In the field of ethics there are many “isms” one can study. Permit me to mention two of them and please tell me what influence you think they have on contemporary Christian ethics. Again, the discussion thread for this week is centered on pastoral ethics. Specifically today I am wondering “why or how” a church leader can justify doing the opposite of what they said they would never do. Or how they can justify committing the very same act they condemned others in their profession for doing?
Now for the “isms.” Heirarchicalism is when one arranges their ethical principles according to priority so when conflict occurs they simply suspend one rule for another. Some refer to this process as situational ethics. Possibly this is why some church leaders will say, “I will never do what so and so did” only to turn around and do the same thing that “so and so did” because in their mind they were wronged, lied to, etc., and that served as justification for the action.
Another “ism” is ethical egoism. This “ism” declares that “each person’s sole moral obligation is to advance the agenda of one’s own welfare or to act in a manner so as to bring about the greatest amount of good over evil for yourself and sympathizers” (Grenz, The Moral Quest, page 34). Again, maybe some of the unethical behaviors of pastors/leaders saying one thing and doing another is intrinsically justified by reasoning the other camp is “evil or sinful,” thus I have a spiritual/moral obligation to defeat evil at all costs. Could this also serve as their license for using divisive words and actions and for ignoring prior covenants, commitments and convictions?
I would like to hear your thoughts on this subject? Do you see how these two “isms” may play a role in contemporary Christian ethics? Thanks again for stopping by!
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Adrian
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Ethics, as stated and lived by Jesus is based in one simple thing, that which is the basis of everything he taught. Everything He commanded of us and all we are to live our life by is: God’s Perfect Love. We are to love perfectly as God loves perfectly and that is the summation of all the laws and all the commandments.
ReplyDeleteMathew 5:48
"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
The most illuminating word in this verse is not the word “perfect” as you might assume. The most illuminating word in this verse is the word “therefore”. “Therefore” is the all-important word that directs us to the full meaning of verse 48. When Jesus says “therefore” he is telling us to look at the preceding verses to understand the meaning of this verse. Used in the way He uses it here He is saying, “Following my entire line of reasoning thus far you must then conclude you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” So, in order to understand His line of reasoning and be perfect as God is perfect we must look at what he said in the preceding verses.
What does it say right before this passage 5:48?
Mathew 5:43-48
Love your enemies
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies] and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
(In actuality you could, and probably should, go back to the beginning of the Beatitudes, Mathew 5:1)
The “perfect” that Jesus demands of us in this verse is the perfection of God’s love. To be perfect, totally undiscriminating in our love, as God is. This is not moral perfectionism, and it’s not something we have to build towards over years of “process sanctification”.
We only have to realize that it is the way of Jesus, to make no distinction between friend and enemy, neighbor or foriegner, reliable or untrustworthy, victim or persecutor.
Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect… IN LOVE.
I can’t identify very well with ‘egoism’. However, I have no problem considering heirarchicalism. I find many opportunities every day to practice situational ethics. Most all the time there is no real effort needed to respond in a way that I believe is correct or appropriate, but I find it endlessly amusing to still recognize the choice remains.
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