontré mucho valor en su discusión de la pobreza y la búsqueda de definir que es una persona pobre y cuáles son los tipos de pobre.

En cada uno de los temas R.C. Hace el esfuerzo no de dar las respuestas definitivas sino hacer preguntas importantes con respecto a los temas a tratar.

Por la naturaleza del tamaño del volumen creo que no puede hacerle justicia a ninguna de estos temas (sobre los cuales se han escrito volúmenes inmensos).

Entiendo que muchos capítulos terminan de manera adbrupta Justo cuando la discusión pudo haber realmente comenzado, pero entiendo la razón de este ritmo.

El libro busca ser una introducción a todos esos problemas del día a día a los que se enfrenta un cristiano, no la última palabra.

Es un libro con bastante utilidad para alguien que no ha pensado a profundidad en estos temas y principalmente desde una perspectiva Cristiana.

Como siempre la sabiduría de R.C. Sproul se ve en los temas, aunque hubiera disfrutado leer un libro de su parte expandiendo sobre esos temas.

[Catherine Gillespie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theologian R.C. Sproul has a series of short books dealing with critical questions of faith, all of which are free on Kindle. I read How Should I Live in This World?, which is an application of biblical frameworks to popular ethical quandaries. Sproul succinctly describes how to apply principles from the Bible to these questions, without being blinded by our culture or time period.

The book is very short for the topic it covers. If you’re interested in really deep exegesis and detailed philosophical application, this might not be the book for you. But if you just want a quick hit I think it’s a fairly solid choice.

Read more at A Spirited Mind

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been enjoying this series, but I couldn't get into this particular book. It's the driest of his writing I've come across, in large part due to the cataloging of categories. I also disagree with the way he divides ethics and morals (though it's not unique and is appropriate to the discussion he wants to have with this book).

It's also odd that -- even despite the limitations of a short work -- he broached but didn't address several hot button topics, including just war theory and abortion in cases of rape.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an insightful discussion of Christian ethics. Due to the brief nature of the books in this series, this is not a comprehensive look at ethics. Consider it an introduction that can whet your appetite for going deeper. It would have been nice to have a bibliography that would have pointed readers to deeper works. For instance, the chapter on war mentioned the just war theory, but it didn't go into detail. That's understandable considering the space the author has to work with, but it would have been good to point to works that deal with the theory in depth.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

R.C. Sproul does the best he can with the space he is given, but tackling weighty, weighty ethical and moral issues in just a few pages leaves much to be desired. That being said, what he does say is really good.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very solid book that focuses on critical ethical concerns facing the church today (e.g., capital punishment, materialism, abortion). It is written in the usual superior logic of Sproul and is very accessible to the casual reader who wants insight into a conservative approach to social ethics.

[Guy Boily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading. Touches important sujects such has abortion, capital punishement.

[Matthew Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but thought-provoking introduction to the topic of ethics from a Christian perspective. Especially appreciate Sproul's touching on the twin traps of legalism and anti-nomianism.

[Rene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really interesting essay about ethics and morals for Christian life, I liked it so much.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice, brief primer on Christian ethics.

[Eric Durso · Rating 3 out of 5]

These short crucial questions series are good for brief overviews of certain topics. Not exhaustive.

[JD Veer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't expect this book to be about ethics, though it makes sense now that it was.

Very interesting insights, especially in the last chapter "Ethics and the conscience".

[Corby H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The whole book was good and I learned quite a bit. the most interesting chapter was chapter four "The Ethics of Materialism".

[Ryan Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small book on Christian ethics. It’s split into two halves. First, three chapters explaining Christians ethics. Second, four chapter on four specific ethical dilemmas (materialism, capital punishment and war, abortion, and the conscience).

The book is worth reading for the first half on Christian ethics. Sproul is very insightful; I caught myself learning much more than I ever expected. One might think by the title that this would be a very introductory Christian book, but the first three chapters are much more than this. From his differentiating of ethics from morals to his explaining and critiquing the situationist Christian ethical view, these chapters read more like a helpful college ethics introduction from a Christian perspective. Therefore, I will access these again for sure.

Though as for the last few chapters on specific ethical situations, these weren’t nearly as good. His insights specifically on war were a bit helpful, but the others would be better explored in other books.

Overall, the first half was five stars, the second three. I would recommend though, particularly for the first 50 pages.

[Fred · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-Stars
1-Star markdown for each of the compromised chapters noted in this review.

This book was great until Sproul got into specific applications in Chapters Four and Five ("THE ETHICS OF MATERiALiSM" and "THE ETHICS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AND WAR") in which he switched from teaching the Bible to preaching his opinion as if it were the Bible. As a recovering Reconstructionist, I felt like I was listening to "The Worse of Gary North" (a well known and now wildly unpopular Reconstructionist author and speaker) who was notorious for this practice back in the day.

Thankfully Mr. Sproul returns to form in Chapters Six and Seven ("THE ETHiCS OF ABORTION" and "ETHiCS AND THE CONSCiENCE") to finish the book off strong.

So my recommendation would be to simply skip Chapters Four and Five and you'll have a great experience with this book. Unfortunately, I didn't get the warning in advance so I had to suffer through them to get to the good stuff at the end.

[Glen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving yet scripturally rigid ethics

Gives all sides of ethical conundrums, yet provides the scriptural resources to help guide your conscience.
"The conscience is a delicate instrument that must be respected. One who seeks to influence the consciences of others carries a heavy responsibility to maintain the integrity of the other person’s own personality as crafted by God. When we impose false guilt on others, we paralyze our neighbors, binding them in chains where God has left them free. When we urge false innocence, we contribute to their delinquency, exposing them to the judgment of God."

[Sandu Andronic · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte, scurtă ca întindere, ca profundă în învățătură. Nu ai nevoie de o licență în teologie ca să o înțelegi, pentru că este scrisă într-o formă care să fie accesibilă oricărui cititor. Sproul, pe parcursul celor șapte capitole, explică ce este etica, ce este moralitate, care sunt diferențele dintre cele două, care sunt implicațiile practice și sociale care decurg din adoptarea unei perspective greșite și de ce contează acest lucru pentru noi.

[CLAUDIO ARAYA · Rating 5 out of 5]

LLEVAR Y APRECIAR UNA BUENA VIDA ES CUESTIÓN DE CONCIENCIA

PARA VIVIR EN ESTE MUNDO ES IMPORTANTE EL EJERCICIO DE LA CONCIENCIA. LA CONCIENCIA ES UN INSTRUMENTO DELICADO QUE DEBE RESPETARSE.ALGUIEN QUE INTENTE INFLUENCIAR LA CONCIENCIA DE LOS DEMÁS TIENE LA GRAN RESPONSABILIDAD DE MANTENER LA INTEGRIDAD DE LA PERSONA MISMA DE LA OTRA PERSONA TAL COMO FUE MODELADA POR DIOS.

[Cassie Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Christians, we are to live in this world, not completely separate ourselves from it. But the question of our place in the world and how we should live in it is a very pressing question for the faithful.

In this booklet, R.C. Sproul takes a look at this issue with his usual simple, clear language to break down the complicated knot of ethics that the world follows and the ways we must deal with them. He also talks about two extremes that Christians can fall into: Legalism and Antinomianism. Then he takes a bold stance on the dilemmas of war and capital punishment, and he continues by talking about the topic of abortion. Finally he digs into the topic of the conscience and debunks several myths about this mysterious part of the human consciousness.

I would recommend this booklet for all Christians in every walk of life. The information is useful and applicable in today’s world. Definitely pick this up if you have questions about how you as a Christian should live in the world.

[luis ojeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Respuestas bíblicas sobre un mundo distorsionado

Definitivamente los cristianos seguimos siendo influenciados de manera silenciosa. Es importante este tipo de materiales para recordarnos que estamos radicalizados con la verdad. La misma que nos ha salvado y ha hecho libres. Dios nos ayude a poder vivir de la manera que El nos ha dado la libertad y claridad para hacerlo.
En

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Thought Provoking

Dr. Sproul expounds here in his trademark fashion the question of Christian ethics in light of some issues facing modern Christians from a reformed perspective. This work is certainly very thought provoking and Biblically based.