The Nature of Christian Ethics - For this reason, there will be frequent references in this

- Christian Ministerial and Church leaders should study and study to the relationship between religion and ethics in
seek to understand the ethical and moral teachings of the the law, the prophetic messages and the teachings of
Bible. Jesus and Paul.
- Christians make no excuses for immoral, and it is difficult 3. To Sociology
to distinguish Christians from the world. - Christian ethics is closely related to sociology which is the
study of human relations and ways in which men can live
Dr. Thomas Buford Maston wrote in the preface of his book, together in harmony and happiness.
Biblical Ethics, *An outstanding weakness of contemporary - Christian’s ethics seeks to infuse Christian principles into
Christianity is ethical or moral. society. It may bring a message of judgment upon
- Professor Maston further states that a major factor conditions which the impediments to the welfare of
contributing to moral breakdown “is the tendency to mankind.
separate faith from daily living, theology from - It will awaken man to recognize the spiritual values which
ethics.” can enhance life.
- The teachings of the Bible from the basis of our ethical - Sociology needs assistance from Christian ethics in its
values, our personal convictions, and our practices. efforts to better the social and moral conditions within the
Because of many problems and situations believers face in society. Christian ethics give to sociology a basis of
the living Christian life in contemporary society, the authority which is spiritual and eternal.
people of God should seek to understand the historical 4. To Economics
background related to the scriptural teaching and to - Christianity is closely related to that which occupies so
search for meaning for Christian living today. much of man’s time-his work and other factors.
- The minister, teachers and other church leaders should, - The field of Christian ethics can help man to establish
therefore, seriously study Christian ethics “for the proper values for his work, the place of material
equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the possessions, the use of his leisure time, and the
building up of the body of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12 stewardship of his life.
- It may pass judgment upon his values and help him
Definition of Christian Ethics establish a more Christian value system.
- The word ethics come from the Greek ethos and means 5. To Citizenship
the customs or practices that are approved by a given - Christian ethics give illumination to man as he/she faces
culture. his/her civic responsibilities. It helps him to know what a
- We call ethics the science of morality. It may be Christian should do when political corruption exists; it can
classified as a normative science in contrast to the more give him some sound principles to follow as he exercises
exact descriptive science, such as mathematics, biology, his right and responsibility to vote in local and national
and physics. elections; it can help him to establish criteria that are
- Ethics is a study of the principles by which man live in his adequate in such problems as war, crime and its
society. punishment, and pollution.
- Christian ethics emphasizes the ethical character of the
I. Emil Brunner defines Christians Ethics as human conduct that is God whom we serve, the moral nature of man, the worth
determined by divine conduct. of every individual in the sight of God, and the importance
II. Georgia Harkness (The Source of Western Morality) mentions of love as the central virtue in life.
six important movements which had ethical overtones and left an - In decision making, love will be accompanied by justice,
important stamp upon the minds of the West. tenderness, and humility.
- 6 Important Movement 6. To Psychology and Psychiatry
1. The Sophists’ relativism with the belief that “man is - These discipline deal with the common areas of life. At
the measure of all things. times psychiatry has looked upon religion as a deterrent
2. The Socratic concept that “knowledge is virtue”(asset) to mental and emotional health, and certainty some
3. The Platonic ideal of harmonious self-realization in expressions of religion are more harmful than beneficial.
conformity(traditional) with eternal and objective - Psychology and Christian ethics are both interested in the
values.(ethics) place of motivation in human conduct, out of a right
4. The Aristotelian sense(wisdom) of proportion and the motive, is the goal in both disciplines and the two can
right performance of natural function assist each other in their attempts to help man to achieve
5. The Epicurean ideal of refined pleasure(desire) and this end.
enlightened self-interest - Psychology has helped religion to see that much religious
6. The Stoic ideal of self-controlled living activity can be the outward expression of inner conflicts
actuated(started) by an immanent(inherent) Logos for which the individual is seeking a solution.
pervading all nature and all men.
- An emphasis upon the distinctiveness of Christian ethics Why Study Christian Ethics?
magnifies the sufficiency and the superiority(advantage) - A study of Christian ethics helps us distinguish between
of Christians interpretation of good life over all other what is vital and what is peripheral in life.
systems. - For instance, some groups get very upset over such issues
as the proper dress for women, the refraining from certain
The Relation of Ethics to Other Discipline activities on the Sabbath, and the matter of following
1. To Philosophy
Paul’s injunction concerning the role of women in the
- Philosophy has been called the first of the sciences.
- Ethics was a subdivision of philosophy and was called church.
deontology, or the doctrine of duties. Later deontology
was divided into jurisprudence (duties demanded by the Christian ethics
law) and ethics (the duties not demanded by the law). - attempts to make us aware of the issues
What is the relationship between ethics and philosophical prevalent(rampant) in our day.
ethics? Philosophical Ethics includes some systems which
were propounded by the Greek philosophers before the
THE ETHICS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
time of Christ.
2. To Theology - Testament revelation forms the basis the teaching of Jesus
- There is a very close relationship between theology and and the writers of the New Testament.
ethics. Theological beliefs form the basis for conduct. - The Old Testament is part of the word of God for man’s
The two cannot be isolated. benefit and the message which contains value as today.
- God is the subject of theology, and His righteousness sets - The testament has been made that there little that is new in
the ethical conduct. God’s righteousness sets the ethical the ethical teachings of Jesus because all that He taught is
goals of man. recorded somewhere in the Old Testament.
 - For this reason, we search the Old Testament for the roots - Deliver me from the blood guiltiness, O God,
of his teachings. thou God of my salvation: and my tongue sing a
loud of thy righteousness.”(Psalm 15:13-14).
7. Holiness
THE ETHICAL GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT - God is holy. His holiness is revealed through the
Jehovah contrasted with other god. We are surprised of the lack of reverence which the people showed in relating
information about the ethical nature of gods worshiped by others. to him. The Old Testament, perhaps the
1. Molech prominent than his immanence.
- god of the Ammonites - God’s holiness is the basis for insisting that man
- worshiped by means of human sacrifices in which the be holy: “For I am the Lord your God: ye shall
victim was burnt. Completely, just as animal were therefore sanctity yourselves, and ye shall be
sacrificed in the Levitical system. holy; for I am: neither shall ye defile yourselves
2. Dagon with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth
- Another false god about whose ethical nature. upon the earth” (Leviticus 11:44)
- He was the god of the Philistines and had the physical 8. Mercy
form of fish with human head. - Although God’s justice and severity at times in
the Old Testament, we also see manifestations of
The Personality of Jehovah his mercy.
- Jehovah was the personal name of the God who called to - When Moses was descending from the
Moses from the burning bush. mountain, he saw the people were worshipping
- His name is related to the idea of the existence and the golden calf. He became so angry that the
eternity. tablets of stone which he was carrying.
- He called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees and spoke to - Later he prayed to God to forgive the people of
him in a personal manner. their sin. God did, so Moses gave testimony to
God’s mercy.
THE ETHICAL IMPLICATION OF GOD’S NAMES 9. Love
1. Elohim - The love of God is another moral attribute that is
- this term for God appears some 2,500 times in reflected to the Old Testament. God’s love may
the Old Testament. The significance of this word be seen in the covenant which he made with the
is “power” or “strength” and the Bible use it children of Israel.
refer to the creative acts of God in the first - In Deuteronomy 7, Moses tried to explain his
chapter of Genesis. reason for God’s choice of Israel.(Deut. 7:8).
2. Jehovah Hosea presented God’s love in a very dramatic
- this name of God used to most frequently in the manner by paralleling it to the love which he
Old Testament, both independently and in had for Gomer, his wife, who proved unfaithful
combination with their terms. to him
- The origin of the word is obscure, but the most - (Hos. 11:4) It is evident that the ethical character
widely accepted opinion is that it come from the of God is such that He demands the same
verb haya, which means to be or existence. qualities in man.
Jehovah is righteous and demands righteousness in
man (Psalm 11:7) THE MORAL NATURE OF MAN
3. Adonai Next to the nature of man his potential before God should be
- this word for the Lord carries the meaning that examine. During the last one hundred years, we have seen several
man should be in absolute submission to his different concepts expressed and promoted about man’s nature.
will. 1. It is based on the image of God
- The term was used by slaves to refer to their - The biblical account indicates clearly that man is
masters. - The slave is the exclusive property the creation of God (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:7; Psa. 8;
of his Lord and he has the responsibility to obey, 100:3; Job 10:8-11).
and to protect his masters. - The image of God in man consists of the
4. El Shaddai Godlike qualities which man possesses.
- this name emphasizes the all-powerful nature - This likeness may also include man’s dominion
of God who is completely capable in supplying over creation and his capacity to enter into
all man’s needs (Gen. 35:11; Joshua 7:8; Isaiah communion with God.
8:7, 13:6) he is the God who manifested his - Man’s action give authority to the fact that he
power in multiplying the descendants of has that divine spark which we call “God’s
Abraham image.”
5. Justice 2. It is affected by sin
- the Old Testament emphasizes the justice of God - We have already mentioned about experience of
as one of His moral attributes. disobedience as recorded in Genesis 3, and its
- Early in the history of the nation, God said: effects about man and his relationship to God.
“The fathers shall not be put to death for the Traditionally the Christian Church has tended to
children, neither shall be children are put to lay at the feet of Adam and Eve the blame for all
death for the fathers: every man shall be put to that has gone wrong in the world.
death for his own sin.” - Subsequently biblical material seems to indicate
6. Righteousness that Adam’s sin tapped the scales in such a way
- this attributes presented in various passages Old that all other human beings in all the course of
Testament. The righteousness of God means that history are predestine to the sinners.
He works correctly and justify with each man.
- When Abraham learned about God’s plan to THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RELIGION AND ETHICS
destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he asked: “shall The religion of Old Testament presents the relationship with God as
not the judge of all the earth do right?(Gen. basic to all aspect of life. To have this relationship man needs to
18:25). respond freely out of his own inner being to God’s initiative in
- God in his righteousness is willing to pardon the revealing himself to man.
repentant sinner.” Then will I teach transgressors 1. Lesson from Adam and Cain
thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto - When God saw that Adam had sinned and had
thee. hidden himself in the Garden of Eden, He asked
the question: Where art thou?”(Gen. 3:9) God
 was aware that communion between Himself have been new emphasis upon the
and man had interrupted because of man’s rigidity(firmness) in following the teachings
shame and fear, causing him to try to hide from which had come from God.
God. 2. The Incomplete Characteristic
- Adam realized that his own disobedience to - God revealed himself and made His will known
God had affected the close ties which had to the people according to their ability to
existed between them. understand and response. God had to adapt His
- After Cain had killed his brother, God asked ideal to the level of the people in each stage of
him: “Where is Abel thy brother?”(Gen.4:9) their history.
This question illustrates God’s concern for each - This concept will be dealt with more thoroughly
person that He has created and implies that each when moral difficulties in the Old Testament are
man ought to be interested in his fellowman as discussed. The principle of “eye for eye and
the object of God’s interest. tooth for tooth,” although a step forward over
2. The Relation of Sin Against Man to Sin against God what had been practiced previously, later gave
- The close relationship between religion and way to Jesus’ challenge of forgiveness without
ethics is also illustrated in the fact that sins retaliation.
against one’s fellowman were also considered to 3. The Lack of Universality
be sin against God. (Numbers 5:6-7) - Much of the Old Testament was spoken for a
- The prophet Nathan went to the royal house to particular group or nation and did not become
deal with David because he had sinned by taking universally applicable. The Israelites had
Bathsheba and by causing the death of her different attitude towards the Egyptians, the
husband Uriah. Philistines, the Edomites, and other nations that
were enemies.
THE SUPREME GOOD - The Old Testaments law made provision for the
When the term* “the supreme good” is used, it refers to the foreigner in the land and tried to encourage a
all-encompassing goal that one has throughout life. This goal humanitarian attitude towards him. The Israelite
becomes, in a sense, a quest that is challenging and relevant to each was prohibited from charging interest on loans
individual during the time of this life. to a fellow countryman but was permitted to
1. The covenant charge interest to others.(Deut.23:19-20).
- God called Abraham and promised to* bless 4. The Moral Difficulties in the Old Testament Ethics
him, to make his name great, and to multiply his - A consideration of the ethical teachings of the
seed upon the face of the earth(Gen. 12:1-3). Old Testament would not be complete without
This covenant was renewed with Isaac and some reference to the moral difficulties which
Jacob. But the covenant idea came into complete are found.
fruition with the Mosaic Law.
- The *sacrificial system was a constant reminder Difficulties Related to God
of God’s instructions to the people. As they - We get the impression from a study of the Old Testament
participated in the ceremonies, they were that God was opposed to the offering of human sacrifices.
renewing their vow to God to be His people. Yet we have in Genesis 22 the record of God’s telling
- In the sacrificial system, the people became Abraham to go up to Mount Moriah and offer his son
more aware of their sin and the meaning of Isaac as a sacrifice.
atonement and forgiveness. - Although this commandment seems to contradict all that
2. The Kingdom of God God has said and done previously, Abraham was obedient
- Another Old Testament scholar has created quite to the point of being ready to slay his only son.
following by unifying the message of the Old - When God saw Abraham unquestioned obedience to His
Testament and God’s goal for man in the theme commandment, He made other provision for the sacrifice.
of the Kingdom of God. God’s providing the ram made it possible for Abraham not
- John Bright traces this concept from the time to sacrifice his only son.
of the entrance of the *Habiru (Hebrews) into - The commandment of God for the Israelites to exterminate
Canaan through the time of the judges, the the Canaanites presents a more serious problem. God
united and the divided kingdom, the promised that He would drive them, along with Hittites,
disintegration in the destruction of Israel and Amorites, Jebusites, Perizzites, and Hivites, out of the
later Judah, and the captivity and restoration. land before the Israelites (Exo. 23:28; 33:2; 34:11) Since
- With the emphasis upon Israel as the people of Canaan inhabitants were pagan and idolatrous people,
God, a deeply moral note was injected into the God’s intent was to prevent the mixture of pagan practice
fiber of the nation. They were reminded with the worship of Jehovah. W.S.
frequently of God’s promise to be their God on - Canaanites were to be spared to contaminate Israel with
the condition that they obey His Laws. their abominations, until the latter became wholly to unfit
- “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice to the instruments of revelation, or they must be swept off
indeed, and keep my covenant then shall be a the face of the earth.”
peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for
all the earth is mine” (Exo. 19:5) Difficulties Related to Man
- A second group of moral difficulties involves the evidence
THE LIMITATION OF OLD TESTAMENT ETHICS of imperfect character among some of the most
The Ethical principles of the Old Testament and thus the moral outstanding men of the Old Testament whom God used in
ideals of the people of Israel were much higher than those of the dramatic ways. Abraham lied, saying that Sarah was his
surrounding nation. The early stages of the history of the Israelites sister and not his wife, in order to save himself(Gen.
can be likened to the first steps taken by a child. Their moral 20:1-7) Noah got drunk after the flood(Gen. 9:20-24)
sensitivity had to be developed, and this development took place Jacob deceived his father and the birthright from
during the course of their history. Esau(Gen. 27:24-34). Moses killed an Egyptian (Exo.
1. The Legalistic Quality 2:12-21). David committed adultery(2 Sam. 11:2-4).
- The Israelites were not always faithful in their Solomon had many wives and concubines (1 Kings 11:3).
fulfillment of the requirements of the Law, but - Three things can be said about this matter
the environment of legalism did seem to 1. God does not require that a man be perfect in order to use
characterize this stage of their development. his gifts.
- Towards the end of the Old Testament history 2. The Bible pictures life in a realistic manner, without trying
after the return from the Exile, there seems to to cover up man’s imperfections.
 3. God probably used the men who were most dedicated and Abraham were slowly developing into what eventually became a
capable of serving Him. nation they had to learn the basic laws of God with reference to
justice, equality, and mutual respect.
Difficulties Related to Defects in the Moral Law
- Some of the teaching in the Law present substandard level THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
according to our standards of morality. There are several terms which are used in referring to the Ten
- In general, the legislation concerning divorce, slave, Commandments. “Word of Covenant,” Two Tablets,” and
women, and justice seems to below today’s requirements. “Decalogue” are some of these terms.
The laws concerning divorce, as set forth Deuteronomy +Words of the Covenant is used in Exodus 34:28
24, gave greater protection to the wife. The laws +Two Tablets refers to the tablets on which the commandments were
concerning slave were characterized by clemency and written by God for
protection of slave. Moses (Deut. 4:13; 10;4)
+Decalogue was the first used by Clements of Alexander.
The Solution to the Moral difficulties
- By our standards of morality, the laws and practices in the John Calvin and others made a division of four and six. The four
Old Testament were in many cases deficient. However, the commandments refer to duties to God and the six commandments
conditions of that day were probably more advanced as a refers to duties fellow human.
result of the religion of Jehovah and His Teachings than in
any other nation. 1. The One God
- God’s Laws were an accommodation to the level of - “Thou shalt have no other god before me” (Exo. 20:3)
comprehension and living of the people of that day. The This commandment prohibits polytheism and emphasizes
most adequate solution to the moral difficulties lies in the the unity of God. No creature nor any object made by man
principle of progressive (broad minded) revelation. should receive the worship that belong to God.
- God revealed Himself and His will to man step according - The commandments also excludes syncretism, which was
to man’s ability to assimilate it and to live by its standards. a perpetual temptation for the Hebrew.
- This means that God’s requirements today may be higher 2. Idolatry
than during Old Testament times. - “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is
Chapter 3 Christian Ethics in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth”
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES IN THE MOSAIC LEGISLATION (Exo. 20:4)
- This commandment prohibits the adoration of images or,
Before Noah in other words, demands purity in worship. God, a
The Creation Account spiritual Being, cannot be reduced to something material(
- The biblical record in Genesis relates that God created the Deut. 4:15-19) There is always the danger of substituting,
heavens and the earth, and upon seeing all that He had done, “God through the use of symbols and images, the objects created
saw that it was good”(Gen 1:25) by God and fashioned by hands for God Himself, although
- The God of creation is moral and acting has moral goals for man, religious leaders insist that these images are only aids to
and wants to have perfect harmony between Himself and creation. worship. God is jealous of man’s worship and is not
pleased with his worshipping other gods.
The fall of man 3. Reverence for the Name of God
- But soon the temptation by Satan appears in form of a serpent. - “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in
Man succumbs to the temptation and disobeys God, and his vain” (Exo. 20:7) This commandment emphasizes the
fellowship with God is consequently interrupted. importance of reverence for the name of God. It condemns
- A discussion of the way sin is transmitted is not necessary in a insincerity in worship, the trite(common place) use of
treatment of ethics, but perhaps it should be said that man cannot God’s name in oaths in the courts, and profanity(curse)
cast the blame for his sin upon his ancestors or upon Adam. Each (Lev. 19:12)
man falls because of his sins. - The name of God is important because it illustrates the
- Although it is true that we may inherit the moral weakness which personality and the nature of God.
inclines us towards sin, it is necessary to recognize the personal 4. The Day of Rest
responsibility that each man has for his sin. - “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exo. 20:8).
The basic significance of the word shabbath in Hebrew is
Sin from Adam to Noah rest. God made man in six days and rested on the seventh
- Genesis paints a dark picture of the abysmal(terrible) depths of day.
sin in the lives of many characters in the early history of the Old - The Sabbath was a symbol of the covenant between God
Testament. Hatred between human beings became evident when and His people(Ezek.20:12) It came to be a special day of
Cain killed his brother Abel. gratitude for the deliverance from slavery in
- At the same time Cain did not want to recognize his responsibility Egypt(Lev.19:34; Deut 5:15) and a means of remembering
before God even when the blood of his brother was crying out from the Passover each week.
the ground. The practice of killing all members of an enemy tribe - For the Hebrew, the Sabbath was a day of rest and
when it defeated(cherem), as illustrated in the pages of the Old worship.
Testament is still a grave problem in the world today.
- Thus corruption reigned throughout the earth, and God was Christians in early years after the ascension of Christ changed the
disappointed with man for what he had done with His good creation. day of rest and worship from Saturday to Sunday, the first day of the
week, because this was the day on which Christ arose from the grave
From Noah to Moses Sunday is now called the Lord’s Day.
- The negative consequences of not obeying God’s ideal of
monogamy in marriage are seen in the difficulties that came to 5. Honor for Parents
Abraham and his home after taking Hagar and having relations with - “Honor thy father and thy mother…”(Exo. 20:12) This
her in order to have descendants (Gen. 16; 21) commandment is in the center of the ten and forms then
- The results of favoritism within the family circle are seen in transition from the duties which are related to God to
some of the conflicts between Isaac, Esau, and Jacob (Gen. 25:1934; those which are related directly to man.
27:1-28:9) - Among the Hebrews, the parents were considered to be
- The lack of love among blood brothers and the jealousy that representatives of God therefore, this commandment still
resulted from giving special privileges to some are illustrated in formed for them a part of the first table.
their interchanges between Joseph and his brothers (Gen. 37) - The teaching of the Law concerning the attitudes of
- The lack of vengeance on the part of Joseph is a virtue( quality) children towards their parents were very severe on those
that few Christians possess even today. Although the descendants of who lacked honor and respect (Exo. 21:15)
6. The Sanctity of Life
- “Thou shalt not kill” (Exo. 2013) The word that is
translated kill means to break into pieces; thus it means
homicide or murder.
- The purposes of this commandment are to declare the
sacredness of human life and to protect it.
- Man is made in the image of God, and the act of killing
man involve the destruction of that which is sacred in
God’s eyes.
7. The Sanctity of the Home
- “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exo. 20:14). This
commandment affirms the sacredness of marriage.
- It presents an ideal for mankind in any epoch. The home is
second in importance after affirming sacredness of life.
- Adultery is a sevenfold vice; it harms the individual, the
family, the society, the nation, the race, the universe, and
God.
- The punishment of adultery in the Old Testament was
death( Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22)
8. The Sacredness of Property
- “Thou shalt not Steal” (Exo. 20:15) This commandment
defend the right to own private property.
- The social system that do not recognize this right do not
take into account a basic need and right of every person-to
have something which she can call her own. S
- ome people have abused this right by becoming covetous
and by making the acquisition of property and money their
god.
- This attitude is wrong, but on the other hand, the Old
Testament does speak of the right of man to possess
material goods ( Exo. 21:16; 22:1; Deut. 19:14; 1 King
21:14-18).
9. The Sacredness of Truth
- “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy
neighbor” (Exo. 20:16) This commandment refers to the
obligation to give a good testimony with reference to one’s
neighbor.
- The principal teaching of the commandment has to do
with the courts systems and the duty of speaking the truth
when one is under oath.
10. The Sin of Covetousness
- “Thou shalt not covet…” (Exo. 20:17) Barnette says that
this commandment has to do with one’s duty towards
himself.
- The word “covet” has the significance of “drooling”
(dribbling) or having an anxious desire for something. It
has more to do with attitudes and motive within man than
with his action.
- Covetousness, in its multiple forms, is the last sin of the
noble souls as well as that of the ignoble(immoral) ones.