Number 172

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 

 

Christian Ethics

By Jack Northart

The Biblical terms that God attributes to Christians are descriptive of what their job, duties and responsibilities are supposed to be. For instance, in Corinthians, Christians are described as ambassadors.

 

II Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

 

And it also describes us as ministers and stewards.

 

I Corinthians 4:1

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

 

These are three examples of names that God has assigned to us that describe our some of our responsibilities. We are sent to perform an essential mission in life.

 

Romans 10:14-15

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring               glad tidings of good things!

 

Our joy and privilege is to share God’s Word with others. As representatives of Christ, we have the God-given authority to speak the truth of God to others. As Christ commissioned his disciples on the day he was taken up, he charged them with an assignment; an assignment that has not been rescinded and is still in full force today.

 

Acts 1:8

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

We may not be living in the area of Jerusalem or Samaria, but we certainly could be classified as living in the uttermost part of the earth! We are his witnesses, his ministers, his ambassadors, his stewards, his representatives. As such, we have a responsibility of carrying out our duty. There is no question that these names that God has ascribed to us are true, because they are. The question then becomes; what kind of representative are you? Do you live up to the name? Do you live up to the calling? Do you carry out the assignment? Do you put your best foot forward in your daily life? Do live like you are God’s child, God’s ambassador, God’s steward, God’s minister? Or do we slough it off, only to think that it is really up to somebody else to do it right?

 

There is right and proper conduct for people to live their lives. It is expected in a civilized society that people should do the right thing. There are numerous examples to look at where ethics in the workplace has been in a steady decline. People are being sent to jail, large corporations are closing, large fines are being assessed. One might wonder what is happening in our society to ethics? Has it gone down the drain?

 

When it comes to right and proper conduct for Christians, the bar is raised to a much higher standard. Our ethical behavior is based on living according to the principles of God’s rightly-divided Word. We are the pace-setters that establish the standards for others to see and follow. As God’s representatives in all that we do, it is important to understand what our roll is when it comes to Christian ethics. It does not mean that we establish a “holier than thou,” attitude.

 

For starters, all ethical behavior begins from the premise that the Word of God is God’s will. His Word is our ultimate authority in the field of ethics. Once this is accepted and believed, our decision-making will be logical, clear and well established. The correct thing to do is based on what God’s Word says is the correct thing to do; and wrong things are what God’s Word says are wrong. Our value goes up in the eyes others.

 

So often, people begin with a premise of doing just enough to get by. Why should they try to do the right thing? After all, they have been dealt a lousy hand in life, and they shouldn’t have to do anything for anybody else. In their mind, they should be the recipients of hand outs and the charity of others. So they just follow the rules the best they can, acting solely in their own interests, blindly following authority for its own sake, not really caring if anyone else has a need.

 

Others do what they can to live up to the expectation of others, and fulfill their duties and obligations of the social system. But those who take on the responsibility of living ethically and consistently, have become adept at following the principles of God’s Word. They balance the concern for themselves with the concern for others, and the goal of carrying out their Christian responsibilities.

 

I Peter 1:14-16

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [behavior]; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 

Choosing to what is the right thing to do is based on how often we have practiced carrying out this charge. The Greek word for “holy,” is hagios, and it means morally blameless, pure, clean. How do we walk in this holiness?

 

Verses 22-23

Seeing ye have purified [Gr.hagnizo] your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

Hagnizo is the verb form of hagios in the Greek. It is the action taken to achieve or accomplish the goal. It’s not walking around with our hands folded together, and picturing a halo over our heads, but rather carrying out the charge of “…love one another with a pure heart, fervently.” When we do this, we will seek out the just, the honest, the good and the right conduct in all situations.