Lesson Goal
I hope to encourage the teaching of Christian ethics.
Lesson Intro
We can't read the Bible without confronting ethics. From the Ten Commandments to Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 we run across ethics. Like it or not, ethics is a subject confronting Christians on a daily basis. This chapter teaches preachers how to introduce topics such as abortion, justified warfare, capital punishment, sexual morality, confidentiality, misrepresentation and business ethics to the congregation.
Lesson Plan
We will first discuss the topic of ethics, that ethics is the ground of morality. We will look at ethics in the Bible and society, how to make ethical decision and how to prepare a sermon on an ethical subject.
Lesson Body
Ethics Produces Morality
Every Christian needs to understand the process of determining right from wrong. The process is called ethics and the end result is morality. Ethics is the process of deciding whether or not things like abortion, homosexuality, premarital sex, military service or the death penalty are right. Not every moral consideration is spelled out so simply in the pages of Scripture.
Christians bring to the community a unique perspective on social issues. They have experienced the mind of God to one degree or another. They can refer to statements and case studies in both the Old and New Testaments. They also claim to have the very Spirit of God dwelling in them. Though Christians also disagree among themselves on some issues, they overwhelmingly agree on most basic ethical considerations.
The Old Testament & Christian Ethics
Christianity grew out of the Old Testament which introduces us to the mind of God on many matters which the early New Testament church did not have to worry about. For instance, today many Christians are involved in political leadership, not possible for the first few centuries when Christians were persecuted by the State. Principles gleaned from the Old Testament for community, national and international relations, and filtered through the deeper ethical process of a church with the Holy Spirit as its guide, can be very useful today.
However, there are some differences in the Old Testament. For instance, the law gave fifteen reasons for the death penalty. Many Christians only believe this should be carried out under a few circumstances today and many believe it should not be used at all. Some Christians apply the Decalogue as the basic Old Testament law, yet others believe for instance that the adultery command is too simplistic alone as a moral guide for sex, and so must include broader principles than just marital infidelity. Another dilemma with the Ten Commandments is the Sabbath command. Some Christian communities have transferred this to Sunday, imposing legal penalties upon working or selling certain goods on that day. Yet, neither Jesus nor the Apostles specifically commanded either Saturday or Sunday as a Sabbath for the Church. If we use the Decalogue as a simple ethical guide, how should we transfer it to Christianity?
The opinions are endless. However, one thing most seem to agree upon is that the Old Testament reveals the gracious mind of God in a certain situation regarding a certain time and place, and there are many valuable principles to be learned from that. Real estate, safety, work and financial laws are among the many that give us valuable insight to God’s thinking on social regulation. These laws have formed the foundation of many modern civilizations.
The New Testament & Christian Ethics
Many theologians want to divide the law into the civil, ceremonial and social law. However, nowhere does the Bible make such distinctions, and others disagree with such arbitrary separation. What, for instance is the Sabbath – civil, moral or ceremonial? What was the law about usury – moral or civil? In the New Testament, no such distinction is made. Rather a new commandment is given – love. This commandment is also not new, but old.
Jesus reinterprets the law, which many Jewish leaders had misunderstood. After his death, Paul is inspired to say that the old covenant, the Decalogue no longer applies as such. However, he also explains that the law still applies in a transformed rather than a literal manner, and that the law was very good. The difference now would be the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament introduces us to grace in a different way than the Old Testament. Certainly, grace is part of both the Old and New Testaments. Although faith is the basis of New Testament ethics, this does not give the Christian free reign. He is still expected to meet certain behavioral standards. Among these are caring for the poor, orphans and widows.
Natural Law & Christian Ethics
British Common Law which is used throughout the English speaking world, from Australia to the USA, is ultimately based upon biblical ethics. If we throw the Bible out, our societies have no standards other than natural law to base decisions on. Christian ethicists have asked if God commands a certain law on a divine whim, or because that law is inherently good. If it is inherently good, it is because there is a natural law, a universal law, which exists at all times and in all places. This natural law is what even pagans often stumble upon without any knowledge of Scripture.
Those who believe that God’s divine commands summarize natural law are often at a quandary when a situation conflicts with two or more commands. Should a Christian lie like Rahab to save the life of another? Does God expect us to simply tell the truth, and leave the consequences to Him? Not every choice is as simple as choosing between good and evil. Sometimes we must choose between the lesser of two evils, or the greater of two goods. Is there a greater, universal law which would provide us answers?
Though there is broad consensus in areas like justice and the dignity of human life, Christians have an added advantage in their understanding of natural law. We are not left in doubt over major issues. We are taught that the basis of natural law is love, outgoing concern for others. This basic universal law is defined in virtue lists and case studies throughout the pages of Scripture.
Making Ethical Decisions
When making ethical decisions, Christians gather the facts, look at the principles, compare alternatives with those principles, consider the consequences and make a decision. Let's look at some examples.
Abortion: Pro-choice people believe a woman has the right to do with her body as she chooses. They claim that making abortions illegal forces people into dangerous back yard surgeries, and the poor into financial difficulties. It also forces women to bring unwanted and severely handicapped children into the world. Pro-life people believe that pro-choice is the choice to murder, and that none of the other arguments are relevant, because they are not relevant to murder. Pro-life people believe that a fetus has the same status of personhood as an adult and that no decent society could condone the murder of innocent and defenseless persons. Father Frank Pavone expressed it well when he wrote that, "Abortion builds on the lie that the smallest and weakest among us have less value and can even be discarded." (Preaching to Children about Abortion, Ignatius Press, 1996, p. 57)
Capital Punishment: Pro-death people believe that it is an appropriate demand for justice in society, a unique deterrent, cheaper than life in prison and not cruel and unusual punishment. Pro-life people believe that the death penalty undermines the dignity of human life, is irreversible and thus making reform impossible, and the demand for justice is inconsistent with Jesus' teaching of forgiveness and redemption. How does the Old Testament death penalty relate to the Gospel?
War: Many Christians see certain wars as just or righteous. This defines some but not all wars as just wars. Others believe that there is no such thing as a just war, because Jesus' statement on love for enemies prevents them from fighting. These Christians are often called pacifists and are either non-participants, conscientious objectors or engaged as medics or other duties that do not require the carrying of arms. The question is often asked, what would you do if the enemy was coming over the hill to rape your wives and murder your children? Not all Christians would answer the same.
Sexual Morality: Many Christians today are confused about premarital sex and homosexual sex. The opinion of the Church on these issues for the past 2,000 years is being challenged. The Church itself is facing an incredible challenge to minister Christ's love to those engaged in a wide range of sexual immorality which is extensively promoted as normal.
Honesty Check
Christians are often quick to point out the dishonesty of the business and political world around them, but negligent in correcting their own lack of ethics. Christians need to ask themselves if their own ethics exceed or fall short of worldly ethics. For example, two standards of ethics that the business world considers important are: -
Confidentiality: In the business world, certain standards of confidentiality are strictly upheld by privacy laws, non-disclosure agreements (NDA's) or confidentiality agreements and just plain common sense. Too many Christians seem to think that they are exempt from such acts of common decency. How often do Christians who would never tell a company secret, break personal confidences or gossip negatively about things that they have no business discussing? What about public prayers used to reveal the personal and private sins of others? What about preserving the reputations of others? How often are the standards of the Christian community below even those worldly standards of professional conduct in business? Doctors, psychologists, school and company personnel must follow strict confidentiality laws. Are Christians also able to keep secrets, or do we blab them all over town? Can our fellows trust us to keep our mouths shut?
Misrepresentation: Misrepresenting a product or service carries with it severe penalties in the professional business world. Ignorance of the law is not considered to be an excuse. Yet, either out of gullible ignorance or deliberate deception, too many Christians misrepresent their faith. How often do Christians deceive even themselves that ideas are from God, when the source is questionable? It is a common excuse today to blame the Holy Spirit for a dishonest interpretation of Scripture, or a thought that was in reality pulled out of thin air. Such misrepresentation is ultimately a lie. Can your fellow worshippers trust you to be meticulous and cautious with the truth of God freely admitting when you don't know, or are you a careless know-it-all who blames the Holy Spirit for your total lack of honesty?
Forgiveness: One of the greatest Christian ethics is forgiveness. We are to forgive even our enemies. However, forgiveness does not mean trust, nor is living in a forgiving community an excuse for sloppy ethics. Damage is done to the Christian community through breaches of confidentiality and misrepresentation of the truth. Forgiveness, while a Christian requirement, does not undo the damage. Trust issues have been among the major causes of both the Great Schism and the Protestant Reformation. Division and irreparable damage have been done by both, but are also caused in local churches by breaches in some simple areas of Christian ethics such as gossip and lies.
The Ethical Sermon
Not every moral stance is mentioned in Holy Scripture in black and white, or red and white. Abortion was not even an issue in Christ's day, although a similar practice of leaving unwanted newborns out on the town rubbish dump for wild animals to devour was apparently practiced among some ancient peoples.
Why is it wrong for two old or young people to live in a defacto relationship if they are committed to each other, or where does it say that Adam and Eve had a formal marriage ceremony? Very few people explain this ethical dilemma well.
What about war? Some churches teach pacifism, most do not, but for those that don't, what about the issue of a just war? Ought a Christian soldier to blindly follow all orders as given? Preachers have too often been silent about such issues, yet soldiers in the congregation need information so that they can make a just decision when confronted with a possible war crime.
The ethical sermon follows a similar structure to other topical sermons.
Example Sermon
Title: "What is a Just War"
Goal
To teach the standards of a just war.
Intro
Many Christians are pacifists and would not enter war service carrying a gun, but only serve in a non-combatant role. Some would rather sit in jail than serve in any capacity which supports a war effort. Most Christians would serve in a wartime situation, but what is not often discussed is the concept of a just war. What does that mean?
Plan
Today I want to discuss warfare and the concept of a just or righteous war, so that we have some idea of the ethical dilemma that our soldiers face on the battlefield.
Body
1. Some Wars are Just
If an enemy was coming over the hill to rape our wives and murder our children, most Christian men would have no problem defending hearth and home. However, what about a war where we are the aggressor for questionable reasons and where non-combatant civilians are being killed indiscriminately? Most of us would have some conscience issues about that kind of war. It is called an unjust war.
2. Just and Unjust War
In order for a war to be just it must fit within certain criteria. These usually include such things as: -
It must be prompted by a just or righteous cause. Protecting the flow of oil is not a just cause. Rescuing an oppressed people who are being slaughtered by a bloodthirsty dictator can be a just cause.
It must have a just intention. It must not be about testing a nation's latest weapons, or providing income for defense contractors. It must be about doing more good than the harm caused by doing nothing.
It must be a last resort. When all efforts at negotiation are exhausted, when more people would die if war was postponed, when no other solution presents itself, then war can be just.
It must be initiated by a formal declaration of war. A Pearl Harbor style surprise attack is not considered a just war.
It must have limited objectives. War cannot solve all the world's problems. Like surgery, it must be limited to do the most good in a bad situation.
It must be conducted with proportional means. We cannot cause major harm to a people just to free a few hostages for instance.
It must respect the immunity of non-combatant civilians. Although mistakes do occur, every effort must be made to protect innocent civilians. It is equally unjust to hide behind civilians or dress like civilians.
It is clear that God did send ancient Israel off to war at times. While it can be argued that God did so because of their lack of faith, it can equally be argued that he did so to increase their faith. War is evil. Nobody questions that. But sometimes war is unavoidable and somebody has to protect our families from harm.
Outro
We have discussed warfare and the concept of a just or righteous war, so that we have some concept of the ethical dilemma that our soldiers face on the battlefield. Let's get behind our men and women in uniform and pray for them, because they sacrifice their lives in one of life's toughest situations.
Suggested Assignment
Choose an ethical dilemma that is faced by moderns and preach a balanced point of view regarding it. Don't be an extremist. Be balanced.
Lesson Outro
We have discussed the topic of ethics, that ethics determines our standards of morality. We have seen ethics in the Bible and in universal standards of right and wrong. We discussed how to make ethical decision and how to prepare a sermon on an ethical subject. Be careful to be balanced and fair at all times, when discussing sensitive ethical issues.
Excerpt from the Preaching Manual by Ian Grant Spong available at Amazon.
