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Good Conduct and Key Moral Principles - Coggle Diagram
Good Conduct and Key Moral Principles
Good conduct
The importance of good moral conduct in the Christian way of life, including reference to teaching about justification by works, justification by faith, and predestination
Introduction to Christian moral conduct
The significance of the sermon on the mount
Matthew 5-7
Represents Christ's comprehensive teaching on moral conduct and spirituality
Encapsulated core values like humility, mercy, purity of heart, and peace-making
Historical perspectives on Christian ethics
Early church fathers influence
Integrating Greco-Roman philosophy with Christian doctrine
Evolution of Church ethics reflects Church's engagement with societal changes
Relationship between faith, works, and grace
Influences how believers live out their moral convictions
Debates over the primacy of faith verses works of salvation
Justification by works
Biblical references to justification by works
James 2:14-26: faith without works 'is dead'
New testament stresses importance of actionable faith
The role of good works in the Christian life according to different denominations
Catholic Church and Orthodox Church maintain that good works, facilitated by God's grace, play a role in salvation
Denominations influenced by the reformation typically emphasise salvation by faith alone but recognise good works as evidence of faith
Historical analysis
Early church
Practice of charity and communal support was central
Acts 2:44-45
4:34-35
Expression of understanding of Jesus' teachings love, mercy, and neighbourless
Mediaeval period
Church provided social services, including hospitals, hospices, and almshouses
Monastic communities also contributed to caring for the poor and sick
Renaissance to enlightenment
Church faced challenges to social and moral authority
Council of Trent 1545-1563 reaffirmed the importance of works in salvation, emphasising role of charity
Missionary work
Modern era
Church responding to the challenges of industrialisation, poverty, and war
Catholic Social Teaching
Pope Leo XIII's 1891 'Rerum Novarum' marked a systematic approach to addressing issues of labour, justice, and the rights of the poor.
Influence on modern Christian practices
Volunteerism and community services
Catholic
CAFOD
Cartias
Feeding the homeless
Visiting the sick
Disaster relief and development projects
Social justice initiatives
Advocacy and activism addressing a broad spectrum of issues
Poverty alleviation
Immigration reform
Anti-racism efforts
Environmental protection
Encourage engagement in the public sphere
Education and formation
Catholic educational institutions often incorporate service learning and social justice education
Justification by faith
Spiritual basis for justification by faith
Paul's letters
Romans 3:28 'a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law'
Galatians 2:16 'a person is justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ
Highlights the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for salvation
Importance of personal faith for reconciliation with God
Martin Luther and the doctrine of sola fide
Sparked the Protestant reformation
Challenges Catholic teachings on salvation and good works
The balance between faith and works in contemporary Christian thought
Viewing faith as the root of salvation and works as its fruit, reflecting a lived faith
Addresses critiques of antinomianism and legalism
Aims for a holistic Christian life
Antinomianism
Against the law
An attitude or belief system that rejects the obligatory nature of laws and moral codes
Argues faith or grace alone is sufficient for salvation and right standing with God
Often seen as a misinterpretation of Pauk's teachings on grace and freedom from the law
Critics argue it misunderstands the role of God's law and grace, leading to more laxity by suggesting Christians are not required to follow ethical norms or commandments
Legalism
Excessive adherence to law or formula at the expense of grace and freedom
Strict, liberal, or mechanistic adherence to rules or codes of conduct
May involve focusing on the minutiae of religious laws, ceremonies, or rituals to the extent that the broader purposes of faith, such as love, justice, etc are undervalued
Can lead to judgmental attitudes
Balancing law and order
Balanced approach recognises the importance of moral and ethical guidelines for living a life that reflects one's faith and values, while also acknowledging that grace, mercy, and personal faith are central to spiritual life and salvation
Predestination
Theological underpinnings of predestination
Augustine and Calvin
God's foreknowledge and decree of those who will be saved or damned
Impact of predestination on Christian ethics and community life
Leads to a focus on discerning signs of election in one's life, such as moral integrity and faithfulness, influencing ethical behaviour
Contemporary views on predestination across various Christian denominations
Spectrum
Range reflects ongoing theological dialogue and reinterpretation of scriptural texts concerning human freedom, divine foreknowledge, and salvation.
Calvinist interpretation of predestination
Total depravity
Humanity is completely fallen and incapable of coming to God without divine intervention
Unconditional election
God has chosen those who will be saved solely based on his grace and mercy.
Limited atonement
Christ's atonement is specifically for those elected
Irresistible grace
Those chosen by God will inevitably come to faith
Perseverance of the saints
Cannot fall away from God's grace
Arminian views emphasising free will
Partial depreavity
Conditional election
Unlimited atonement
Resistible grace
Conditional security
Contrast and implications
Primary contrast between Arminian and Calvinist views lies in the balance between God's sovereignty and human free will
Calvanism emphasises God's unchangeable will
Arminianism emphasises human agency and personal responsibility in salvation
Comparative analysis and discussion
Comparative analysis
Agency and divine sovereignty
Justification by works emphasises human agency in cooperating with divine grace, whereas justification by faith focuses on divine initiative and grace, with human response as a fruit of faith
Predestination places a strong emphasis on divine sovereignty, with less emphasis on human agency in the context of salvation.
Motivation for ethical living
Justification by works directly ties ethical living to salvation, potentially fostering a community deeply engaged in social justice and charitable works
Justification by faith motivates ethical living as a grateful response to God’s grace, potentially producing a community marked by transformative personal ethics and social engagement.
Predestination, with its assurance of salvation, might foster a strong internal community ethic, predicated on the security of being part of the elect, but it also faces the challenge of ensuring this assurance does not lead to ethical complacency.
Influence on personal and communal ethical standards
Community formation
Communities shaped by justification by works may place strong emphasis on communal practices and disciplines
Those influenced by justification by faith might focus on personal piety and evangelism, with actions as evidence of faith.
Communities holding to predestination might emphasise doctrinal purity and assurance of salvation as bases for ethical living.
Ethical challenges
Justification by works risks legalism
Justification by faith risks antinomianism
Predestination faces the challenge of fostering ethical motivation if one's eternal destiny is perceived as unalterable.
Synergies and tensions between faith, works, and predestination
Interaction and conflict
Divine sovereignty vs. human agency
Predestination underscores God's absolute sovereignty. This can conflict with the emphasis on human agency implied in the doctrine of justification by works, where salvation is seen as contingent upon one’s actions in cooperation with divine grace.
Faith and works
Posits that faith is sufficient for salvation
Works are either merits towards salvation or are fruit of a genuine faith
Synergies
Predestination and good works
Calvinist theology views good works not as the means to achieve salvation but as the inevitable outcome of being chosen by God - a life transformed by faith will naturally produce good works
Maintains sovereignty of God in salvation while affirming the value and necessity of ethical living as evidence of genuine faith
Justification by faith and moral conduct
Understanding that one's salvation is secured through faith in Christ's sacrifice encourages believers to live out their gratitude and love for God through ethical actions.
Reflect the transformation that faith has wrought in their lives - not to earn God's favour
True faith is inherently active and productive
'Faith without works is dead'
Holistic understanding of salvation
Doctrines can coexist within a framework that sees salvation as both a gift of grace and a call to transformation
Acknowledges God's sovereignty in initiating and sustaining the believer's faith journey while recognising the vital role of human cooperation and ethical living
Theological and practical implications
Nuanced faith
Appreciate mysteries of divine grace and human responsibility
Celebrates the unearned favour of salvation through faith, whilst also being deeply committed to ethical living, social justice, and works
Case studies of how different denominations embody these doctrines in practice
Lutheranism
Justification by faith and ethical living
Ethical living
Natural fruits of genuine faith
Motivated to live ethically out of gratitude for God's grace
Agape
Life of service, compassion, and justice
Social action
Advocates for justice, peace, and care of the needy
Commitment to education, healthcare, and social service
Advocacy for social justice, environmental stewardship, and human rights
Catholic church
Justification by works, charity, and social justice
Charity and social justice
Catholic Social Teaching
Dignity of the human person, the common good, and preferential option for the poor
Works of charity and justice are seen as integral expressions of one's faith and essential to ethical living
Sacraments and ethical life
Vital role in shaping ethical llife
Nurtures the believer's relationship with God and the community
Commitment to living out the Gospel in actions of charity, justice, and reconciliation
Community engagement
Global advocacy against poverty, injustice, and environmental degradation
Wide range of actions
Reformed tradition
Predestination and its implications
Community life
Assurance of God's sovereignty fosters a strong sense of community and identity among the elect
Deep commitment to communal worship, discipleship, and mutual support
Members of the covenant community are accountable for one another in their spiritual and ethical lives
Missions and evangelism
Obey God's command to spread the Gospel
Be instruments through which the elect come to faith
Efforts are not to 'win' converts
Personal conduct
Strong emphasis on sanctification
Life of righteousness, ethical integrity, and social action
Sanctity of life
The concept of sanctity of life
All human life possesses inherent value, dignity, and worth because it originates from God
Deeply rooted in the Christian understanding of creation
Humans are seen as made in the image of God
Mandates a profound respect for life at all stages, from conception to natural death
Life is a divine gift
It must be cherished, presered, and protected
Promotes humans as stewards of life, responsible also for the well-being of others
Psalms 139
Different views about its application to issues concerning the embryo and the unborn child
Abortion
Rights of the unborn child
Life begins at conception
The unborn child possesses inherent dignity and rights
Abortion is a violation of the unborn child's right to life
Autonomy of the mother
Right to her own body and decisions about it
Importance of personal freedom and the complex social, economic, and health factors that women consider when facing an unplanned or complicated pregnancy
Christian ethical responses
Conservative
Pro-life stance
Violates the sanctity of life
Liberal
Advocate for reducing abortions through support and education
Still support legal access to abortion as healthcare
Embryo research
Ethical considerations
Respect for life
Concerns arise regarding the instrumental use of human embryos in research
Slippery slope
Alternatives to embryonic stem cell research (eg. iPSCs)
Christian positions
Opposition based on sanctity of life
Conditional support
Limiting research to surplus embryos left from IVF procedures
A minority might argue that the potential benefits for embryo research for treating debilitating diseases justify the ethical costs
The just war theory and its application to the use of weapons of mass destruction
Just War Theory
Aquinas provided a more systematic treatment of Augustine's theory regarding just intention and just cause, articulating specific criteria that a war must meet to be considered just
Legitimate authority
Just cause
Right intention
Historical application
The Crusades
The Thirty Years' War
WW1 & WW2
Modern conflicts (eg. Iraq War 2003)
The criteria
Jus ad Bellum
Just cause
Legitimate authority
Proportionality
Last resort
Jus in Bello
Proportionality
Discrimination
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons
Threat humanity and the environment
Ethical debates
Indiscriminate nature
Catastrophic harm
Some argue that possessing nuclear weapons as a deterrent to prevent war can be morally justified
Christian ethical perspectives
Pacifist
The teachings of Christ advocate for non-violence and peace
Just-War
May accept under strict conditions, as a deterrent
May violate JWT due to the indiscriminate nature and disproportionate effects
Need for international agreement
Addressing the threat of WMDs
Peace and justice
Stewardship of creation
Role of the international community
Dominion and stewardship
The belief that Christians have dominion over animals
Scripture
Genesis 1: 'rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky'
Genesis 9: 'the fear and dread of you will fall on all beasts of the earth'
Dominion over the earth means supporting the use of natural resources for human benefit
Support for traditional energy sources
Some deny climate change or downplay the human role in its cause
Beliefs about the role of Christians as stewards of animals and the natural environment and how changing understandings of the effects of human activities on the environment have affected that role
Scripture
Genesis 2: 'take care of [the Garden of Eden]'
Laudato Si
Pope Francis: 'we must forcibly reject the notion that being given dominion over the earth justifies absolute dominion over other creatures
Christian responses & Eco-theology
Calls for a holistic view of salvation that includes the restoration of all creation
Christian environmental activism
Initiatives ainmed at educatibg communities about ecological issues
Promote renewable energy and engage in conservation efforts
Church of England
Has taken a proactive and forward-thinking stance on environmental issues
Align with Christian teachings on stewardship
Responsibility to protect and sustain the natural world
Changes in energy use, investment practices, and the management of church lands and buildings to reduce carbon footprints and promote sustainability
Quakers
Strong commitment to peace, social justice, amd ethical living
Inner Light doctrine
There is something of God in everyone and everything
Profound respect for the natural world
Encourage living in a way that minimises harm to others and the planet
Active concern for the health of the planet and the well-being of future generations