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A theonomous approach to Christian’s ethics sees the bible as containing all a person needs
to live a good life. Behind this idea that the bible is set og truth statements that reveal Gods
message to the world: it is propositional revelation.
propositional revelation. – the idea that God reveals himself in truth statements. To say
that the bible is an example of this is to say that the bible is a series of truth statements.
Quotes from bible to prove it should be taken this way:
“All scripture is Gods-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training
in righteousness.”
“You must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own
interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets
though humans, spoke from God.”
Analysing theonomous ethics
The bible is a comprehensive moral guide the bible is not a comprehensive moral
guide
It makes sense that god would give his God’s word surely cannot be expressed in
people a way to understand how to love human language and so more than but le
and so the bible should contain all people alone is needed: some form of
need to live life. interpretation is required.
The bibles moral guidelines may not always The bible cannot be comprehensive
be welcome to modern thinking, but this because it does not cover many modern
does not make them wrong. ethics issues. For example, it is not clear
when life begins but is clear that it is
sacred.
The bible teachings are clear that the bible The bible cannot be comprehensive
is a form of revelation. Other forms of because some of it reflects societies and
revelation are not rejected, so why would ways of life that have long gone.
the bible be?
The bible contains many different styles of
writing and some of these styles are written
in specific context by a person. Suggesting
it cannot be written by one author God. – it
seems to limit God to being like human,
able to only write in one way.
Bible, church, and reason
,The role of the church
To hold significant Christian ethics.
Teaches Christians how to live and these principles become rules for Christians to
live by – by doing this Christians will live lives that Jesus would have wanted.
Protestant, church is a way for teaching the bible as a way of communicating God’s
revelation.
Church authority
The church does have authority in an The church does not have authority in a
individual Christian ethics individual Christians ethics
Without the authority of the church, The bible is God’s word and on its own
Christian ethics can become too subjective should be sufficient. Any other approach
and simply a matter of induvial preference. denies God’s ability to speak through
revelation, especially when dedicated
through an institution that can make
mistakes.
The church is not an individual speaking to The church itself does not have authority as
people - it is ‘collective wisdom’ which has the bible does but simply exists to bring the
through widely about complex issues for biblical message to people.
2,000 years.
The church continues the process begun by God gave reason to his people and people
Jesus of reflecting on the needs of society should use their own reason or consciences
and preaching about it. to work out what the most loving thing is to
do in any situation.
Guidance and community that Christians It is unclear how the church can transmit
seek to have in their lives. gods’ authority on a day-to-day basis.
Using reason
For roman Catholics reason can be used to identify what God has revealed. The most
important part of ethics is understanding natural law. God has a core understanding for the
universe (the eternal law) and has revealed some laws through the bible (the divine law).
Catholics also give authority it the conscience to help make moral decisions. Aquinas said
that the conscience was reason being used to work out what is right to do. Newman said
that conscience has more authority than the pope because having a conscience predates
the church exitance.
Love as the only ethical principle
, Agape - the unconditional love god has for humans that humans need to try to reflect.
The bible further clarified the idea of agape as being:
Sacrificial love for others, in the same way the Jesus sacrificed his life.
Making yourself a servant
Directed towards everyone, including enemies and outcasts.
Eternal
Tillich saw love as a central precept, underpinned by justice and growing out of the wisdom
of the past. The laws of the bible are wisdom from which we learn, but central to our ethical
decision making needs to be an ultimate fairness for all, which is characterized by love. He
rejected non-autonomous approaches to ethics.
Fletcher used this principle of love to determine his theory of situation ethics. In situation
ethics, love is central principle that prevents the Christian from falling in over-reliance on
laws or a life without rules. It tells Christians to follow the rules unless it is more loving to do
otherwise.
The principle of love is sufficient to live a The principle of love is not sufficient to live
good life a good life
Love when properly understood is complex It is over-simplistic to suggest that Jesus’
enough that a complete moral system can teachings were just about love: much more
be gained from it. is needed to understand Jesus as well as
morality.
Agape can ensure that Christians always Love cannot be sufficient to live a good life
put people first, even in difficult situations, because different people might interpret
ethics is what Jesus did when he came into love different, and agape is too difficult for
conflict with the authorities. humans to attain.
Given Jesus focus on agape and his Pope Francis believes that love is central to
modelling of it, surely Christian ethics Christin life but not as a moral guideline.
should also focus on agape as Jesus is the Instead, he sees it more as part of a
ultimate role model for the world. person’s basic character or disposition to
work alongside the rules of the church: you
need love to understand dhow best to
follow the church’s rules.
Christian ethics: distinctive, personal, communal
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