Differences between theological and deontological theories/ my understanding of ethics
LOVE
Foundation of life/realtionship to God
Agape/philia/Biblical Love
Internal aspects of love look at our motive. External aspects look at the actions we take for love (and ordinarily the "feelings" will follow, but emotion iis not always necessary if motive and action are aligned with God's intentions
Self-giving devotion to something
REQUIRES SUBMISSION
God is love. If we do not have love then we do not know God (1 John 4:8)
Commanded to love God/Others
Does not require that we diminish or hate ourselves. But we are not commanded to love ourselves. Acceptance of self is healthy. Love of self is pride. Hate of self is a form of illness.
Biblical hierarchy of love is necessary to ease tension between humanity's loves
Priorities
Love FORGIVES
PRODUCES INCOMPARABLE RESULTS
LAW
God is holy. God's laws write out how he determines what is holy.
There is the law of Moses, laws of the New Covenant (Love God, Love others), law as a figure for obedience
Eternal moral standard applying to all people at all times
LAW's PURPOSE
Guide
Provoking sin
Spiritual and instructional
Law involves CONSCIENCE and trains our internal judgements
We are saved by grace through faith, not by following the law. But following the law or good deeds are what flows out from true faith.
JESUS fulfills the LAW and the OT prophets
fulfills prophecies
Inaugurates God's kingdom
He is the ONLY person to ever follow God's law perfectly
We must balance the tension between being willing to obey God's will and actually doing so to please him
Legalism is not the same as obedience
Is not opposed to grace. OT laws are not direct or immediate guidance to NT covenant.
Ultimately, God is more concerned with character and love than commands and law
also requires love and SUBMISSION
ETHICAL SYSTEMS
Cultural Relativism (if everyone else says it's good/bad, then it's good/bad)
Steps into legalism/following human rules and mistaking them for righteousness
Situation Ethics (only absolute we have is love)
Is true about the character of love/God's love
Is flawed by not having a concrete definition and selfish conotations
Lacks SELF-GIVING love
Behaviorism (morals are the byproduct of genetics and upbringing)
Makes people not responsible for their own behavior (It's how I was raised mindset)
This is the point of the LAW. It re-trains our conscience and judgment.
Christian ethics are defined by God. They express his nature, encompass more than just conformity to his code, and God provides the criteria.
The LAW can be this guide
LOVE is the ultimate command that provides the balance between legalism and obedience
Human beings have the RIGHT to choose what school of ethics they follow
Utilitarian Approach (look at pros/cons of decision for people involved and decide what action produces the best benefits)
Lacks definition and standard for what's beneficial
Virtue Approach (identify ideals to strive towards and decide actions based on that)
Essentially identifies the law and purpose of Christianity without the religion.
Fairness approach (do what is fair)
We can normally see what's fair, but fairness does not equate to rightness or goodness (have your read Job?)
"Common Good"
Common good, utilitarian, and fairness are all pretty much the same. They just use different words.