The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture [Paperback]

Scott Klusendorf (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 10, 2009

Pro-life Christians, take heart: the pro-life messagecan compete in the marketplace of ideas-provided Christians properly understand and articulate that message. Too many Christians do not understand the essential truths of the pro-life position, making it difficult for them to articulate a biblical worldview on issues like abortion, cloning, and embryo research.

The Case for Life provides intellectual grounding for the pro-life convictions that most evangelicals hold. Author Scott Klusendorf first simplifies the debate: the sanctity of life is not a morally complex issue. It's not about choice, privacy, or scientific progress. To the contrary, the debate turns on one key question: What is the unborn? From there readers learn how to engage the great bio-tech debate of the twenty-first century, how to answer objections persuasively, and what the role of the pro-life pastor should be.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Scott Klusendorf has produced a marvelous resource that will equip pro-lifers to communicate more creatively and effectively as they engage our culture. The Case for Life is well-researched, well-written, logical, and clear, containing many pithy and memorable statements. Those already pro-life will be equipped; those on the fence will likely be persuaded. Readers looking to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves will find much here to say. I highly recommend this book."
—Randy Alcorn, founder and director, Eternal Perspective Ministries; author, If God Is Good and Heaven

"Scott Klusendorf takes the insights and methods for defending the right to life he so effectively communicates in his teaching presentations into a book that provides a clear and cogent biblical rationale for the sanctity and dignity of life, born or unborn. This is a great tool for the layman who knows he or she is pro-life, but doesn't understand the presuppositions on which his or her beliefs are based or who doesn't feel equipped to defend or discuss the issue with others."
—Charles Colson, founder, Prison Fellowship and the Colson Center for Christian Worldview

"The Case for Life is a veritable feast of helpful information about pro-life issues, the finest resource about these matters I have seen. It is accessible to the layperson, and it lays out a strategy for impacting the world for a culture of life."
—J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Biola University; author, Love Your God with All Your Mind

"The Case for Life has set a new standard for pro-life apologetics. Accessible for the layperson, Scott has articulated and refuted every major and minor pro-choice objection to the pro-life position."
—Barbara Shackelford, Executive Director, A Women's Pregnancy Center, Tallahassee, Florida

"Scott Klusendorf's accessible, winsomely-written book presents a well-reasoned, comprehensive case for intrinsic human dignity and worth. Klusendorf not only equips the reader with incisive, insightful responses to pro-abortion arguments, he also presents a full defense of the biblical worldview."
—Paul Copan, Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics, Palm Beach Atlantic University; author, Loving Wisdom: Christian Philosophy of Religion

"This book will equip the reader to articulate both a philosophical case and a biblical case for life and to answer intelligently and persuasively the main objections to the pro-life position. It is easy to follow and hard to put down."
—Patrick Lee, McAleer Professor of Bioethics, Director, Institute of Bioethics, Franciscan University of Steubenville

"The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage Culture by Scott Klusendorf is prophetic and practical. It is prophetic in the sense that it makes a clear and undeniable argument based on truth about human value. It gives a biblically informed pro-life view. It is practical because it provides pro-life advocates a toolbox for offering understandable defenses for the unborn. It shows how to logically answer objections and move a debate to a dialogue. As a pastor, I was challenged, informed, and inspired to confidently and graciously make a difference in my generation for the cause of life."
—Jimmy Dale Patterson, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Newman, Georgia

About the Author

SCOTT KLUSENDORF is the president of Life Training Institute, where he trains pro-life advocates to persuasively defend their views. A passionate and engaging platform speaker, Scott's pro-life presentations have been featured by Focus on the Family, Truths That Transform, and American Family Radio. Scott is a graduate of UCLA and the author of Pro-Life 101.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Crossway (March 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433503204
• ISBN-13: 978-1433503207
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,751 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Women's Studies > Abortion & Birth Control

More About the Author

Scott Klusendorf is the president of Life Training Institute, where he trains pro-life advocates to persuasively defend their views. A passionate and engaging platform speaker, Scott's pro-life presentations have been featured by Focus on the Family, Truths That Transform, and American Family Radio. Scott is a graduate of UCLA and the author of Pro-Life 101.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great For Reading and for Future Reference April 14, 2009

By Tim Challies TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

There was a time when my mother was actively involved in the pro-life movement here in the Toronto area. I have many memories of journeying downtown with her, taking the subway and bus with mom, so we could volunteer in some way in the fight against abortion. I have fond memories of it, mostly. At times, though, I am prone to despair as it seems that in the twenty or twenty-five years between then and now, there has been little change, little progress. The United States has not seen an overturn of Roe v. Wade and Canada still has no abortion law at all (which is really little different than enacting a law protecting a woman's right to abort her child). I am buoyed, though, when I hear stories of individuals who have been impacted by pro-life work, stories of women who have encountered pro-life advocates, who have realized the value of life and who have chosen to save the lives of their unborn children. At least for the time being, this seems to be how God would have us fight this battle--not in court rooms or parliaments or senates (or not primarily, in any case), but in encounters with individuals.

Though I have always been staunchly pro-life, it occurred to me as I picked up Scott Klusendorf's The Case for Life that I had never read a book-length treatment of the case against abortion. For that reason I was eager to read this one. Klusendorf is a disciple of Gregg Cunningham of the Center for Bioethical Reform and of Gregory Koukl of Stand to Reason. In the book's opening pages he expresses his admiration for both men and his debt to them. Cunningham, he says, taught him courage while Koukl taught him to be a gracious ambassador for the Christian worldview. In both cases the similarities are clear.

The thesis of this book is "that a biblically informed pro-life view explains human equality, human rights, and moral obligations better than its secular rivals and that rank-and-file pro-life Christians can make an immediate impact provided they're equipped to engage the culture with a robust but graciously communicated case for life." Making that case is the purpose of the book. The author does so under four broad headings:

1. Pro-Life Christians Clarify the Debate
2. Pro-Life Christians Establish a Foundation for the Debate
3. Pro-Life Christians Answer Objections Persuasively
4. Pro-Life Christians Teach and Equip

In the first part he helps Christians understand and simplify debates over abortion and over embryonic stem cell research. The issues are often presented as being far more morally complex than they actually are and he seeks to cut through the complexity to show what is objectively right and what is objectively wrong. "Can we kill the unborn? Yes, I think we can, if. If what? If the unborn are not human beings." Proving the humanity of the unborn simplifies and, as far as the Christian is concerned, ends the debate.

In the book's second part Klusendorf explains why there is no such thing as moral neutrality when it comes to abortion and to embryonic stem cell research. A standard tactic of the pro-choice movement is to paint every pro-life advocate as a religious fundamentalist who brings faith, not reason, to the discussion. Klusendorf shows, though, that both sides "bring prior metaphysical commitments to the debate" and that both are asking the same foundational question: what makes humans valuable in the first place?

In the third part the author gives answers to the most common objections to the pro-life position. He focuses attention on the hard cases and the emotionally manipulative cases. "Women will die from illegal abortions." "You shouldn't force your views on other people." "Rape justifies abortion." "Men can't get pregnant so should have no say in the debate." "I am sovereign over my own body." He advocates using Greg Koukl's classic Columbo tactic, going on the offensive in a respectful, measured way by asking questions that advance the conversation. In every case he offers a useful response to questions anyone will face as he discusses this topic with others.

In the fourth and final part Klusendorf looks to pastoral implications of pro-life advocacy. He looks at the role of the pastor in the fight for life and he offers hope for men and women who feel burdened by guilt for abortions. The book concludes with a short look at what is always a controversial subject among Christians: co-belligerence. He advocates working with Catholics or Jews or Muslims or Atheists or anyone else who is pro-life but always with a view to maintaining sound doctrine. "Those truths must never be discarded so as to achieve a greater unity with non-evangelicals." He offers a useful argument here and one that is compelling. While I would tend to agree with him, I do think he ignores the fact that co-belligerence often does lead to compromise; it is more difficult than we may think to maintain doctrinal distinctives when working hand-in-hand with those whose beliefs differ from our own. It can be done, I am sure, but it appears to be difficult to do over a long period of time. I suspect the downgrade often begins when pro-life Christians begin to pray together with those who are not believers; holding hands and praying with others can be a powerful force for unity, even if that unity (or perceived unity) advances at the expense of biblical doctrine.

There is so much content in this book, and content that is often densely packed, that it is one you will want to keep on-hand to refer to as questions or concerns or debates arise. I suspect you will want to read it through once and then make sure it is available for future reference. I'm quite sure not too many of us will glean all that it teaches in just one pass. This is not to say that it is a particularly difficult read or that it is targeted only at those with degrees in theology or philosophy. Instead, it is aimed squarely at the lay person and any Christian ought to be able to benefit from it. I believe this book can be a valuable addition to your personal library and feel it would be an excellent addition to any church or public library as well.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource!! April 20, 2009

By Tina Brown

Format:Paperback

The Case for Life is a great resource for those who are pro-life and for anyone who wants to know more about abortion and embryonic stem cell research. The book includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter and would be great to use with a group. The author, Scott Klusendorf, makes you question your beliefs and challenges you to do more than passively say "I'm pro-life."

Mr. Klusendorf discusses various issues surrounding abortion, such as: when is it ok to have one?, what is the unborn? what makes humans valuable? is it just because they are human or do they have to think and reason to be valuable? He answers all of those questions plus much more.
Another topic discussed is embryonic stem cells vs. adult stem cells. One of these two topics is already helping cure several diseases. Which do you think it is? What about cloning? Is it ok? What exactly happens during the cloning process?

If you question anything I've written above, you need to read this book. It's a very valuable resource. It will help answer your questions and give you the tools you need to debate pro-choice advocates. I have always considered myself pro-life but have not done anything to show it. The time is now.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Study Book February 26, 2011

By Trendy Rendy

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Our Sunday School class bought these books and used them as a study guide to learn how to defend what we believed in. We all felt abortion was wrong, but didn't know how to intelligently discuss it in our daily lives. This book gives practical, logical, and scientific defenses for what is the unborn, when life begins, and why we should value the life of a fetus as much as an adult. I highly recommend it. There are even review questions at the back of each chapter that aides in a discussion.