The Experience of Studying Hebrew as a Student Who is Blind
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Ethics concerns questions about both proper behavior in social groupings and questions about the purpose of life and definition of the “good life.” 1 These questions, explains Stanley Grenz, are questions which have challenged humanity throughout history. However, ethics also concerns questions which are new to our time, such as abortion; and specific cultures handle ethical questions in their own ways.
Christian ethics, as applied to congregational life, concerns the maps that guide the behavior of the whole community and its members. Much biblical instruction concerns moral and ethical issues. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provides a reinterpretation of laws which defined Jewish morality (Mt. 5:21-48, NIV). In Ephesians, Paul instructs believers regarding putting on the new self (Eph. 4:25-32) and holy relationships (ch. 5). James addresses such issues as attitudes toward the poor (Jam. 2:6-7; 5:1-6) and taming the tongue (3:6-12). In postmodern American society, Christian congregations are faced with new situations that do not seem to be reflected easily in biblical texts. Should we use new medical technologies? How should we conduct ourselves politically as citizens of the United States of America, a country whose governmental structure does not mirror that of any country found in the Bible? New situations call us to expand our interpretation of various biblical passages, to “think outside the box” so that we continue to behave in ways that carry God’s love and grace to those in need and serve as a light to those in darkness. This is often a very challenging task. Many people turn to pastors, friends, or relatives for guidance, only to experience confusion when they receive conflicting pieces of advice. A method is needed for assisting people to develop skills for evaluating their own attitudes and decisions.
Rebecca Miles explains that two traditional ethical maps are often used for making decisions about behavior. 2 One map, known as rule ethics, concerns Christian duty. The other map, known as goal ethics, concerns the consequences of actions. Miles lists love of God, Christian discipleship, and ultimate happiness as examples of such consequences which people consider when making decisions according to goal ethics.
Miles proposes several maps as alternatives to rule and goal ethics. 3 These include responsibility ethics, sense ethics, character ethics, liberation ethics, and care ethics. Perhaps a truly Christian ethic would blend all of these into a map that provides the most appropriate response at the time when it is needed. A process of theological reflection can enable people to become confident in evaluating their own behavior as well as the suggestions provided to them by significant others.
Christian community plays several roles in theological reflection and moral formation. In community, we find opportunities to hear perspectives which were previously unknown to us, giving us additional fodder for moral formation. The setting of our relationships in Christian community also alters some of the rules and goals that we live by within that community. One aspect of the moral formation and reformation which takes place within Christian community is a sorting out of behavior that belongs to the Christian community and behavior that should apply outside the Christian community. For instance, we do not force our moral beliefs regarding end-of-life care onto someone who is not part of the Christian community; and the ways in which we provide care to the nonbelieving family members of a dying person may differ from the ways we provide spiritual care to those of deep faith. On the other hand, reflecting theologically on the implications of particular biblical passages might cause us to alter some of our practices within the church community based on reflection about the use of holy space. This is an example of moral decision-making which belongs to the religious community.
I distinguish "moral reformation" from “moral formation,” which I define as the process of forming initial attitudes and habits of behavior. Moral formation takes place through various processes in people's lives: interaction with family and spiritual mentors early in life, personal study and reflection, and various group interactions. At later stages in life, people are faced with new questions which force them to reexamine their existing moral and ethical positions and to validate, clarify, or reform them as they learn to live out their faith in a changing society.
Rebekah Miles identifies four questions that moral guidance should address: “What is happening?” “Who are we, and where are we going?” “What rules should we live by, and when can we make exceptions?” and “Who is God and what difference does it make?” 4 Stanley Grenz speaks of the importance of attuning to the world and to God, analyzing the situation, and applying the resources of faith. 5 Group study and reflection provide opportunities to engage in attuning and analysis. Shared service projects provide opportunities for application.
Key topics to address in moral reformation include conversion and holiness; Christian love of God, family, and neighbor; and attitudes toward wealth and poverty, security and risk-taking, the environment, and globalism. Other topics which may warrant discussion include attitudes toward health care and war. Resources should include texts which are approved by the church’s educational committee if such approval is needed. The Bible should also be used as a central resource, as it is easy when using ready-made curricula to allow the curriculum to do the work and leave the Bible out of the process. Leaders should be sensitive to drop-out rates and maintain contact with people who stop attending in order to monitor the effectiveness of educational programs and make changes if necessary.
Grenz, Stanley J. The Moral Quest: Foundations of Christian Ethics. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997.
Miles, Rebekah. The Pastor as Moral Guide. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1999.
1 Stanley J. Grenz, The Moral Quest: Foundations of Christian Ethics (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1997), 15.
2 Rebekah Miles, The Pastor as Moral Guide (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1999), 20.
3 Ibid, 21.
4 IBID, 27.
5 Grenz, 19.
Sarah J. Blake