Christianity – Ethical Teachings
The major source of ethical guidance for Christians is the New Testament which
contains the Gospels. Thus, the teachings of Jesus Christ lie at the core of Christian
ethics. Additionally, the Ten Commandments, contained in the Old Testament, and
also know as the Decalogue are an important source of ethical guidance for
Christians. There are two versions of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament.
One is found in Exodus 20:1-17 and the other in Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
Given that Christianity branched off from its parent religion Judaism, it is not
surprising to find that the two tradition share common elements of scripture, namely
the Tenach or the Old Testament. The ten commandments are at the heart of the
covenant tradition in the Old Testament and provide and important background and
context for the ethical teaching of Jesus found in the New Testament
Nature of the Ten Commandments
The first two commandments state the importance of worshipping God and God
alone. Accordingly the use of magic and the worship of idols are forbidden. The third
commandment relates to the importance of observing the Sabbath and keeping it
sacred for God. The nature of the relationship between God and human beings mirrors
the path that human beings should take when relating and interacting with each other.
The remaining seven commandments present guidelines for human interaction and
how human beings should treat each other. These commandments emphasise the
importance of human life and the need to respect family and personal integrity.
Importance of the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments are a succinct summary of Christian ethics. They are
frequently used as a framework for the key principles of Christian ethics. The Ten
Commandments were not explicitly prominent in the teaching of the early Church
possibly because Jesus did not explicitly cite each of the commandments. However,
he did use the Ten Commandments as a backdrop for his own ethical teachings. Not
only did he refer to and make use of these commandments in his teaching, he also
used them as a means to highlight the requirements of the new covenant. This use of
the commandments is particularly evident in his sermon on the mount (Mt 5-7) which
is a foundational element of New Testament ethical teaching.
Key source of ethical guidance is the New Testament
The fundamental source of ethical guidance for Christians is the New Testament. The
New Testament contains some of Jesus' most significant ethical statements. That is,
the requirement to love God with all your heart, soul and strength and to love your
neighbour as yourself, and the requirement that love is the basic condition of the
Christian life. The voluminous mass of Christian ethics can be distilled into these core
principles.
Beatitudes
The Beatitudes are regarded as a foundational passage for Christian ethics. The
Beatitudes is the name given to the famous and definitive part of the Sermon on the
Mount. The Beatitudes, as noted in Matthew 5:2-12 and Luke 6:20-26 the Sermon on
the Plain, describes a life directed towards saintliness and holiness. Thus, the
Beatitudes provide a model or a template for the Christian life.
The Beatitudes provide an ethical stance which stands in contrast to the dominant
culture. They point to an inversion of values whereby the things that are often
regarded as having no value according to the dominant culture are celebrated and
affirmed in the reign of God. In another sense they provide a warning against an
approach to life which values only material strength and power. The inference is that
such values are illusory and temporary.
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount provides other important guidance for Christian ethics.
For example Luke 6:27 asks us to "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate
you". Similarly Matthew 5:39 instructs us that "When a person strikes you on the right
cheek, turn and offer him the other". In essence, Christian ethics can be summed up as
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31)
This passage, known as the golden rule, is the key concept which underpins all
Christian ethical teachings.
Jesus' commandment of love
Jesus' commandment of love can be distilled into two categories, love of God and
love of neighbour. Christianity draws on two central texts of the Old Testament to
understand the covenantal notions of love of God and love of neighbour. Leviticus
19:18 advises the reader to "Love your neighbour as yourself". Deuteronomy 6:4-6
urges the reader to "Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord
your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These
commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts". Mark 12:31 affirms
that "there is no commandment greater than these".
Love of neighbour is taken to a new level
In the ministry of Jesus this commandment to love your neighbour is raised to a new
level when Jesus says that, "You have heard that it was said, 'love your neighbour and
hate your enemy'. But I tell you 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you". (Matthew 5:43-44) Thus Christians are called to model their lives on the love of
Jesus which in itself fulfils the requirement of love. Paul notes that love is the element
which fulfils the law.
Love is the identifying characteristic of the Christian life
The requirement to love is conveyed in terms of a new commandment in John's
Gospel. To love one another, as God loves each person is seen as the identifying
characteristic of the Christian life which sets Christians apart from the rest of the
world. The Gospel of John instructs Christians; "A new command I give you: love
one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will
know that you are my disciples, if you love one another". (John 13:34-35) To love is
to share the essence of God, as seen in 1 John 4:7-8, "Dear friends, let us love one
another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love ”.
Christians see in Jesus’ example of love the model which they are to follow. Jesus’
love is a love without limits, a sacrificial love which is seen in his self giving on the
cross.
Similarly, Paul identifies love as the essential quality that gives life and meaning to
all other virtues. In other words, all other virtues are futile, when they are separated
from love. Thus, he calls Christians to live a life motivated by love. This can be seen
in the famous and oft-quoted passage, 1 Corinthians 13. "I can speak in the tongues of
men and of angels but have not love I am only a resounding gong or a clanging
cymbal". Thus, Jesus' commandment of love offers fundamental guidance for
Christians in the area of ethics.
Differences in the application of general Biblical principles
There are no identifiable differences among the various Christian denominations
concerning their understanding of Jesus' commandment of love since all Christian
denominations base their ethical guidance on Biblical teachings. There are some
differences, however, regarding the application of these principles to particular ethical
issues. But these differences are not overly significant. This difference stems from the
fact that the Catholic and Orthodox denominations place a greater emphasis on the
teaching tradition of the Church. Ethical teaching among the Protestant denominations
is more directly linked to Biblical teaching. Hence there is a more direct application of
the Biblical principles in Protestant Churches.
Importance of ethical teaching in the life of adherents
Followers of the Christian religion can be expected to place considerable value on the
ethical teachings of the tradition in determining their response to a wide range of
issues. These teachings provide guidance which enable to adherents of Christianity
to make informed moral choices according to the principles of the tradition.
The guidance that is provided and the way in which adherents respond can be in
general or specific terms and may be in a direct sense or through a broad overall
direction.
General guidance
In the first instance the general direction of life for adherents of the Christian
tradition will be provided through examples such as the Ten Commandments
(Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21), The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12 and
Luke 6:20-26) and the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31). Texts such as
these can be seen as the foundational principles underpinning the Christian ethical
system. Accordingly it would be expected that Christians would strive to live their
lives in line with the principles espoused in such passages. In this way it can be seen
that the ethical teaching of Christianity provides broad, overall guidance to the
followers of the tradition.
Life and ministry of Jesus
Another form of ethical guidance for Christians is found through the use of the
example of the life and ministry of Jesus. Christians seek to model their lives on the
life and ministry of Jesus and as such the ethical standards practised by Jesus in the
course of his life become guides for the actions of Christians. In general terms the
Christian ethos of caring for those in need can be directly attributed to the example of
Jesus. Other examples from the life and ministry of Jesus include opposition to
oppression and advocacy for the vulnerable together with qualities such as love and
forgiveness.
Specific guidance
On a more specific level guidance is also given through the teaching of the Christian
tradition in relation to current ethical issues.
Traditionally Christianity has been depicted as presenting ethical teaching on a fairly
narrow range of issues usually associated with sexual morality and bio-ethics. While
it is true that sexual morality and bio-ethics have been the focus of a considerable
amount of Christian ethical teaching they are far from the only areas of concern.
Other areas of concern in recent times have been in the field of international
economics including debt, trade and other instances of business ethics. Ecological
concerns have also been the focus of a considerable amount of ethical teaching in the
Christian tradition as has the use of force international conflicts.
In general terms Christian ethical teaching in areas such as sexual morality and bio
ethics has been in line with conservative forces in society. In contrast the ethical
teaching on issues of economic, ecological and military significance are more in line
with progressive elements in society.
This diversity makes it difficult to gauge the effect of Christian ethical teaching in an
overall sense. In reality it is common to find examples of Christian adherents
embracing the teaching on one issue while rejecting it on another.
Thus while Christian adherents are usually influenced by Christian ethical teaching in
terms of broad principles there is a great deal of diversity in the acceptance of ethical
teaching on specific contemporary issues.