Developing A Biblical Ethic (Part 1 of 3) by Allan Turner
(http://www.allanturner.com)
The constant temptation for Christians is to blend in. We instinctively do not want to be thought of as being "different." The thought that living a godly life could cause us to be looked upon with contempt by our neighbors is very disagreeable. Such thoughts make us feel very uncomfortable, and although we know the Bible calls upon us to be pilgrims in our own culture (Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 11:13), we do not enjoy feeling like sojourners. Satan, our ancient and crafty enemy, by reason of his experience with the human race, knows our weaknesses very well and is not slack in exploiting them. Realizing that he would probably fail in a full frontal attack, he attempts to convince us that Christianity is a relaxing, easy-going religion. He tries to convince us that we do not need to keep our minds razor-sharp (I Peter 1:13). He tries to tell us that we do not need to be careful. Nothing could be further from the truth taught in God's word!
If our behavior is not radically different from the world's, then we can be certain that we are not pleasing to our Lord and Savior. If we are being conformed to this world instead of to the image of Christ, then we can be sure that our heavenly Father is displeased with us. If our minds have not been transformed from what they once were when we served our own lusts, then we are not proving to the world what the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God is (Romans 12:2).
Now, how do we do this? We do this by developing a set of Biblical ethics. And how do we do this? In the space that follows, we will provide you with a working model that will allow you to develop a Biblical ethic.
A Biblical Model For Developing Personal Ethics
The following model, which consists of five principles, is to be applied to particular issues to evaluate whether they are acceptable behavior for a Christian to be engaged in. This model is completely transcultural. This means that these principles are to be applied to every culture equally. In other words, it is totally inconceivable that God would expect these principles to be violated in any cultural setting.
The Five Principles Are:
In the space that follows, we will examine the Biblical justification for each of these five principles.
The First Principle
The first principle assumes that the Bible is authoritative and normative when it comes to ethical concerns. It is based on the idea that the Bible is God's revelation to man and is to be used as the standardized guide in determining all matters of faith and practice. In one sense, all the remaining principles are based on this one. Nevertheless, it needs to be spelled out here. This principle says that any practice, which the Christian is trying to evaluate, that violates the teaching of Scripture is wrong. This principle covers the obvious incidents of overt sin. If someone is trying to make a decision as to whether it is right to take the property of another, this principle applies. The Bible clearly prohibits stealing. Various cultural ideas about what constitutes stealing have to be weighed according to what the Bible says. Consequently, Bible settings that address the issue of theft serve as the guide in defining what constitutes theft in the Biblical sense and take precedence over individual cultures.
Great care must be taken to extract the teaching of Scripture on particular issues. Hermeneutical procedures, like those outlined in the handout entitled "Rules For Bible Study," [Editor's Note: See BIBLE inSITE, v. 1 no.s 13-15 for copies of this handout or download it from Bro. Turner's website.] ought to be followed in doing this. All the various passages that deal with the particular behavior being questioned ought to be gathered to formulate a comprehensive understanding of the subject and its various ramifications. Any ethical issue must be submitted to this first principle and may be determined right or wrong based on the Biblical data accumulated.
Many passages could be cited to support the claim that the Bible is authoritative in the lives of believers because it is God-breathed (e.g., Jeremiah 36:2; Ezekiel 1:3; Acts 1:16; II Peter 1:21; or Revelation 14:13), but for this study we will cite and expound upon only one passage-II Timothy 3:16, 17, which says: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
According to this passage, Scripture is the standard one is to use in sorting out truth from error. It is the standard one is to use in order to correct his path so he can do the good works Christ called him to do. Therefore, anything that violates Scripture is ethically wrong, no matter what any particular culture might have to say about it. The basic authority of Scripture is transcultural, because one cannot conceive of any circumstances when God would release one from His revelation's authority.
[Editor's Note #2- Bro. Turner will continue this study over the next two weeks.]
Short Exhort - Written and/or Compiled by David J. Riggs
(http://www.public.usit.net/driggs/)
"Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great." (Job 2:11-13)
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child, and the winner of the contest was a four- year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry." (From A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul, by Jack Canfield.)
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." (Rom. 12:15)
PSALM 119 - Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
JOD. (Ps 119:73-80).
[73. As God made, so He can best control, us. So as to Israel,
he owed to God his whole internal and external existence (De 32:6).]
73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding,
that I may learn thy commandments.
[74. So when He has led us to rely on His truth, He will "make
us to the praise of His grace" by others. "Those who
fear Thee will be glad at my prosperity, as they consider my cause
their cause" (Ps 34:2; 142:7).]
74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because
I have hoped in thy word.
[75-78. in faithfulness--that is, without in the least violating
Thy faithfulness; because my sins deserved and needed fatherly
chastisement. Enduring chastisement with a filial temper (Heb
12:6-11), God's promises of mercy (Ro 8:28) will be fulfilled,
and He will give comfort in sorrow (La 3:22; 2Co 1:3, 4).]
75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou
in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort,
according to thy word unto thy servant.
77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, [As I am not able to come
unto them. But the wicked will be confounded.] that I may live:
for thy law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me
without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts. [and so
shall not be "ashamed," that is, put to shame (Ps 119:80).]
[79, 80. Those who may have thought his afflictions an evidence
of God's rejection will then be led to return to Him; as the friends
of Job did on his restoration, having been previously led through
his afflictions to doubt the reality of his religion.]
79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have
known thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be sound [that is, perfect, sincere.] in thy statutes;
that I be not ashamed. [disappointed in my hope of salvation.]