Situational Ethics

Have you ever had, as a Christian, one of those “sticky situations? You want to do the right thing. But there appear to be two sides to the dilemma. Things are not always black or white but seem to fall into some kind of grey area.

What’s appropriate just doesn’t seem to be very clear. What’s really going on? How should we, as Christ-followers, respond to that?

First, let’s define the character and nature of a dilemma. A dilemma is a problem where there are at least two choices we can make. It is often a situation where you are not sure what is right or wrong --- or what is more right or more wrong.

When considering what God’s Word says about any particular subject, we sometimes find commandments that can give us clear direction. But in other cases we may need to search deeper into the Scriptures. Where there are no clear commandments, there are still many principles, not often clear without careful study. Occasionally God’s Word may even appear to be completely silent on a certain subjects.

So what are we to do? I think the best answer is that we are not to give up looking for the right answer. God is all-knowing. He has an answer for every single question that life can muster. His Spirit can lead every single decision that humanity might ever have to make. This is what’s true about the situation of any dilemma.

So we need to ask, to seek, to listen and to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. We may need to discuss it with other Christians who are more mature than we are … who can help lead us to the answers in Scripture or to pray with us for the Spirit’s leading. God doesn’t leave us empty-handed when it comes to the dilemmas that life throws at us.

Let’s look at some examples. Would it be okay for …

... a Christian Lawyer to enter a “not guilty” plea for a criminal he knows is guilty?
... a Christian flight attendant to serve liquor?
... a Christian purchasing agent to take gifts from suppliers?
... a Christian Doctor to sign an insurance form for a patient he knows is not valid?
... a Christian working at a bar or casino?
... a Christian to go into a bar, tavern or lounge to witness for Christ?
... a Christian to pay taxes, knowing some goes to unethical, unbiblical practices?
... a Christian to voluntarily enlist to serve in a war and fight?
... a Christian giving to a poor person regardless of why they are poor?
... a Christian to be a business partner with a non-Christian?
... a Christian to lie if human life is in danger?
... a Christian to withhold his or her tithe if the church were squandering the money?

Let us consider this subject by asking ourselves some questions with a teachable Spirit and with careful study of Bible scripture. While the Bible doesn’t speak specifically of casinos or gentlemen’s clubs, or drinks on an airline – it does provide us with a wealth of Scriptures that form the context on which these kinds of dilemmas can be evaluated.

1 Cor. 10:23-31 Does this activity edify myself or another believer? Does this activity bring glory to God? Could this cause give Christ a bad name, since we are ambassadors and representatives of Christ, everything we do is often seen by others as a reflection of Christ, bringing reproach on Him, the Church and body of Christ.

1 Cor. 6:12 Though it may be lawful for me, I need to ask myself if this activity is spiritually beneficial or is this activity enslaving to me?

1 Cor. 8:7-13 Does this activity defile my conscience? Could this activity hinder the growth of a fellow believer? Could I cause another brother to stumble, if so I would be better not to be involved in something that could affect a brother. They may have a weaker conscience. It could cause them to believe this is OK and even get themselves involved in something much more worse. For another it could divisions and disunity between brothers that could affect the whole body of Christ.

We often find ourselves in perplexing situations and it seems that being able to discern what's right and what's wrong is very evasive. But the good Lord has provided all of the wisdom we need to develop that kind of discernment. Using His Word as our moral compass, we can find our way through any kind of sticky situation that life can throw at us!

SMU

In October 2006, Playboy magazine came to town to do a photo shoot entitled The Girls of Conference USA. Twelve schools were in the conference, including Texas notables, Baylor and SMU. But the two reacted very differently to the Playboy initiative. The Dallas Morning News said the issue caused the two schools to "bare their souls." (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/102106dnmetplayboy.284af08.html.)

Indeed, Baylor raised a hot protest and absolutely forbid its students' participation in any way. Christians were proud of Baylor. We Baptists were proud of Baylor. I'm pretty sure God was pleased with Baylor that day too. On the other hand, SMU took a Switzerland approach, and feigned indifference. It's position was that the nude and nearly-nude photo shoots of its students were "not condoned" by the school --- and therefore the school was off the hook morally.

Do you supposed God really buys that? Should we Christians buy that?

Recently, SMU has suffered the painful deaths of three (3) students from alcohol or drugs. It seems that some of the SMU students have a penchant for alchohol and drugs, and it has become known as a party school. A task force was named to study what could be done to curb the culture of alcohol and drug abuse at SMU. Their recommendations? Among other things, establish an on-campus pub! (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/education/stories/020208dnmetSMU.7c4597dc.html.)

The task force talks about changing the culture and creating an environment where students can be safe and healthy --- by serving them beer and wine in a school-operated pub. Are we believing this? What moral standards does SMU live by? Well, let's look at the name, Southern Methodist University. Who are the Methodists? Does their school bear testament to their religion?

Traditionally, Methodism has believed in the Armenian view of free will, via God's grace. Methodism affirms the traditional Christian belief in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as well as the orthodox understanding of humanity and divinity of Jesus. Sacramental Theology within Methodism tends to follow the historical interpretations and liturgies of Anglicanism. (This stems from the origin of much Methodist theology and practice within the teachings of John and Charles Wesley, both of whom were priests of the Church of England.)

It is a traditional position of the Methodist church that any disciplined theological work calls for the careful use of reason. By reason, it is said, one reads and interprets Scripture. By reason one determines whether one's Christian witness is clear. By reason one asks questions of faith and seeks to understand God's action and will.

This church insists that personal salvation always involves Christian mission and service to the world. Scriptural holiness entails more than personal piety; love of God is always linked with love of neighbor, a passion for justice and renewal in the life of the world.Most Methodist churches annually follow the call of John Wesley for a renewal of their covenant with God.

It is not unusual in Methodism for each congregation to normally hold an annual Covenant Service on the first convenient Sunday of the year, and Wesley's Covenant Prayer is still used, with minor modification, in the order of service. In it, Wesley states man's total reliance upon God, as the following excerpt demonstrates:

...Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, others are difficult. Some bring honor, others bring reproach. Some are suitable to our natural inclinations and temporal interests. Others are contrary to both... Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us....

I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal...

So it would seem that these Methodists are Biblical Christians. They recognize Jesus Christ and live by the same Bible that the rest of us live by. What then can be said for SMU? Are they using logic and reason to interpret Scripture? And what of Wesley's prayer? Is SMU teaching its students that they are not their own? Do SMU students learn to be brought low for the causes of Christ? Do they learn to yield all things to God's pleasure and disposal?

I'm not being cynical here. I'm just being realistic. Christians are supposed to be materially different than the sinful, fallen world around them. So it is time to stop playing this Christian charade. The travesty of Christianity is the Christians who behave badly --- and mislead the world about what Christianity is and who God is.

SMU, you are a beginning to look like a blight on the face of Christianity. Step up to the plate and return to walking the talk of Christ. Instill some moral fiber in your students and enforce a moral standard that they can live by.

Take a stand against photo shoots for Playboy magazine. No pubs for your students. Period.