{"id":3180,"date":"2014-11-06T04:13:25","date_gmt":"2014-11-06T04:13:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dminlgp\/?p=3180"},"modified":"2014-11-06T04:13:25","modified_gmt":"2014-11-06T04:13:25","slug":"abcs-of-christian-ethics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/abcs-of-christian-ethics\/","title":{"rendered":"ABC’s of Christian Ethics"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ethics-and-compliance\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I must admit, my favorite class in Seminary was Christian Ethics. I loved every second of the semester. Though I am not much of a \u201ctheory\u201d person, I enjoyed picking apart the philosophers\u2019 thoughts, and putting the principles into practical application. Today I sat at a local coffee shop with a high school student, and we did our homework together! He was making lists and rhymes to help him remember the Periodic Table, and this gave me a great idea! Why not take a look at The Matrix of Christian Ethics<\/em> through the ABC\u2019s? Without further adieu, I present to you a very elementary version of Christian ethics:<\/p>\n

A \u2013 Aristotle<\/em> \u2013 The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, wrote two ethical treatises: Nicomachean Ethics<\/em> and Eudemian Ethics<\/em>. These two works cover more or less the same ground: they begin with a discussion of eudaimonia<\/em> (\u201chappiness,\u201d \u201cflourishing\u201d), and turn to an examination of the nature of aret\u00ea<\/em> (\u201cvirtue,\u201d \u201cexcellence\u201d) and the character traits that human beings need in order to live life at its best. Both essays examine the conditions in which praise or blame are appropriate, and the nature of pleasure and friendship; near the end of each work is a brief discussion of the proper relationship between human beings and the divine.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

B \u2013 \u201cBeing right with God\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Is doing the right thing equated with \u201cbeing right with God?\u201d One must make the distinction of living with integrity versus living a Christian lifestyle, as integrity is just one of the many facets of a Christian life. Being right with God is not equivalent to all God requires of Christians in the realms of righteousness and justice. Christian living is more than simply doing good deeds and having the right actions. It is just as James tells his readers – works must be accompanied by faith, and vice versa.<\/p>\n

C \u2013 Consequential Ethics \u2013 <\/em>Also referred to as teleological ethics, the ultimate criteria for determining good and evil according to consequential ethics are, of course, the consequences of deed rather than the deed itself. Standards or precepts by themselves do not dictate a basis for moral judgment; rather the effects or consequences of particular acts do.[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

D \u2013 Deontology<\/em> – Deontology<\/em> is a term used for the study of duty or obligation, where the weight of moral focus is on the rule or prescription that enables a person to answer the question, \u201cWhat ought I to do?\u201d[3]<\/a><\/p>\n

E \u2013 Ethics<\/em> \u2013 Ethics are a demonstration of a person\u2019s beliefs in action. Ethical actions are rational actions.[4]<\/a> They are concerned with what we do and <\/em>who we become. Our choices and actions reveal who we are and affect who we are; they are self-telling and self-creating. But we must not forget that ethics are most fundamentally about making choices – performing acts that bring happiness <\/em>to ourselves and others. It is ultimately about fulfilling the deepest aspirations of the human person. But what does a Christian use to guide their ethical decisions?<\/p>\n

F \u2013 Faith and Reason<\/em> – Christian ethical teachings are grounded faith and reason, philosophy and natural law. Protestant Churches emphasize the authority of the Bible. Anglican, Orthodox and Catholic ethical authority is also dependent on the Church leadership – the Pope, Archbishops, Bishops or Patriarchs. What is the balance of these sources of teaching for believers of Christianity?<\/p>\n

G \u2013 Geisler, Norman<\/em> \u2013 Norman Geisler wrote Christian Ethics<\/em>, which paints a beautiful picture of the ethical theories.[5]<\/a> He describes deontological systems as duty-centered, and teleological ethics as end-centered.[6]<\/a> In Christian Ethics<\/em>, he makes the clear, undisputed distinction that \u201cChristian ethics is deontological.\u201d[7]<\/a><\/p>\n

H \u2013 Hedonism<\/em> \u2013 Broadly, hedonism is the pursuit of sensual pleasure with a view to avoiding all sense of pain. According to hedonism, an act is good if it creates pleasure and lessens pain. On the contrary, an act is bad if it causes or increases pain.[8]<\/a><\/p>\n

I \u2013 Imago Dei<\/em> \u2013 This term translates to \u201cimage of God.\u201d Christian Ethics is for human beings<\/em> who, made in the image and likeness of God:<\/p>\n