Origination of Ethics

Origination of Ethics Global Leadership and Ethics

Origination of Ethics The origination of our values and our ethics is the Bible. The Old Testament is not any less valid than the New Testament. Some people prefer the New Testament only because it is easier to understand. We can and should go by the laws of both. The Bible teaches us what is right from wrong. Christians believe that the Bible is the primary, authoritative guide to faith and life. (Adeney) 1995 We use the Bible as our moral compass. As Christians, we have the Ten Commandments as our basic rules for life, but there is much more than that. It is tragic how many Christians try to reduce the Bibles moral teaching to the level of rules, commandments and laws. (Adeney) 1995 As small children, we are taught the Golden Rule. We are taught to forgive, not hold grudges, and not judge others. Proverbs 10:9 says The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes the crooked paths will be found out. Psalms 51:5-6 tells us that humans are born with sin. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. We dont always live up to the ideals of Jesus, but by learning from Scripture, we are trying. Psalms 1 tells us to not stand with the wicked. Keeping good company in our faith strengthens it, but there will be times we are going to come across non-believers. This is when we are truly tested. We have many things in common with people of different backgrounds, but we have many differences as well. Religion shapes who we are as people. While freedom of religion is a main component of our society, the United States was built on Christianity. Different cultures do not override our beliefs in Scripture. God gives us guidance on what

is right and wrong. Our parents and our education also have an effect on how we define our culture. While this shapes us as well, when looking for guidance, we look toward Scripture.

Origination of Ethics

"God knows where we will be born and raised, and he puts us in a position where we might seek him" (Strobel) 2000 The primary way we learn goodness from the Bible is by making the story of the Bible the interpretive framework through which we view all of life. (Adeney) 1995 By applying the Bibles messages to our everyday lives, we learn to be ethical in everything we do. Christians learn to be good from the Bible by telling themselves and each other the story of their lives as a part of the story of the Bible. (Adeney) 1995 The most important way we can tell our story is by living it. By practicing what we preach, so to speak, we can show others our values. We know that we are not perfect, but that our mission is to be Christ like. The issue that some people have with the Bible is the many interpretations. When reading the Bible, it does not read like a manual. There are stories and we have to know the purpose of the story. Although some stories of the Bible may be very hard for us to relate to, we can often find something in them that we can identify with. Through this, we can apply it to our own behaviors and learn to live more ethically. People find some other religions more attractive because it fits in with their lifestyle. Also, most people conform to their parents belief system. Because of this, we have to ask, But what about people who live in places where the gospel isnt routinely discussed or where its dissemination is actually outlawed? Strobel, L. (2001) God has made it possible for all people to find Him. Our lifestyle reflects how we believe, so it is very important to live a good life and have Jesus at the center of our lives. When comparing our values to others, we should be careful about our generalizations and assumptions. Even though we have so many differences in our cultures,

Origination of Ethics we can still find common ground. People naturally want to make friends and be liked. Confucius says, By nature men are pretty much alike; it is learning and practice that set them apart. (Stackhouse) 1995 That is the best quote I can find to sum everything up into one sentence. We are very much alike. The only differences we have are those we are taught. Those we are taught can be great differences though.

References The Holy Bibly, New International Version. (pp. 1911). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House. Stackhouse, M.L., McCann, D.P., Roels, S.J., Williams, P. N. (1995) On Moral Business. Grand Rapids, MI, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
Adeney, B. T. (1995). Strange virtues: Ethics in a multicultural world. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press; ISBN-10: 0830818553.

Strobel, L. (2001). The case for faith, a journalist investigates the toughest objections to christianity. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.