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GOD VS. THE WORLD ON "ETHICS"
by
Dick
Sztanyo
INTRODUCTION: Rom. 16:19; 1 Cor. 14:20
1. Ethics is part of the study of Philosophy.
1) When we speak of Logic, Epistemology, Axiology, Metaphysics,
etc., we are focusing on other parts of Philosophical investigation.
2) The particular part of such investigation that we are examining
today is "ethics."
I. WHAT IS ETHICS?
1. "Moral behavior" is closely related to a study of ethics. "Moral
behavior" refers to the practice of right living!
2. "Ethics," on the other hand, is the study of what makes a thing
morally right or wrong!
1) We have a number of answers to this question from the world's
standpoint.
1- We have "group consensus" views--what I call "Gallup Poll
morality."
2- We have "cultural relativism"--when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
3- We have "act utilitarianism" and "rule utilitarianism."
4- We have the idea that "might makes right."
5- We have the idea that what is ethical is completely
individual--what one thinks, wishes, desires, or feels.
2) From the Divine standpoint, on the other hand, "ethics" is rooted
in the nature and will of God.
1- It is not, strictly speaking, a "command morality," nor does it
depend upon a list of do's and dont's.
2- Biblical ethics is a broad-based theory that deals with several
principles:
(1) When the Bible specifically deals with an issue, then that ends
discussion.
(2) But, the Bible more often deals with passages which touch upon a
related subject, or, passages which present us with general
principles to be applied decade after decade.
II. MORE SPECIFIC DEFINITION WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ETHICS.
1. Some people use the terms "absolute" and "objective"
interchangably. That is, they think that an "objective" standard is
also an "absolute" standard. This is not necessarily so!
1) Absolute--an unchanging standard from time to time, place to
place, and person to person.
2) Objective--a standard which is "outside" myself, to which I
should defer. Examples are found in weights and measures.
3) Relative--What is really right is relative to time, place, and
persons. What is right at one time may be wrong at another time;
what is really right in one culture may be really wrong in another;
etc.
4) Subjective--What is right or wrong is strictly dependent upon the
individual subject (you or me).
2. This yields four logical combinations:
1) An ethical standard may be "relative-subjective;"
2) An ethical standard may be "relative-objective;"
3) An ethical standard may be "absolute-subjective" (which I take to
be an empty class); or
4) An ethical standard may be "absolute-objective." This is the
theory that we call "Biblical ethics."
III. CHRISTIAN ETHICS IS BASED UPON LOVE!
1. This should not surprise us, for Jesus referred to the two
greatest commandments-- Mark 12:29-31; Matt. 22:37-40.
1) Mark says that there is no greater commandment (singular) than
these (two, plural). This shows their interconnectedness.
2) Matthew says that, "on these two commandments hang (depend) all
the Law and the Prophets."
3) In the Ten Commandments, the first four have to do with loving
God supremely, while the last six refer to loving our neighbor as
ourselves.
4) We are to love God supremely (vertical relationship) and love our
neighbors responsibly (horizontal relationship).
2. So, it's important for us to see just how pervasive this teaching
is in the Bible.
1) 1 Cor. 13:4-7--what love is and isn’t, and what love does and
doesn’t.
Rom., 13:8-10--love works no harm to its neighbor. Love, therefore,
is the fulfilling of the Law.
2) Gal. 5:14-15--divisiveness is a violation of the 2nd greatest
commandment.
3) James 2:8-11--respect of persons (partiality) is a specific
violation of the 2nd greatest commandment.
4) Titus 2:11-12--Our task is to live soberly, righteously, and
godly in this present world; a self-directed, other-directed, and
God-directed life
5) Heb. 10:19-25--We draw near to God, maintain faithfulness, and
concern ourselves then with others.
6) The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)--a clear and
convincing illustration of what the 2nd greatest commandment means,
i.e., who is my neighbor and what is my obligation.
7) The Sermon on the Mount--Go through and underline all passages
having to do with our relationship to God, then all passages having
to do with ourselves, and finally, all passages having to do with
our responsibility toward others.
IV. THE BASIC WILL OF GOD ILLUSTRATED.
1. One writer said that "sin is a contradiction of sonship to God or
brotherhood to man."
2. There is a scale of values in the universe: (1) the Godhead; (2)
man; (3) plants, animals, and non-living things--see Gen. 1:26-27; 1
Cor. 10:31; Isa. 43:6-7; etc.
3. We are always to love God and our fellow man, and use things to
the glory of God and the benefit of man.
1) Animals can be used for medical research and for food.
2) Plants can likewise be used for medical research and for food.
3) Non-living things may be used in our efforts to subdue our
environment.
4) No human being should abuse another human being. Neither should
humans abuse animals, or misuse either plants or non-living
materials.
V. VIOLATIONS OF THE BASIC WILL OF GOD ILLUSTRATED.
1. A love for things, rather than God and man, is a violation of the
two greatest commandments.
1) Mammon;
2) Possessions;
3) The world;
4) Animals;
5) Etc.
2. Using people is a violation of the two greatest commandments.
1) Kidnapping;
2) Fornication;
3) Adultery;
4) Murder;
5) Slander;
6) Stealing;
7) Etc.
3. We should always respect the proper scale of value in the
universe.
VI. THE LISTS.
1. There are several lists in Scripture, which contain things
clearly out of harmony with God's nature and will.
2. Since these lists are virtually incomplete, and no two lists are
exactly the same, we must view them as representing God's basic will
for mankind--Rom. 1:18-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 4:32-5:5; Col. 3:5-11;
1 Cor. 6:9-11; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; etc.
1) These lists are ethical indicators.
2) Though some things remain the same (such as fornication, theft,
hatred, gossip and the like), there are terribly complex issues that
are not dealt with directly in Scripture (such as abortion,
infanticide, euthanasia, surrogate motherhood, in-vitro
fertilization, cloning, etc.).
1- These issues must be dealt with by Biblical principles.
2- In addition, there are numerous distinctions which one must make
ethically in order to thoroughly deal with these questions (the
"sacredness of life" ethic vs. the "quality of life" ethic; etc.).
CONCLUSION
1. There is a vast difference between Christian Ethics (God) and the
world's ethics.
2. Most of all, Christian Ethics maps out a way in this world to be
ethical, while also living in a way that pleases our Lord.
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