Ethical Reflection: Round 4

I thought I would kick it old school with this ethical reflection, from Deuteronomy 10:

¹⁴ To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. ¹⁵ Yet the LORD set his affection on your forefathers and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations, as it is today. ¹⁶ Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. ¹⁷ For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.

I like this passage because it speaks of the internal versus the external. The Israelites were "world-famous" for showing their physical connection to God, yet internally they refused to have an intimate relationship with him. Their bodies were physically circumcised as a representation of their election as God's people, yet their hearts were far from him. I think the ethical reflection here is that as a Christian it is important for both the internal and external self be in line with what God has in mind for me. If I am in God's will, if I am loving God and others, then my heart truly can be circumcised.

Ethical Reflection - Round 3

So here is my third passage that I think reveals ethical reflection. It is found in the 5th Chapter of Hebrews (NIV):

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

I have to admit that this is one of my favorite passages. I use this frequently when talking to my small group... we even had a milk jug that referenced this passage. Another story for a different day. But I feel that this is a good passage to portray moral, ethical reflection. It is the idea that learning & growing are key to distinguishing between what is good a bad moral conduct. It is the constant use and training that allows one to distinguish between right and wrong, not some inherent ability. This illustrates that sometimes moral actions must be learned; for example, I may never realize a stove is hot until I touch it, or until I learn that when something is hot you should not touch it. Learning about a stove helps me distinguish that it is a bad idea to touch it when it is hot. In this case, I don't have to learn by my mistake, I have been acquainted with the teaching of heat and stoves. In the same way I can become acquainted with the teachings of morality and righteousness. Through learning, I can distinguish between good and evil, and not have to worry about falling into a sinful mistake and learning the hard way.

Ethical Reflection: Round 2

Here is my second shot at a passage the informs ethical reflection, from Galatians Chapter 5:

¹⁶So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. ¹⁷For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

¹⁹The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

I think this passage does a great and simple job of revealing ethical reflection. In his writing, Paul spells out rather clearly the conflict that exist between life in the spirit and life in the sinful nature, noting that they cannot coexist in the life of an individual. These two contrasting ways of life have their consequences, and Paul details that clearly.

The passage certainly is a cause and effect way of looking at moral actions. Paul obviously gives us the choices and outcomes, but so effectively portrays the right choice to make. I think this is a good example of Ethical reflection.

A passage that informs ethical reflection round 1

So for the first journaling assignment, we are asked to choose five passages that might inform ethical reflection. I have decided to do one each night until I have the five done (five journal posts; sounds great).

The first passage I have chosen comes from Philippians 2 (NIV):

¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. I think this passage is a good beginning point for some ethical reflection. Ethics has to do with morality, the correct way of acting in situations. What a better way to act then to be humble, looking out for the interests of others. Paul gives each person the ability to look out for others, without forsaking themselves. The key point for ethical reflection is that we should not be so absorbed with ourselves, so prideful with the way we live. Instead, we should humble ourselves and be willing to take care of each other in one accord, in one fellowship. It speaks highly of the character of Paul, one willing to forsake his own well being for the sake of other's salvation.

Welcome back for Living Ethical Lives

Greetings to all four of you who might take a gander at this blog:

Well it is that time again, time for another course of study module to come around. I have to admit that out of all the requirements that are due for the course of study, the journal component is the one I have the most difficulty keeping up with. For example, the class started last Monday, and this is my first journal post... 10 days later. Needless to say, I feel that I need to do a better job of this component!

This new course is titled "Living Ethical Lives". It brings a hope to the relativity that you find in secular Ethics. Secular Ethical Morality is relative to the individual: What is good for me may or may not be good for the guy sitting next to me. Theological ethics is grounded in the person of Jesus Christ and his word found in the holy scriptures. This doesn't mean that there aren't individual opinions and differences (have you seen all those denominations?), but that there is not a defeatist foundation of relativity. Our ethics are grounded in the grace of Jesus Christ!

With all this in mind, it is my hope that you will join me on this journey of ethical reflection. It should prove to be an interesting ride.

Jayson - Written in Cursivy letters