Module 3 - Christian Ethics

Desired Learning Outcomes: At the end of the module, the students would have:
1. explained the meaning, significance & Biblical basis of Christian ethics;
2. compared Christian ethics in relationship with the two Testaments;
3. summarized the criteria, standards, and methods of Christian ethics;
4. applied the most important Christian principles in their life;

Module 3.1. Definition and Significance of Christian Ethics

A. Definition

What is Christian ethics?

1. Christian ethics is a method of determining right and wrong based on the

understanding and interpretation of the Christian message. The life and teachings
of Jesus Christ is the heart of the Christian message. Right and wrong in this aspect is
determined by the life and teachings of Christ. To understand what we should do or
avoid in life, as well as to know what we should believe, we must consult the life and
teachings of Christ (Rudnick, 1979).

2. Christian ethics is a set of principles derived from the Christian faith by

which we act.

The Bible gives us a detailed instruction on how we should live. While God’s word
may not cover every situation in our lives, its principles give us the standards by
which we must conduct ourselves. For example, the Bible does not explicitly say
about the use of illegal drugs, yet based on the principles we learn in the Bible, we
can know that it is wrong. For one, the Bible tells us that the body is the temple of
the Holy Spirit and that we should honor God with it. (1 Cor. 6:19-20). So, by using
the principles in the Scripture, Christians can already determine what is proper for
them to do in a given situation (Geisler, 2010).

3. Christian ethics is a systematic study of the way of life exemplified and

taught by Jesus, applied to problems and decisions of human existence. The way of
life is expressed in what we say, live and practice. It is also synonymous with our
lifestyle or day to day living. The Gospels reflect Jesus’ way of life. It tells not only
what He does and says but also what early Christians believe of Him. The way of life
exemplified by Jesus is an adequate, dependable and indispensable guide of
Christians in their actions as well as in their decisions in life (Harkness, 1957).

B. Significance of Christian Ethics

Why do we need to study Christian ethics? The following are the significance of Christian
ethics:

1. Christian ethics guides Christians in making right decision. Normally,

people make moral
and ethical decisions in their life. They need light to guide them in their problems and
decisions. According to Giles, there are three elements involved in making right decisions.
These are: 1) one’s sense of values; 2) one’s belief in the dignity and worth of persons; and 3)
one’s responsibility towards neighbor. In circumstances in which we cannot determine what
is right or wrong, we need to consult Christian ethics (Giles, 1974).

2. Christian ethics helps us differentiate between what is vital and peripheral

in life.

Vital signifies essential element in life, while peripheral is of minor significance. It

expresses also priorities in life, what seems to be important and not so important.
For example, health care and family concerns are vital in life. Moreover, there are
also issues like ecological bearings, human rights, and global warming that are also
equally important. These issues affect even community life. Christian ethics in this
aspect, helps people decide or weigh which concerns should be attended first and
which one should be taken later (RE 2 Manual, 2005).

3. Christian ethics assists people in determining their goals in life and help
them realize these goals. Normally, people make goals for their life. They work hard
in order to realize these goals. Christian ethics does not agree that the end justifies
the means. The efforts toward realizing the end should be coupled with the efforts
towards developing good principle, right attitude and acceptable way of life (Giles,
1974).

Module 3.2. Biblical Basis of Christian Ethics

Christian ethics deals with what is morally right and wrong. This module will give us the
biblical basis of Christian ethics which will help us determine good actions.

Christian ethics is based on the Scripture. God’s communication has been

accomplished
principally through the Scriptures. He has done this by making the Scripture a unity with
what He has done in creating the universe. In Scripture, God has communicated His mind,
and character, and will to mankind. We must recognize the authority of His word because
through it we know what is right and wrong for us (Craton, 2005).

Christian ethics is based on God’s will. Christian ethics is a form of God’s

command in
accordance with His will and with His unchangeable moral character. Christians are to obey
this command. God wills what is right in accordance with His moral attributes. God
commanded the Israelites to be holy because He himself is holy (Lev. 11:45). Jesus Christ
likewise told his disciples to be perfect as His Heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48). It is
impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18). Therefore, we should not lie. God is love (1 Jn. 4:16).
And Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:39) (Geisler, 2010).

Christian ethics is based on a strong foundation of the absolute. Christian

ethics rests
ultimately upon God Himself and upon His divine character. God’s character does not
change (Mal. 3:6; James 1:17), therefore it follows that man’s obligations based on His
nature are absolute. There is no other system that could give us a solid base on which to
operate except to go back to the absolute who is God. Leander Keyser says: “Christian ethics
goes back to God as the ultimate ground and source of morality.” God is the source of all
that is good, and that includes our standards for ethical behavior. Since Christians believe in
God, in whom all goodness comes from, Christians should conform to God’s likeness (Craton,
2005).

Christian ethics is based on God’s revelation. God has revealed Himself both
in nature
(Ps. 19:1-6), and in Scripture (Ps. 19:7-14). God’s revelation is expressed both in general
(Rom. 1:19-20; 2:12-15), and special means (Rom. 2:18; 3:2). In general revelation, God
expresses his commands for all people; while in special revelation, God declares His will for
the believers. But in both cases, the basis always of our ethical duty lies on God’s revelation.
Failure to acknowledge God as the source of ethical duty does not clear anyone from their
moral duty (Rom 2:14-15). So, even if unbelievers do not recognize the moral law in their
minds, they are still inclined to do it.

Christian ethics is based on the character of God. God exists, he has a

character; but not
all things are the same with Him. Some things conform to His character, and some are
opposed. The task of Christian ethics then is to determine what conforms to God’s character
and what does not. Christians believe that moral norms come from God’s nature. God’s
ethical order is the only true source of morality. For the Christian, the moral order is more
real than the physical order. Paul says that the physical order is temporary, but the order not
seen is eternal (2 Cor. 4:18). This eternal order is a reflection of the character of God Himself
(CE- Wikipedia).

Christian ethics is based on the atonement. James Denny says: The new life
springs out of
a sense of debt to Christ. The regenerating power of forgiveness depends upon its cause. It
means that death of Christ is the basis upon which Christian ethics is built. Our choice of an
ethical life is based upon the regenerative power of the cross. We live ethically and
righteously as a result of the atonement, and this is the basis of Christian ethics (Craton,
2005).

Christian ethics is prescriptive. By its very nature, Christian ethics is

prescriptive, not
descriptive. Doing what is right is prescribed by a moral God. He is both a lawgiver and a
legislator. As a lawgiver, God prescribed laws, and as a legislator, he imposed legislations.
Christian ethics emphasizes what we should do, not what is. Christians should behave not
based on the standard of others but on the standard of God (Geisler, 2010).

Module 3.3. Christian Ethics in Relationship with the Old and New
 Testaments
A. Old Testament Ethics
Christian ethics is grounded in the Old Testament. The principles of the Old Testament
consist of the laws, and the character and nature of God. The laws gave Israel their standard
of what was right and wrong. The governing principle which is the nature and character of
God is summed up by the statement that the Lord was holy (Lev. 19:2). The holy character of
God cannot tolerate evil or sin. Therefore, if we wish to please God and guard our life from
sin, we must live in accordance with His nature and character.

The major contributions of the Old Testament to the study of ethics include: 1)
accountability to a monotheistic God; 2) humility, righteousness, and wisdom. It emphasizes
social responsibilities without diminishing individual’s accountability.

B. New Testament Ethics

The most significant contribution of the New Testament is Jesus Christ. His life, teaching
and ministry form the structure of the New Testament ethics. The common ground of the
New Testament with the Old Testament is the revelation of God and His Word. The
revelation of God in the New Testament assumes His lordship over His creation. Therefore,
all aspects of life – attitudes and actions are subject to God. The revelation of God’s Word
means that the New Testament ethics has a saving outlook on life. The Word of God reveals
that mankind fell into sin, but God offers reconciliation through Christ.

The principles governing the New Testament ethics are what Jesus said: 1) “Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ,” and, 2)
“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37 -39) (Corbet, 2012).

With the common ground between the two testaments, the following are the basic
ethical understanding or concepts of God.

Concepts of God

God is Ethical. The ethics of God stresses the sacredness of human life. God
does not want
human sacrifices. When Abraham was about to kill his son Isaac, to be sacrificed as a burnt
offering, God stopped his hands (Gen. 22:12). God’s ethics is to preserve human life. God
was not also happy when Manasseh sacrificed his own son in the fire (2 Kings 21:6).

God is Creator. Behind the interpretation of evil as the corrupted good is faith
in God as
the Creator. Human beings and everything else in the world have been made by God.
However, as Creator, he is not responsible for what is wrong with us. He is not the source of
evil that threatens us. He is the only source of what is right with and about us ( Rudnick,
1979).

God is Righteous. God is portrayed as righteous in the Old Testament.

Because God is
righteous, he demands righteousness from all people. Righteousness is a moral and ethical
obligations of people in the society. It should be centered in the attitudes of the heart. Psalm
11:7 says “The Lord is righteous, he loves justice, upright men will see his face.”

God is Provider. El Shaddai or Jehovah Jireh is the name of God which

stresses his
capacity to supply human needs. When the Israelites were hungry and thirsty, God provided
them with food and water. In one of the mountains of Galilee, Jesus also fed the hungry
multitudes with loaves of bread and pieces of fish (RE 2 Manual, 2005).

God is Justice. Justice is the property of law or measured by the standard of

law. Since
justice is rooted in law, it easily develops the ethical conduct in accordance with what is
lawful. God emphasizes justice and upright living. He wants people to repent from their sins
and to live with what is just. “If a wicked man turns away from his sins he has committed and
keep God’s decrees, he will surely live, not die”(Ezekiel 18:21), (Landero, 2002).

God is Merciful. Mercy is used in the Old Testament to express the unique
quality of God.
Mercy is reciprocal by nature. It is to the merciful that God will show mercy. “God will not
show mercy when he judges the person who has not been merciful” (James 2:13). The
principle of reciprocity is seen also in the Lord’s prayer, “Forgive us, as we forgive…”
(Matt.6:12).

God is Savior. In the Old Testament God delivered the Israelites from the
Egyptian slavery.
He saved the Hebrew patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; he saved Moses and the
slaves at the Red Sea. He saved the thief who had a penitent heart at the cross of Calvary.
The ethics of God is salvation for mankind. He sent His only Son Jesus to save us from our
sins.

God is love. The concrete love of God was seen in a manger. He concretized
himself in the
form of human flesh and this human flesh is none other than His son, Jesus. His ethical
action was a transcendental one. He came down to identify with his loved people. Since God
is love, he challenged his people to love one another (I John 4:6-8), (RE 2 Manual, 2005).

Module 3.4. Criteria, Standards, and Methods of Christian Ethics

Criteria of Christian Ethics
The word criterion (criteria – plural) means basis or norm (Webster,2006). The following
criteria such as right, good and fit are bases or norms for ethical conduct.

Criterion of right – emphasizes the duty of man. The following are the
prescribed duties
of man:

It is the duty of man to practice what is true and noble (Phil.4:8-9).

b. It is the duty of man to be productive (Col. 1:10-12).

c. It is the duty of man to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God (Micah
6:8b).

Criterion of good – emphasizes the purpose of man. The primary purpose of

man is to:
a. love God above everything else; and

b. love his/her neighbor (Matt. 22:37-40)

What is the highest good?

To seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness

(Matt. 6: 33)
To do the will of God from the heart
Criterion of fit – emphasizes the situation of man. Jesus said, “The Sabbath
was made for
man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27) (RE 2 Syllabus, p. 4).

B. Standards or the Final Authorities for what is Right or Wrong.

What are the standards or the final authorities for what is right and wrong? There are only
two standards:

1. Jesus Christ. His life and his teachings are the standards of Christian behavior.
Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me” (John 14:6).

2. The Word of God. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17), (Tardo,2012).

C. Methods of Christian Ethics

The methods of Christian ethics will guide Christians to practice the prescribed
criteria and standards:

Intuition. Intuition means insight, instinct or moral sense. It could also mean
perception
or conscience. The blind man who could not totally see can still walk across the street with
his rod because he has this insight or perception. Man by nature has a moral sense because
he was created in the image of God. It is this moral sense or conscience that dictates him to
do good. When he commits mistakes he feels guilty because he has this conscience.
 Faith in God. We know that an experience is good, right, or fit according to
the will of
God. The will of God is concretely expressed in the form of a human flesh, none other than
His very Son Jesus Christ. We can only discern God’s will if we have to relate our own life to
Jesus Christ through the workings of the Holy Spirit. The will of God is a matter of
experiencing God in life through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Reason or Power of discrimination. When God created man in his own image
it is
coupled not only with conscience or moral sense but also with reason. Man is a rational
being. He thinks and analyzes certain situations, implications of experiences before making
moral decisions (RE 2 Syllabus, 2002).

Module 3.5. Most Important Principle of Christian Life

Jesus’ ultimate purpose is to establish the kingdom of heaven in the human heart. The
following are the principles to live by so that the kingdom of heaven is present in everyone’s
heart.

1. An abiding trust and faith in God in all circumstances. Even in the midst of
great distress,
we are to continue in faith with God. A steadfast faith in Jesus Christ is the first and most
important principle in the Christian life. “Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith, for He
who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23). Phil 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

2. Sincerity and honesty before God and man. Christians are to be sincere, not
hypocrites
who say one thing and do another. God hates dishonesty. One of the commandments given
by God to Moses says, “Do not steal” (Ex. 20:15).Let us be honest not only in the sight of the
Lord, but also in the sight of people (2 Cor. 8:21).

3. Genuine humility. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the
earth.” To be
meek, in a sense, is to be humble. Humility is the acceptance to learn and to forgive.
Matthew looks upon Jesus himself as the true example of humility. Col. 3:12-13says, “So, as
those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each
other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should
you.”

4. A forgiving and merciful spirit toward all. Forgiveness is a choice, not a

feeling. It is not
an emotion you work on. The Scriptures tell us to love one another and love even our
enemies. Love overlooks the many faults of others. Let us not concentrate on other’s
shortcomings but instead to pray for them (Matt. 5:43-48).
 5. An unqualified love for God and for your neighbor. When Jesus was asked by
a Pharisee
what is the greatest commandment in the law, He said that the greatest commandment is to
love God with all his heart, his soul, and his mind. Then He further said that he should love
his neighbor as he loved himself (Matt. 22:36-40).Jesus gives us the two commandments on
which all the others rest. It is impossible to love God and not to love others. A natural
outgrowth of loving God is loving others.

6. Absolute loyalty, faithfulness, and obedience to the Word and will of God. As
Christians,
we need to be faithful to the Lord. If we call him as our Lord and Master we have to obey
him (Luke 6:46). Not everyone who calls the name of the Lord shall enter the Kingdom of
heaven; but those who does the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21) (Tardo,2012)