Articles
The Foundation of Christian Ethics
Those who accept a naturalistic explanation of the universe face an enormous dilemma: On what basis does mankind determine how to treat others? How does a society determine fair legislation? How will it care for the helpless? How will one treat his neighbor, grocery cashier or co-worker? The answer is not, “Each society is free to make its own rules,” for those making the rules must rely on some standard. What is mercy, or is that even a valid principle? Shall we merely concern ourselves with ourselves? Do the vulnerable even matter? (Abortion, euthanasia and eugenics are the offspring of atheism.) Can a healthy society be built on Darwining survival of the fittest?
Secularists, postmodernists, communists and other atheistic ideologies boldly proclaim that God does not exist. Consequently, some of the most intelligent among us have tried to construct sound moral philosophies fill this vacuum. They have not been very successful.
The following is a short list of philosophers and a brief summation of their theory of what makes for a “good life”:
Aristippus (Hedonism) – Human beings should maximize their own personal pleasure.
Aristotle (Eudaimonism) – The purpose of human existence is to live a life of flourishing.
Jeremy Bentham (Utilitarianism) – What is ethical is to pursue the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Thomas Hobbes (Ethical egoism) – The good life is being free to look after one’s own interests.
John Stuart Mill (Ethical libertarianism) – People live best when they have liberty but agree not to harm others.
Friedrich Neitzsche (Moral skepticism) – Objective moral knowledge is either inaccessible or impossible.
John Dewey (Pragmatism) – Since truth is whatever works, morality is whatever is useful for society.
Jean-Paul Sartre (Existentialism) – Since we create our own meaning, we ought to do whatever helps us become our most authentic selves.
(From Understanding the Times 228)
While whole libraries of books have examined the pros and cons of these philosophies, this article presents a critique of one item of omission, and that item is the crux of Christianity and the failure of all atheistic systems.
“Then … a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’” (Mt 22:35-40).
Love for God which acknowledges, reverences, praises, appreciates, obeys and serves Him is the first foundational plank of a moral platform. And why should we love God? Because of what He reveals about Himself in His word, culminating in the fullest expression of His nature in His Son. When we see God’s own attitude toward a corrupted creation, when we consider His countless blessings to an ungrateful offspring, and when we contemplate the vastness of His own love for us in sending His Son to atone for our sins, such knowledge creates a stable, fixed, mature basis for defining ourselves in the larger scheme of things. Atheists constantly try to define humanity from within creation, and all they can come up with is that we accidentally exist. Humankind is the apex of a vast string of “just happened” events that strip us of higher purpose and meaning. No wonder many treat their fellow human beings as animals or property or nuisances or trash.
But if we connect with the divine in love, it logically extends to our neighbor who is made in the image of God. Again, the touchstone is love. The New Testament extensively explores how love behaves in the family, in the church, in society, to loved ones and acquaintances and strangers. It counsels mercy, correction, forgiveness, compassion, patience, service, humility and so many other traits that again constitute a moral blueprint. Jesus summarized this ethical structure: “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 7:12).
It is frustrating to see these principles cavalierly discarded by “intellectuals” who fancy themselves to have outgrown their need for God. Especially when they have nothing better to offer than the inadequate and bankrupt philosophies that led to the slaughter of tens of millions in the last century.
A documentary on the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center told of a man trapped by debris inside the South Tower. As he lay crying for help, a fellow-worker heard him and dug him out of the rubble. Once free, the rescued man began weeping, hugging and kissing this stranger who had risked his own life to save him. He simply said to his rescuer, “No one has ever shown me such compassion.” Compassionate, sacrificial love is the key to morality, and most human philosophies are devoid of it.
Jesus, our creator, knows the ethical principles that will affirm our purpose on earth and provide guidance as we seek to build healthy families, churches and societies. What is so frustrating and puzzling is why we throw away what works and insist on doing it our own way which always results in producing discord, violence, neglect and misery.
