A Guide to Christian Ethics

Inch

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9781630870522
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

While it is readily admitted that we learn in order to do, we are in need of guidance. It is with this in mind that Morris A. Inch set out to compose this present volume. Inch has taken as his inspiration the biblical injunction: Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will (Rom 2:12) and the graphic imagery concerning Christians derived from the Epistle of Diagnetus: They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native county, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. One might gather from reading A Guide to Christian Ethics the necessary direction for a more true Christian faith and practice in our world today.

I

Prime Texts

1

The Greatest Commandment

Several brief textual studies initiate our consideration of Christian ethics. This is in keeping with the conviction that Scripture serves as the norm for Christian faith and practice. In this regard, “All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).

Teacher,” a certain scribe inquired of Jesus, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Matt. 22:36). It appears to have been a stock question, meant to ascertain whether Jesus adhered to the religious tradition. This concern carried over into other related issues, as documented at considerable length in the biblical text.

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,’” Jesus replied. This was originally cited in association with the Shema, embraced as the cornerstone of Jewish faith: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God the Lord is one” (Deut. 6:4). “This is the first and greatest commandment,” Jesus then confirmed his intent (Matt. 22:38).

“And the second is like it,” he continued: “‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (cf. Lev. 19:18). All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” While two commandments, they are inseparable.

“In an age when the word ‘love’ is greatly abused, it is important to remember that the primary component of biblical love is not affection but commitment. Warm feelings of gratitude may fill our consciousness as we consider all that God has done for us, but is not warm feelings that Deut. 6:5 demands of us but rather stubborn, unwavering commitment.”1 The same could be said of the love we extend to our neighbor.

Such qualifies as hard love. Or as C. S. Lewis observes, “Because God loves us, he tries to make us lovable.” Only then can we realize something of our potential for living in God’s world, by means of his grace. Whereupon, it serves as an incentive to strive for excellence.

Now our professed devotion to God does not substitute for our unavailability to one another, nor the reverse. “Away with the noise of your songs!” the oracle declares. “I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:23–24).

“We love because he first loved us,” John reminds his readers. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:19–21). We are thus incited to love as an expression of gratitude.

While a person may insist that he or she loves God, this is impossible to demonstrate. “Even if he goes through the outward motions of devotion to God, prayer, attendance at worship, and so on, it may still be all empty show. But a person cannot so easily deceive others regarding his love for his fellow Christians; since they can be seen, the person’s relation with them is also visible.”2 Admittedly, there is still the possibility of deception even in this instance.

In addition, we are alerted to the fervency required of the response. “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary,” the oracle assures the Ephesian congregation. “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love” (Rev. 2:2–4).

“Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” If not, do not expect clemency.

I recall a classmate from college. He was an especially devout person, actively engaged in devotional practices and Christian outreach. However, he had not ascertained how God would have him invest his life. Whatever the means, I anticipated that he would pursue his calling with exceptional zeal.

It came as a surprise that he matriculated to the same seminary I had chosen. While not sensing that God had called him to the pastoral ministry, he thought a year of theological studies would be profitable. He did not return for a second year.

Time passed before I again encountered him. He enthusiastically alerted me to the fact that he had found his calling. It consisted of teaching in West Africa. Consequently, he felt admirably fulfilled.

Again time passed when I received notice that he had passed away. It seems that he had contracted a tropical disease, for which his body had no immunity. He was buried abroad, among those he had fervently served.

Still later on, I was engaged in a short-term teaching assignment in Nigeria. Scanning the vista, I could make out a single white cross half way between the chapel and village. Upon investigation, it turned out not to be that of my former classmate, but another missionary who had perished on the field. It, nonetheless, brought back many cherished memories of a stalwart disciple and cherished friend.

A loving response also implies obedience. “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord?” Samuel rhetorically inquired. “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).

Herein lies the critical difference between serving the Living God and lifeless idols. As for the former, one must weigh carefully divine instruction, and pursue righteousness. As for the latter, a token gift may suffice. Obedience thus appears as a deterrent of idolatry.

Incidentally, idolatry can take many forms. I have an idol sitting inconspicuously on one of my bookshelves. It dates to the time of the Jewish Monarchy. It is a replica of a bull—meant to represent Baal, and likely a household artifact.

Idolatry reveals various levels of sophistication, even in antiquity. It appears for some that the deity is actually present, while for others it is simply representative. In any case, the Baal idol was taken seriously—primarily as a means of securing fertility: concerning one’s offspring, herds, and harvests.

According to the initial humanist manifesto, “Though we consider the religious forms and ideas of our fathers no longer adequate, the quest for the good life is still the central task for mankind. Man is at last becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the realization of the world of his dreams, that he has within himself the power for its achievement.”3 Idolatry is as idolatry does. Hence, when human ideals replace divine directives as matters of ultimate concern, we serve idols of our own making. Conse-quently, it bears repeating: “To obey is better than sacrifice.”

Another inescapable feature of the prime commandment is service. “No one can serve two masters,” Jesus declared. “Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matt. 6:24). Money is ...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Preface
• Acknowledgment
• Part One: Prime Texts
• Chapter 1: The Greatest Commandment
• Chapter 2: The Decalogue
• Chapter 3: The Golden Rule
• Chapter 4: In Christ
• Part Two: Divine Mandates
• Chapter 5: Church Mandate
• Chapter 6: Family Mandate
• Chapter 7: Labor Mandate
• Chapter 8: Government Mandate
• Part Three: Cardinal Virtues
• Chapter 9: Justice
• Chapter 10: Prudence
• Chapter 11: Temperance
• Chapter 12: Fortitude
• Part Four: Theological Virtues
• Chapter 13: Faith
• Chapter 14: Hope
• Chapter 15: Love
• Part Five: Miscellaneous
• Chapter 16: Sage Sayings
• Bibliography