We have been building a format for the development of a believer living under the rule of Christian ethics. The four principles important in the development of ethics are; duty, character, goals, and discernment. These principles are formulated to answer the four essentially questions outlined in part 3, what I/we to do and what I/we to be. Today we want to address discernment and the consequences of our decision.
http://www.gocomics.com/calvinandhobbes#.U0WXXFfncVI
In the cartoon above Calvin is using discernment to make a decision as to whether he should or should not cheat on his test. Unfortunately Calvin makes the fatal error; instead of relying on character he uses consequentialism to make his final decision. So, what is wrong with considering the consequences of our decision? Nothing as long as they have a basis other than those solely founded on the consequences
Calvin never looks at his duty, character, or goals. Without this kind of critical discernment when Hobbs asks him “What did you decide,” he has no answer. Dr. John Frame answers Calvin’s dilemma this way: “Here I focus on the process of application, the subjective experience at applying God’s Word to circumstances.” He goes on to say: “Such applications require the ability to see the circumstances in the light of biblical principles. For Christians, the challenge is to give biblical names to human actions.”
Frame is saying the guidelines for making ethical decisions must come from an absolute and that absolute is God’s word. This is critical; otherwise we will discern our actions based solely from experientialism. Frame identifies the problem as being engrained in our nature; “People with healthy sense organs may not be able to see moral patterns and analogies. Someone may be very much aware of something he has done, without being able to make the right moral evaluation of his act.” He says this is; “In part [because] I resist any negative evaluation of my own actions because of my pride.” The issue is we may not beware of our own feelings, thus we are “without being able to make the right moral judgments.” There is more than our 5 senses and intellectual reasoning involved in the discernment process. Knowing the facts of the issue is not the same as seeing the relevant character trait found in scripture.
The opposite of discernment is blindness and a myopic attitude as we evaluate to see God’s ethical character development. But never the less we are called to discernment in scripture. Romans 12:1-2 is such a calling. This passage tells us to transform and renew our minds for the purpose of discerning what is good and acceptable and the perfect will of God. Where does this ability come from? Verse 3 Paul says it comes from the character God gives us through a “measure of faith.”
Now, we need to look at consequentialism because it is God who determines which actions leads to summon bonum/the greater good. No matter how we live there are always consequences to our actions; either for good or for bad. But there is hope because scripture is filled with consequential language.
The Book of Proverbs directs us toward the goal of summon bonum. Looking at Proverbs 3:1-8 we are given a command/duty followed by the consequences of acting on that duty. Verse one we are told our duty is to keep God’s law and commandments. Verse two says the consequences will be a long life filled with peace. But note the duty is to have a character which keeps God’s commands close to the heart. Thus our actions and consequences of those actions are based on the foundation coming from a Christian/Godly ethic.
I encourage you to look at the following verses to gain a greater insight into the consequential language found in scripture: Proverbs 6:6-11; Matthew 18:15; and 1 Peter 3:8-9.
The bottom line is, like Calvin, we are constantly faced with decision which will govern our actions. We can rely on our experiences and the consequences hoping for the best, or we can develop a character based on Godly ethics as we study and rightly discern the Word of God.
“Knowledge, like air, is vital to life. Like air, no one should be denied it.”
Gregg
If this is your first look at this series there are 3 other issues preceding.
I would like to thank Dr. Dan Doriani and Covenant Theological Seminary for making the course, “Christian Ethics,” freely available at:
http://www.covenantseminary.edu/resources/courses/christian-ethics-doriani/
Skandalon 