TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN LIVING
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
- Christian ethics.
The word ethics comes from a Greek term ‘Ethikos’ which means custom, or conduct.
Ethics are moral principles, which influence a person’s behaviour. Ethics are defined as the systematic study of human actions and behaviour. We use ethics to judge, determine and assess the right and wrong of human behaviour. Morals refer to human character, which is the inclination to behave in one-way or another.
Ethics is the study of morals and they determine and influence personal and societal behaviour.
Christian ethics is the study of human conduct or behaviour from a Christian point of view.
- Basis of Christian ethics.
Sources of Christian’s ethics: –
- The bible,
- Teachings of Jesus Christ
- Human reason and experience
- Natural law
- The Christian community – the church
- Situation ethics
- Authoritative Christian literature – based on the bible
- Gods revelation – through prophets
- The secular state law
- The culture
- The rituals
- Faith in God
- The bible
The bible, quoted in the text guides Christian behaviour. God communicates to His people through the Bible. The Bible offers answers to questions in relation to the life of a Christian.
Today, there are ethical issues not found in the bible e.g. HIV / AIDS, sexual and reproductive health rights, contraceptives, abortion, globalization, cloning, environmental degradation, genetically modified foods, terrorism, international trade etc. this gives reason and other sources / factors are basis of Christian ethics in addition to the bible.
Moral principles in the bible
– They are mostly found in the teachings of Jesus and the Ten Commandments, sermon on the mountain
– Christians are also encouraged to have faith
– The virtues encouraged include generosity, love, kindness, faithfulness, patience, humility, peace, mercy, loyalty etc.
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
- The teachings of Jesus Christ
The teachings of Jesus Christ guide Christians in making morally upright choices
- Human reason.
These are internal thoughts that guide us when we are making decisions and taking actions. We use our minds and thoughts when confronted by situations. They also rely on internal thoughts in their life experiences.
Internal guiding thoughts have many parts. One is our Conscience. This is our inner self that tells us and lets us know what is right and wrong. There are four types of consciences; doubtful conscience, sensitive conscience, certain conscience and perplexed conscience.
For a Christian, rights and wrongs are in the Bible. God gave the Law of Moses to Israelites. Jesus came and explained the Old Testament and taught new scriptures in the New Testament. These teachings, which we have covered from Form one to three, explain very clearly what is right and wrong. When doubtful of the morality of an action, Christian consults the Bible to know if a decision is right or wrong.
Human Experiences: – these are internal and external guides
When confronted by situations, Christians use their minds i.e. human reason and their life experiences in making decisions.
They rely on internal guides, (Human reason) and experience (external guides)
Internal guides
Conscience: – Mind, aspect of knowing right or wrong. When right, there’s’ approval when wrong it registers guilt.
When doubtful of the morality of an action we should not do it
If conscience is perplexed then make a decision. A decision should be based on a certain conscience.
Types of conscience
– Doubtful conscience
– Sensitive conscience
– Certain conscience
– Perplexed conscience
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
One can also make decisions based on knowledge and free will
To make a decision one should have
– Facts about the act, its aims, circumstances.
– One should be free to perform
A decision ought to be thoughtful
Intuition: – inner feeling, insight
It’s an internal moral sense to do good or avoid evil. Intuition is important in situations that require quick and immediate that requires quick and immediate action.
Feelings
Feelings are subjective e.g. it feels good to do so this hence will do…” it can be dangerous to make decisions purely based on feelings especially in marriage friendship etc.
Eternal guides
Experience
Guides here include authoritative persons such as parents, teachers, police, civil leaders, philosophers, and religious leaders.
Rules from secular, religions, and African traditional culture are part of external guides.
- Natural law
– The awareness that one has to choose good and avoid evil
– If one studies human nature and reflects upon it he/she will discover natural laws of human behaviour
– Natural law, natural rights such as right to education, life own property many etc. are incorporated into the constitution of any nation.
– The constitution then guides the behaviour of list citizens; Christians being citizens of a country are guided in their behaviour by the constitution.
- Christian community – church
Church leadership can make decisions, which touch on their followers. They guide people on ethical issues e.g. politics, land, justice, abortion, contraception etc.
Church organizations give rules on those conducts of their members.
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
- Situation ethics
One should reason out the rightness or wrongness of an act. The rightness or wrongness of an act depends on its uniqueness, the circumstances
– Christians are warned against making decisions based on circumstances or the situation e.g. a pregnant student seeking abortion as the option so as to continue with education.
- Authoritative Christian literature
Christians also derive their ethics from authoritative Christian literature. Such literature includes pastoral and papal letters on several issues. Examples of such literature are the works of Bishop Henry Okulu, Cardinal Otunga, Barclay, and Joyce Meyer
- God’s revelation
God reveals himself to people through prophets, natural events, the law, dreams and visions. Through such ways God guides Christian on how they should approach certain issues. God’s revelation does not contradict with the Bible.
- The secular state law
The constitution of any nation regulates the behavior of its citizens. The constitution gives guidelines on how people should behave in relation to others and the state. Christians therefore being citizens of a country are bound to behave according to the constitution
- The culture
Most churches have incorporated many African values in their Christian teachings. Some values in traditional African culture are compatible in the Christian teachings e.g. respect to the elders hence they are part of Christian ethics.
- The rituals
Church rituals are also a source of Christian ethics. When people undergo a marriage ritual, they vow to be faithful to each other till death. In baptism they take a vow to change and lead a life that is pleasing before God
- Faith in God
Faith is a strong and unshakable believe in something or someone. Christian faith is the trust in God ,His actions amd promises
TOPIC ONE: INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ETHICS
Revision questions
- What is the meaning of Christian ethics?
- What is the basis or source or foundation of Christian ethics?
- List the basic life skills that one needs to be able to lead a better life
