1. Imagine a little girl is severely mentally retarded, she is a quadriplegic, she never makes a sound and needs total care. Her dad has become exhausted with caring fro her and someone tells him it is OK to take the daughter’s life because she doesn’t have a recognizable quality of life. Imagine a woman, raped and at that, by some one she neither knows nor cares for, is told she can have an abortion to terminate the life of the unborn child. Imagine a man dying of a horrible, debilitating disease and either someone tells him it would be OK to take his life with dignity or without a word to him, takes his life from him. Imagine a young child wondering whether he should tell the truth and be in trouble or to lie and avoid trouble. What is the morally right decision to make in each of these situations? Making decisions about what is morally right from what is morally wrong is called ethics. It affects every aspect of our lives, involves any job and is based on our world view.
   
   
2. We can take one of two approaches toward ethics. We can look at ethics from a subjective point of view or an objective point view. Let’s consider briefly ethics from a subjective point of view.
   1. For example many people believe that determining what is morally right to do from what is morally wrong is determined on the basis of what the person making the decision thinks is morally right from what is morally wrong, for a particular situation. This is sometimes called situation ethics. The system of ethics the of person or people making the determination involves nothing more than the personal opinion of those making the decision.
   2. There are no moral absolutes (cp. Joh 18:39) in subjective ethics, at best only what some think will accomplish the greatest good or what is politically correct at a particular time period in the culture in which we live. Such ethics as is based on societal tolerance may be reflected in its laws. At one time segregating the races was lawful in this country. So it should be clear that in a subjective approach to ethics, what is morally right from what is morally wrong is constantly changing or evolving.
   3. Ethical models, based on subjectivism, on personal opinion and cultural correctness, view man the final judge of what is morally right from what is morally wrong.
   4. Let’s consider briefly ethics from an objective point of view; that is, a point of view apart from an individuals personal opinion or that of a group of people. When men determine their own direction the result is usually unethical according to the Bible. When religion gives way to man’s will the result is also frequently contrary to the Bible (cf. Exo 5:2; Jud 21:25; Pro 12:15; 21:2; Jer 10:23). When religion gives way to man’s will the result is also frequently unethical, according to the Bible. Those who are averse to placing their lives into the decisions of the whims of man seek and objective standard, an ethical model not based on personal opinion or changing political correctness. Those who understand that an omniscient God created all and has revealed out of his omniscience the proper way for all to live; those who want to follow God’s will, base their etical model on his written word, the Bible.
   5. We have in the scriptures all that we need to make an informed ethical decisions regardless of personal feelings, the situation, culture tolerance, the current philosophy of man, or where medical technology (i.e. abortion, euthanasia, suicide; in vitro fertilization, cloning, stem cell research) wants to take us (cf. 2Ti 3:16-17; 2Pe 1:3; Jude 3).
   6. Therefore, to live ethically, Christians must be Christ-centered (cp. Rom 8:29; 1Cor 2:16). Our ethics must be defined within the framework of God’s will, firmly based on scripture (cf. Mat 26:39; Jam 4:17).
   
   
3. It is not difficult to realize generally in relation to God, that in relation to God, we do not live in an ethical world. Since the attitude of the world can affect us, we should be able to understand the need for studying of ethics so we won’t be confused in our decision making.

1. THE OUTCOME OF CONFUSED ETHICS
   1. According to scripture, God created the world and everything in it with perfection (Gen 1; 2). God announced that his creation was very good (Gen 1:31; Act 17:26-27).
      1. Man was created without a sinful nature and God also gave man “freedom of choice” (Gen 2:15-17).
         1. What corrupts us is sin, the outcome of our giving into temptation (Jam 1:14-15).
         2. Sin is a transgression of God’s will (1Jo 3:4).
      2. Eve and Adam made their choice in the garden and decided to do what was wrong (Gen 3:1-13).
         1. Eve, when she was tempted, weighed the benefit of going against what God had dictated to the benefit of following God’s will. With a subjective ethics, she acted contrary to God’s will and Adam followed her.
         2. They received the consequence of their action (Gen 3:14-19).
         3. The devil was behind their unethical behavior (Gen 3:1) and continues to with the same deception to confuse our ethics (cp. 1Pe 5:8).
      3. Another example of confused ethics is given in scripture with Ananias and Sapphira who decided to tell a lie (Acts 4:32-5:11).
         1. Barnabas recognized a benevolent need that had arisen out of unusual circumstances, and which had left many in need of help.
         2. In response to this problem Barnabas chose to sell a piece of property and brought the money to the apostles for the benevolent need.
         3. Barnabas was known as an encourager (cp. 1Ti 6).
         4. Ananias and Sapphira, like Barnabas also sold property. Though they did not give the full amount received from the sale to the apostles, nor did they have to, Ananias and Sapphira pretend as though they had given it all.
         5. They probably were not as interested in helping as they were in receiveing the accolades of men.
         6. They entered into a conspiracy to lie about what they had done.
         7. Their ethics too were subjective.
      4. The devil uses those things that are good to destroy us. He uses “love of the world” to confusing our understanding of the proper use of the many gifts God has placed in the world to help us (2Ti 4:10). He uses lust to misdirect our physical desires (1Co 7:1-3). He uses pride to enlarge our self-respect disproportionately (1Pe 5:5-6).
      5. Subjective ethics has been devastating for man, not only physically but spiritually.
         1. The consequence has been that through the initial entrance of sin, physical death has come into the world and affects all life.
         2. In addition, following the same unethical behavior of Adam and Eve, each of us having been duped by the devil’s tempting, has sinned (having decided to take ethics into our own hands) and will die spiritually (Rom. 3:10, 23; 5:12; 6:23).
   
   Transition: There are many models for ethics to confuse us in making morally proper decisions. How do we eliminate the confusion and decide which model to follow?
   
   
2. The Solution to Confused Ethics
   1. Each of us generally confronts corruption daily.
      1. How can we make certain that in making our daily decisions, especially those that involve morals, we make decisions that are not selfish but good both for us and those affected?
      2. How can we make certain that in making our daily decisions, especially those that involve morals, we are not influenced by the wrong worldview, to follow the wrong ethical model?
   2. The solution to making morally right decisions every time, regardless of philosophy, culture, medicine or anything else is to remove the subjectivism by making God’s word our standard.
      1. When Joseph was confronted by Potiphar’s wife to do what was sexually immoral, ethically wrong, Joseph didn’t have to wrestle with who might be hurt by his decision, who might find out, what might be the consequences, he knew right away what to do.
      2. He had determined to follow God’s standard (Gen 39:9).
      3. Following the objective ethics presented in God’s word makes moral decisions easier to make.
      4. We must allow ourselves to be controlled and guided by God’s Spirit rather then emotion or man’s standard of what is right or wrong (Gal 5:16-25).
   3. Therefore, let’s:
      1. Seek God’s guidance (2Ti 3:14-17) in analyzing and researching the issues by using the scriptures (Mat 10:16. Heb 5:14).
      2. Identify and apply biblical norms -- commands, examples, principles (Mat 19:16ff.; 2 Tim. 4:10).
      3. Examine, correct and strengthen motives (2Co 5:9; Acts 8:21; also Mat 25:21).
      4. Determine the Appropriate means to do what needs to be done (2Ti 2:15).
      5. Seek morally minded people for further help (1Pe 2:21; 1Co 11:1).
      6. Rely on God’s forgiveness when things aren’t so well (Heb 8:12).
   
   Transition: God has given us ample understanding to encourage us to make godly ethical decisions.
   
   
3. Why We Should Avoid Confused Ethics
   1. Confused ethics will lead to improper behavior and such will be judged by God (1Co 6:9-11; Col 3:1-10; Jam 4:4).
   2. Through studying God’s word and follow the proper application of it to ourselves, we will avoid judgement.
   3. Therefore, lets concentrate on following God’s word (Php 4:8).

As long as we live upon this earth we will always have ethical questions to answer for others and for ourselves. As long we are upon this earth the devil will devise ways to try to confuse our ethics. The man or woman of God however must prepare themselves in order to deal with these questions. Therefore, we must give ourselves to the daily study of God’s word, determined that we will abide in it regardless of the situation or people involved in it.

Some things to consider in making decisions are:

• Does it have God’s authority behind it? (Jam 4:17) .
• Can I do it for the glory of God? (1Co 10:31; Col 3:17)
• Would Jesus do it? (1Pe 2:21).
• Does it have the appearance of evil? (1Th 5:22 KJV).
• Is it a stumbling block to other people who see me do it? (1Co 8:9)
• Is there any doubt in your mind? (Rom 14:23).

Other Sermons In This Series

• Can We Know The Truth
• Capital Punishment
• Soldier, Police Officer, Politician
• Euthanasia And Suicide

Terry D. Casey, Corruption, Putting It All Together, Being Ethical in An Unethical World, A Study of Christian Ethics

Michael Hughes, Various Ethical Models, 1st Century Ethics in a 21st Century World, 0th Annual Mid-West Lectures, 39th Street church of Christ, 15331 East 39th Street, Independence, MO 64055.

In charity through Christ, Raymond Wiseman

World Wide view of ethics and gods
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