What are Christians to be and to do in the world? What does faithfulness look like in these complex and confusing times? Christians are often told either to take over the world in God's name or to withdraw into faithful sanctuaries of counter-cultural witness. John Stackhouse offers a concise, vivid, and practical alternative based on the teachings of Scripture about the meaning of human life in this world and the next. Why You're Here provides an accessible, concrete program for the faithful Christian living in today's world, fraught as it is with ambiguity, irony, and frequent choices among unpalatable options. Stackhouse speaks directly to everyday Christians who are searching for straightforward advice on some of their most complex quandaries and the challenges inherent in staying true to the Bible's teachings. Politicians, medical professionals, businesspeople, professors, lawyers, pastors, students, and anyone else concerned to think realistically and hopefully about Christian engagement in society today will find here a framework to both guide and inspire them in everyday life.

John G. Stackhouse, Jr. is Samuel J. Mikolaski Professor of Religious Studies and Dean of Faculty Development at Crandall University.

Introduction Part I: Our (Permanent) Human Calling: Make Shalom Chapter 1: The Basic Calling of Humanity Chapter 2: Human Vocation: All of Us, Some of Us, Each of Us Part II: Our (Temporary) Christian Calling: Make Disciples Chapter 3: The Basic Calling of the Church Chapter 4: The Christian Vocation: All of Us, Some of Us, Each of Us Part III: Responding to the Call of Jesus Chapter 5: Principles for the Normal Chapter 6: Facing the Borderline Chapter 7: Faith, Hope, and Liberty Chapter 8: Making the Best of It Chapter 9: Behaving in Public Conclusion: Final Formulas