Malcolm Rivera
Christian ethics, also referred to as moral theology, is a multifaceted ethical system that guides Christians towards a life of virtue. It is rooted in the Bible's timeless teachings, focusing on building moral character and emphasizing duty according to the Christian perspective. The most basic principle of the Christian moral life is the belief that every person is made in the image of God and has the ability to respond to God's love. This response involves the ability to love, to say yes to God, and to seek and love what is true, good, and beautiful. Christian morality is also about responsible freedom, where individuals can choose to live in harmony with God's plan. The Commandments and other moral rules are given to protect the values that foster love of God and others. They provide guidance for daily life, work, and interactions with others, helping Christians navigate complex ethical dilemmas and make choices that align with their faith and values.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Love | Love is the foundation of the Christian moral life |
| Grace | Grace is essential to Christian morality |
| Commandments | The Ten Commandments provide a framework for Christians to make wise decisions in their daily lives |
| Freedom | Human freedom is a God-given power to become who God created us to be |
| Dignity | Every person is made in the image of God and has dignity |
| Moral excellence | Virtues such as love, faith, hope, and charity are essential for moral excellence |
| Ethical decision-making | Christians are guided to make choices that align with their faith and values |
| Compassion | Compassion is a core principle of Christian ethics |
| Justice | Christian ethics fosters environments of justice |
| Honesty | Honesty is a virtue emphasised by Jesus' teachings |
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What You'll Learn
The Commandments and other rules
The Christian moral life is rooted in the belief that every person is made in the image of God, bearing the dignity of His likeness. This foundational belief is accompanied by the understanding that God has bestowed upon humans the gifts of intelligence, reason, and free will, empowering them to seek and love what is true, good, and beautiful.
Christian ethics, or moral theology, provides a comprehensive framework for believers to navigate their earthly lives. It is a virtue ethic, focusing on the development of moral character, and a deontological ethic, emphasizing duty and obedience to divine commands. The Bible, with its normative rules and ideals of social justice, serves as the metaphysical core of this ethical system.
The Commandments, also known as the Ten Commandments, are a fundamental aspect of Christian ethics. They are divine laws given by God to Moses and recorded in Exodus 20:1-21 and Deuteronomy 5:1-22. These commandments provide specific guidelines for moral behaviour and are summarised as follows:
- Worship and serve God above all else.
- Do not worship idols or false gods.
- Do not misuse the name of God.
- Keep the Sabbath day holy.
- Honour your father and mother.
- Do not commit murder.
- Do not commit adultery.
- Do not steal.
- Do not bear false witness (lie).
- Do not covet (desire something that belongs to someone else).
These commandments are not just a list of rules but are expressions of love and ways to protect the values that foster love for God and others. They provide a framework for ethical decision-making, guiding Christians to make choices that align with their faith and values.
In addition to the Ten Commandments, other moral rules in Christianity include the Sermon on the Mount, the Precepts of the Church, and various teachings of Jesus, such as the Beatitudes. These rules and teachings further emphasise virtues such as love, humility, mercy, forgiveness, peace, and justice, shaping the moral character of believers and guiding their actions in their daily lives.
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Love and grace
Love is the essential foundation of the Christian moral life. As the Bible says, "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). This love is not something that humans manufacture but is the fruit of the Spirit of Christ living within believers (Gal 5:22). This love for God is incompatible with hatred for other believers (1 John 4:20).
Grace, in the Christian understanding, is God's favour, a "share in the divine life of God". It is a spontaneous, generous, and totally undeserved gift from God that cannot be earned. Divine grace is the undeserved favour of a superior bestowed on an inferior. The Bible is full of examples of God's grace, such as when he delivered the Israelites from Egyptian oppression (Exodus 34:6).
The grace of God transforms sinners into holy children of God, enabling them to participate in the Divine Sonship of Jesus Christ and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is called sanctifying grace, which remains permanently in the soul as long as one does not reject their adopted sonship by committing a mortal sin.
Both love and grace are essential in the Christian life. While love is foundational, grace is what enables Christians to live and act in accordance with God's call. As the Bible says, "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).
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Dignity of being made in God's image
The Christian moral life is founded on a loving relationship with God, made possible by the sacrifice of Christ. The most basic principle of this is the awareness that every person has dignity, as they are made in the image of God.
The concept of being made in God's image is known as the theological doctrine of the Imago Dei. It is the belief that every human being has inherent dignity, value, and worth by virtue of being human and deserves to be respected. This dignity is not based on attributes, utility, function, or ability to contribute to society, but on the idea that humankind was created in the image of God, and therefore has a unique and special relationship with Him as the Creator. This relationship sets humans apart from the rest of creation and gives them a unique role within it.
The Bible states that God said to humans: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:26-28, ESV). This implies that humans have been given the power to act freely and become who God created them to be, sharing an eternal union with Him.
The understanding that humans are made in the image of God provides the basis for their work and vocation. It encourages the belief that they have gifts and talents to employ and a unique purpose to fulfil. It also helps Christians to discover their calling and live a purposeful life. For example, because God is creative, humans can be creative in their work.
Human dignity is not just an abstract concept, but it has real-world implications for how Christians should engage with various issues of personal and public importance. It requires Christians to advocate for all people, affirming their dignity and seeking to maximise their flourishing based on God's will for creation. Dignity is a foundation for equality and goodness and provides a reason to oppose the slave trade, trafficking, and other injustices. It also influences how Christians love and treat others, both those they love and those they are tempted to hate.
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Freedom and responsibility
Christian morality is based on the belief that humans are created in the image of God and have been given the gift of free will. This freedom is a God-given power to become who He created us to be and to share eternal union with Him. It is not merely the ability to make a choice but the capacity to choose in harmony with God's plan. This means consistently choosing ways that are in alignment with God's plan and commandments and values that foster love for God and others.
The ability to choose freely comes with the responsibility to use this freedom wisely and in accordance with God's will. This is where the concept of duty comes into play. Duty in Christian morality refers to our obligation to act in ways that honour God and contribute to a more just and compassionate world. It involves reflecting Christ's teachings in our everyday lives and making choices that align with our faith and values.
The Christian moral life is a response to God's freely given love and gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. It is a covenant love made possible by the sacrifice of Christ. As such, Christians are called to respond with love and obedience to God's commandments. This obedience is not a burden but a way of expressing love and protecting the values that foster love.
Christian morality is not just about individual freedom and responsibility but also about community and relationships with others. Christians are called to love their neighbours and serve others through their work and business transactions. This sense of community is an important foundation of Christian morality, emphasising the dignity and worth of every person as created in the image of God.
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Faith and virtue
Christian ethics is rooted in the Bible, with normative rules focusing on conduct and character, and it draws on natural law ethics, which asserts that humans, created in the image of God, are capable of morality, cooperation, rationality, and discernment. This belief is reflected in the understanding that every person bears the dignity of being made in the image of God, with the gifts of intelligence and reason, as well as free will to seek and love what is true, good, and beautiful.
The Christian moral life begins with a loving relationship with God, made possible by the sacrifice of Christ. The Commandments and other moral rules are ways to protect and express this love. Grace, received through Christ in the Spirit, is essential in enabling Christians to live according to these rules.
The ability to respond to God, to love, and to say yes to God is a fundamental aspect of Christian morality. This response is a result of God's freely given love and the gift of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. Christians express their faith in Jesus Christ through lives of loving service as his disciples.
Virtues such as love, faith, hope, charity, humility, mercy, peace, and forgiveness are central to Christian ethics and moral excellence. By prioritising these virtues, Christians can navigate life's complexities and cultivate a life that reflects the core ethical principles taught by Jesus.
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Frequently asked questions
The basis of Christian morality is rooted in the Bible, with a focus on developing an ethical character, beginning with obedience to a set of rules and laws seen as divine commands.
At the heart of Christian morality are virtues like compassion, forgiveness, honesty, humility, mercy, and peace.
Christians apply their moral rules in their daily lives by reflecting Christ's teachings in their everyday lives. For example, through actions like honesty in financial reporting, compassion in healthcare, and integrity in legal practice.
Christian morality recognises the God-given power of human freedom to become who He created us to be and so to share eternal union with Him. This happens when we consistently choose ways that are in harmony with God's plan.
