Difference between revisions of "Ethics"

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Christian '''''Ethics''''' center around the concept of Christian love. This is based on the nature and [[Knowing God|character of God]], of whom the [[Bible]] says "God is love" ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4:8 1 John 4:8].)    [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] taught that all Godly laws and all the teaching of the prophets which came before flow from the two Great commandments; “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  and "love your neighbor as yourself." ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A28-34&version=ESV Mark 12:28-34])
 
Christian '''''Ethics''''' center around the concept of Christian love. This is based on the nature and [[Knowing God|character of God]], of whom the [[Bible]] says "God is love" ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4:8 1 John 4:8].)    [[Jesus|Jesus Christ]] taught that all Godly laws and all the teaching of the prophets which came before flow from the two Great commandments; “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."  and "love your neighbor as yourself." ([https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A28-34&version=ESV Mark 12:28-34])
  
In the context of Christian agroecology, loving God and neighbor are both expressed in [[creation care]], since God loves and blesses his creation, including the earth, and it's inhabitants; all living creatures.
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In the context of [[Christian agroecology]], loving God and neighbor are both expressed in [[creation care]], since God loves and blesses his creation, including the earth, and it's inhabitants; all living creatures.
  
 
==Love for God==
 
==Love for God==

Latest revision as of 18:18, 5 March 2015

Christian Ethics center around the concept of Christian love. This is based on the nature and character of God, of whom the Bible says "God is love" (1 John 4:8.) Jesus Christ taught that all Godly laws and all the teaching of the prophets which came before flow from the two Great commandments; “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." and "love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:28-34)

In the context of Christian agroecology, loving God and neighbor are both expressed in creation care, since God loves and blesses his creation, including the earth, and it's inhabitants; all living creatures.

Love for God

To love God above all else is to acknowledge his greatness and his goodness, to want to lift him up, to love that which he loves and to want to please him in everything.

Worship

Love for all people

To love your neighbor as yourself to to recognize the equality of all people before God and not to put yourself above (or below) anyone else.

Love has many aspects, among which are boldness, gentleness and truth. Lacking any one of these, love is not complete and can be damaging. To properly love someone, truth is needed. Sometimes that means confronting someone with difficult issues and difficult truths. Confrontation can be a necessary part of love, but condemnation is not part of love. Service

Love for creation

Creation care is a foundation of Christian ethics based on the first few chapters of the Bible.

God's love for his own creation

(Genesis 1-3: God called it good, very good and blessed it)

God chose to involve mankind in care for creation

(tend the garden) (Working the earth is a good thing and not a curse)

God gave the earth to mankind as an inheritance

In entrusting his creation to mankind as an inheritance man ought to exert ownership and rulership over the earth.

The nature of mankind

There has long been a debate as to whether people are fundamentally good or whether their nature is bad. Despite the controversy there is a general consensus that "nobody's perfect". The Bible teaches that all people, male and female, are, alone of all creation, made in the "image of God" (Genesis 1:27) However, this beautiful image, which God calls "very good" (Genesis 1:31) has become marred by the sinful, or fallen, nature of all people. The tension between the two aspects of humans as "very good" created beings who bear the image of God and also recognizing their incredible capacity to do and think evil things, taken together is resolved in the Biblical conclusion that humans are "fallen." Regardless of whatever amount of good humans are capable of, because of the banality of good, evil deeds carry much more weight than good ones; it is far easier to destroy than to build. This leads to the Christian concept of sin. The Bible teaches that all people sin and are falling short of the "100% pure" standard required of them. Since nobody is able to meet this standard, all humans are equally guilty before God of "missing the mark". The pride of people who see themselves as "righteous" is therefore misplaced. Because of the banality of good, the only appropriate posture towards one's own goodness is humility.

Repentance

To admit to one's own sin is difficult; the natural inclination of a person is to hide his or her own flaws. Humans have an incredible capacity for self-deception, making the problem worse. Once a person acknowledges his or her own sin, however, humble repentance is the necessary response. This is simply to admit that you are a sinner and that sin is malignant. The simple act of acknowledging the seemingly obvious fact that you are not perfect must be accompanied by the understanding that this is a big deal in order to actually be repentance.