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CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND CHARACTER – Introduction (Part 2)
Last time we looked at an introduction to
Christian Ethics and Character. This
time, we will continue with that introduction.
I have read a lot of material in this area –
books, websites, articles – and most have good, relevant information. On the other hand many tend to be topical
without first addressing what I believe to be of first importance. That is, what is the meaning of Christian
ethics?
Dr.
Grudem states as follows:
Although there is inevitably some
overlap between the study of theology and the study of ethics, I have tried to
maintain a distinction in emphasis. The
emphasis of systematic theology is on what God wants us to believe and to know while
the emphasis in Christian ethics is on what God wants us to do and what attitudes he wants us to have. Such a distinction is reflected in
the following definition: Christian
ethics is any study that answers the question, "What does God require us
to do and what attitudes does he require us to have today?" with regard to
any given situation. Thus theology
focuses on ideas while ethics focuses on situations in life. Theology tells us how we should think while
ethics tells us how we should live. A
textbook on ethics, for example, would discuss topics such as marriage and
divorce, lying and telling the truth, stealing and ownership of property,
abortion, birth control, homosexuality, the role of civil government,
discipline of children, capital punishment, war, care for the poor, racial
discrimination, and so forth. Of course
there is some overlap: theology must be applied to life (therefore it is often
ethical to some degree). And ethics must
be based on proper ideas of God and his world (therefore, it is theological to
some degree).
. . . But if God is himself good and therefore the ultimate
standard of good, then we have a definition of the meaning of "good"
that will greatly help us in the study of ethics and aesthetics. What is "good"? "Good" is
what God approves. We may then ask, “Why
is what God approves good?” We must
answer, "Because he approves it." That is to say, there is no higher standard of
goodness than God's own character and his approval of whatever is consistent
with that character. Nonetheless, God
has given us some reflection of his own sense of goodness, so that when we
evaluate things in the way God created us to evaluate them, we will also
approve what God approves and delight in things in which he delights. (From Systematic Theology, Copyright © 1994
by Wayne Grudem. All rights reserved.)
Grudem defines Christian ethics
as “Any study that answers the question, ‘What does God require us to do and
what attitudes does he require us to have today?’ with regard to any given
situation.” (1A.4 - from Systematic Theology, Copyright © 1994 by Wayne Grudem.
All rights reserved.)
I have great respect for Dr. Grudem and I think this is the best place
to start.
Next we’ll look at other ways to study this topic.
Doug
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