What is ethics?  top

There must be a standard and guide for correct and good ethics, and for the Christian, God’s Word, the Bible, is our standard and guide. Our conduct is to be governed in everything by what the Scriptures teach. (See 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 19:7-14; Psalms 119:1-8, 103-105, 129-130). The Bible is the only infallible (incapable of error, trustworthy) rule of faith and practice. "Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven" (Psalms 119:89).

What information does the Bible offer regarding abortion?  top

In what way is accountability an ethical issue?  top

What is the difference between adultery and fornication?  top

Is AIDS God’s judgment on homosexuals?  top

How can an alcoholic be helped?  top

What can I do to control anger?  top

Although not all anger is wrong, it is Scriptural to learn how to react correctly when we are tempted to explode. Proverbs 29:11 (NIV) observes "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." A Christian should be thoughtful of responses to annoying people, events, or situations in that while your position and reaction might be right, resulting attitudes such as bitterness or resentment are wrong. Several righteous displays of anger can be found in the Bible. Some of those are anger displayed by Moses (Exodus 32:19), Jesus (Mark 3:5; 11:15, 17), and in response to sin (Ephesians 4:26). So how can we decide when it’s not okay? Simply put, anger is uncontrolled if it leads to outbursts of temper or bad language, hostility (the desire to "get even,") inner turmoil (Ephesians 4:26, 27), or leads to doing harm to others, including impacting one’s testimony negatively, (Colossians 3:5-17).

Here are some ideas for learning anger self-control.

How can I stop being anxious and nervous?  top

Is there a difference between arrogance and pride?  top

How can a pessimistic attitude be changed to a positive one?  top

What is the difference between an atheist and an agnostic?  top

What is the difference between astrology and astronomy? Is it okay for Christians to read the daily horoscopes?  top

Astrology is a false, presumptuous, pseudo-science based on the notion that the positions of the moon, sun, and stars affect human affairs, and that one can foretell the future by studying those positions. (Isaiah 47:13).

Astronomy is the science of the universe in which the stars, planets, etc, are studied, including their origins, development, composition, motions, relative positions, and sizes. (Psalms 136:4-9; Jeremiah 31:35-37).The Bible tells us that God created the entire universe, (Genesis 1:1-2:3; Job 8:3; Psalms 19:1-6, 147:4), and holds it together. (Colossians 1:15-17)

Horoscopes are a part of astrology, not astronomy. They are creative forecasts of a person’s future based on diagrams showing the relative positions of the stars and the planets in relationship to the month of one’s birth. In the Bible, God specifically prohibits His people from worshiping heavenly bodies and from being influenced by heavenly signs and those who falsely interpret them. (Deuteronomy 4:19; Jeremiah 10:1-15; Colossians 2:8). Christians must trust God totally for direction in our daily lives. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalms 32:8; Philippians 4:6-7; James 1:5)

What is backsliding, and how can it be reversed?  top

Backsliding is deterioration in quality of spiritual life after a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has been made. It is well to realize that in some cases an authentic profession of faith may not have taken place and, if so, the proof of this becomes evident as time passes. Jesus gave us this standard of judgment in Matthew 7:15 "…you will know them by their fruits." The apostles Paul, (II Timothy 3:13), and Peter, (II Peter 2:20), describes the backsliding condition as that of going from bad to worse.

Some of its causes are pursuit of secular success, bad associations, shallowness, lack of spiritual insight, and desire for material possessions. Results include selfishness (Proverbs 14:14), indifference to Jesus (Matthew 24:12), unfitness for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62), (Galatians 1:6), dependence on works (Galatians 4:9-10), God’s displeasure (Hebrews 10:38), (II Peter 2:20), and an evident and intentional loss of enthusiasm for God and His work (Revelation 2:4).

Reversing the downward slide involves and requires a conscious decision to change. First, re-examine your profession of faith in Christ to determine if it is genuine. (Admit you’ve sinned (Romans 3:23), Believe Jesus Died on the Cross and was raised from the dead in payment for your sins (Romans 5:8), Confess and Commit that Jesus is your Lord (Romans 10:9), (Acts 4:12).

Then to start growing spiritually, study II Corinthians 9:6-11, think about your church family and other people, and get involved in the ministries of giving, rather than concentrating on receiving. The following steps will lead you to the fulfillment of Peter’s instruction, (II Peter 3:18), that we .. "grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."
1. Focusing on Jesus as your spiritual hero (Ephesians 4:15), (Colossians1:10),
2. behaving with wisdom toward non-believers (I Thessalonians 4:9-12),
3. pressing on toward the goal of maturity in Christ (Hebrews 6:1),
4. immersing yourself in God’s Word at home, in Bible study classes and small groups (I Peter 2:2),
5. applying your faith with moral excellence (II Peter 1:5-7).

What is blasphemy? Is it forgivable?  top

Jesus taught in Matthew 12:24-27, 31-32) that blasphemy is the reviling of God by attributing the Holy Spirit’s work to Satan. Notice that this teaching in Matthew is in the context of His healing the blind, speechless, demon-possessed man which prompted Pharisees to suggest that He cast out the demons by "Beelzebul" (Satan), ruler of demons, verse 24.

Some scholars believe that this incident was a special, unrepeatable event meant to show God’s power through Jesus and teach the seriousness of giving Satan recognition and glory that rightfully belongs to God. Mark 3:22-30 records this same incident and the accusations against Him, verses 28-30. Mark tells us that Jesus said in verse 29, "but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin." (cf. Luke 11:14-15).

So is blasphemy forgivable? According to Jesus’ own words, if it is directed against the Holy Spirit, it is not. However, the kind of persons found guilty of this offense were unbelievers, knowledgeable of God (Pharisees), but filled with hatred for God’s will concerning individuals.

Is capital punishment supported by the Bible?  top

In Genesis 9:6 God instituted capital punishment. "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man."  His reason for doing so was because man was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). The death penalty became part of the Mosaic code of laws for Israel (Exodus 21:12; Numbers 35:16-31). The apostle Paul taught in Romans 13:1-7 that human government has a God-given right to use force in its resistance of evil, and in verse 4 of Romans chapter 13 Paul indicates that the government has the right to take the life of a convicted criminal.

One of the Ten Commandments says we are not to commit murder (Exodus 20:13), but murder by a citizen and execution by the government are viewed as two different things in Scripture. One is a premeditated crime; the other is a deserved punishment. Since government is established by God (Romans 13:1-7), capital punishment may be seen as the enacting of divine judgment through the government.

The Old Testament principle of retaliation for evil, "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot," is found in Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:17-20; Deuteronomy 17:6; Deuteronomy 19:20. In the New Testament Jesus taught a new and better concept of the principle of retaliation by introducing issues of nonresistance and love, (Matthew 5:21, 22, 38-44: Luke 6:27-31). He did not repeal or abolish capital punishment. Jesus did introduce higher levels of humaneness, dignity, and compassion.

What does the Bible say about cohabitation?  top

The latest available figure of the number of unmarried Americans who are living together with a partner of the opposite sex is 9.7 million, a 54% increase since 1990. Although one of the key reasons people say they are living together is "to get to know each other better before marriage," those who eventually marry have a 46% higher divorce rate than those who did not live together first!

Cohabitation is two people living together as man and wife who are not married to one another. Although we might think this practice is a modern one, it may have its roots in the Old Testament custom of permitting men to have a concubine, literally, a second wife. The difference is that the husband typically lived with both women who together with their children were housed in separate quarters. For example, the handmaidens that Rachel and Leah gave to Jacob became his concubines as legal, secondary wives (Genesis 30:3-13).

God instituted marriage (Genesis 1:27, 28) (Genesis 2:21-24) as heterosexual (man and woman), monogamous (one wife or one husband), the complete union of the two persons (sexual relations), and much later, in the New Testament, I Corinthians 7:39 "only in the Lord," or to believers only, the apostle Paul added. The first recorded case of bigamy in Scripture, Genesis 4:19, is also the first recorded violation of God’s pattern of monogamy.

It may be tempting to point to the Old Testament custom of concubinage as rationale of God’s approval of cohabitation, but such reasoning is incorrect. The New Testament restores the sacred, God created, institution of marriage to its original character plus Jesus added that marriage is to be permanent, (Mark 10:6-9).

According to God’s Word, those living together and are not married to one another are living in sin because Galatians 5:19 declares "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, impurity, sensuality." The Bible uses the term "flesh" or "fleshly" to characterize the weaknesses of men and women as opposed to the power and spirit of life. It is due to the weakness of the flesh that it easily comes under the power of sin when not in fellowship with the spiritual power of God. Therefore, the ethical sense of the term "flesh" signifies men and women living apart from God and dominated by sin. Another passage, I John 2:16-17, identifies obedience to "the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life" (vainness) as obedience to Satan rather than God.

Is cremation after death God’s will for Christians?  top

Several instances of cremation took place in the Old Testament due to special circumstances, and they are recorded in Joshua 7:15-25; I Samuel 31:12; II Kings 23:20; and Amos 2:1, 6:10. Cremation, however, was not general Hebrew practice, and it is not mentioned at all in the New Testament. Burial was the normal custom. A prohibition against cremation is not recorded in the Bible, and if a Christian’s body is burned, it does not present a problem for God in resurrecting that person’s body from the dead (I Corinthians 15:42-44), (TEV).

We read in II Corinthians 5:1, "For we know that when this tent we live in - our body here on earth - is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home He himself made, which will last forever," (John 14:1-3) (TEV). It doesn’t matter how our body is destroyed; all that matters is that God will raise it from the dead. Even those that are buried in the ground, decay into dust and bones, (Genesis 3:19). Regardless of whether we are buried or cremated, the Christian can look forward to a permanent resurrection body that will never be subject to death and decay.

What is the biblical stance regarding suicide, assisted as suicide, and mercy killing?  top

Suicide is the act of intentionally and voluntarily killing oneself. Assisted suicide is requested death with the help of someone, and mercy killing is ending another’s life with or without their prior consent. In any case, desire for relief from great emotional stress, physical pain, and suffering is usually true. Self-murder is not an acceptable option, however, according to the Bible.

God’s firm commandment in Exodus 20:13 delivered by Moses was "You shall not murder." Four words, a commandment, and not a suggestion! Regardless of whatever list of reasons or excuses one might develop, the bottom line is that God forbids murder including self-murder. Doctor-assisted suicide and mercy killing turns medical healers and care-givers into death-dealers who assume the role of judging another person’s quality and length of life with their imperfect judgment as their only guide.

The Bible says in Psalms 116:15, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones." The Lord is referring to natural death, not suicide.

How is euthanasia different from suicide, and does the Bible support it?  top

Euthanasia is an attempt to prevent painful, excessive or prolonged death. It may be passive (stop treatment) or direct acts aimed at terminating life (active). The latter is wrong because it does not see God as the taker of life (Job 1:21; chapters 38-41). Technically, active euthanasia is actually suicide, assisted suicide, or mercy killing in that the medical cause of death is not due to disease or injury but the fatal action taken with or without the permission of the person. Those acts may be voluntary, involuntary, or non-voluntary including requested help of another in ending one’s life, person does not want their life to be ended but their wishes are ignored, or ending of life occurs at the hands of someone who is not aware of the person’s wishes.

The tragedy of euthanasia lies in the faulty arguments that people use to justify it, and those involve two basic ideas: respect of autonomy ("It’s my life, and I’ll decide how and when to end it," and compassion ("I wouldn’t want to suffer like that.") The Bible does not support euthanasia. Life is a gift from God, and our lives are not our own to end as we please. (I Corinthians 6:19, 20; Romans 12:1). God knows about our suffering, and He will give comfort (II Corinthians 1:3-4; Hebrews 4:15-16). The Christian is to affirm life, holding fast to our hope of eternal life where there will be no pain or suffering (Revelation 21:4).

Is divorce permissible for a Christian?  top

Scripture is very clear that God Himself created the institution of marriage, and that He intended it to be permanent (Matthew 19:3-6). Divorce was never a part of God’s original plan. In fact, God hates divorce (Matthew 19:7, 8; Malachi 2:16). The marriage relationship was intended to be dissolved only when one of the marriage partners died (Romans 7:1-3; I Corinthians 7:8, 9; I Timothy 5:14).

When sin entered the world, God’s ideal in marriage was affected as well as many other things. Scripture tells us that even though divorce was not God’s ideal, He nevertheless allowed it because of man’s sinfulness, (Matthew 19:7, 8; Deuteronomy 24:1-4).

From a biblical perspective, divorce is allowed only under two circumstances: (1) One of the marriage partners is unfaithful (Matthew 19:9); (2) The unbelieving partner deserts the believing partner (I Corinthians 7:15, 16). (Spousal abuse, however, is certainly a departure from God’s will for married life. Ephesians 5:22-33 describes the marital relationship ideal as that of mutual love and support as strong as the love of Christ for the church, verse 25).

Even in cases in which a person clearly has biblical permission to divorce, God’s desire is that the person if at all possible forgive the offending spouse and be reconciled to him or her. (Ephesians 4:29-32; Colossians 3:8-17). God forgives all our sins including the sin of divorce, (Colossians 2:13, 14)(I John 1:8-10) but His forgiveness does not remove the painful consequences of such actions on ourselves or on others.

Is it okay to gamble when profits are for a charity?  top

Some forms of gambling appear to be quite innocent, especially when a percentage of the profits are used for a good cause. The Bible, however, indicates that gambling in any form is not God’s will for the Christian. There are at least three reasons why this is true. (1) Gambling or betting puts faith in chance rather than in the provision of God, (2) The one who gambles is hoping to profit from another’s loss which borders on stealing, and (3) Gambling induces a greedy attitude because it’s focus is on receiving rather than giving. The end results of gambling weakens the moral standards of our society. Supporting Bible verses include Exodus 20:15, 17; Romans 12:1, 2; I Corinthians 6:12; 10:31; Colossians 3:2, 5, 6.

According to God’s Word, there are three legitimate ways to accumulate money and other material things: (1) Work (II Thessalonians 3:10), (2) Wise, honorable investments (Luke 19:11-27, and (3) Gifts or inheritance (II Corinthians 12:14).

Is homosexuality and lesbianism acceptable to God?  top

The short answer is no. Homosexual acts are condemned in the strongest terms in both Testaments. Old Testament law says "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female, that is an abomination," (Leviticus 18:22). Further, in Leviticus 20:13, the Bible repeats and adds to the prohibition: "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their blood guiltiness (guilt) is upon them." Canaanite cult religion at that time promoted homosexual prostitution, (I Kings 14:24).

In Romans 1:24-32, the apostle Paul describes both lesbian and homosexual behavior as "degrading passions," "unnatural," "indecent acts," motivated by "shameful desire and lusts." I Timothy 1:9, 10 lists homosexuals among "the ungodly and sinners," verse 9, and as "immoral men," verse 10. I Corinthians 6:9, 10 groups homosexuals with the unrighteous who shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Scriptures in no way support the notion so popular today that homosexuality is a morally acceptable lifestyle. The Bible labels such activity as sin, just as heterosexual acts outside of marriage is sin.

However, we can offer hope. No genuinely repentant person is beyond redemption, and no homosexual or lesbian sin puts a person beyond the reach of God’s transforming grace. In I Corinthians 6:11, the apostle Paul concludes his list of unacceptable acts by acknowledging," But such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." The apostle Peter observes in II Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow about His promise (to return for Christians), as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

Is it ever right for a Christian to lie?  top

Sometimes because it depends on circumstance and motive, but without a doubt the Bible explicitly forbids lying (Exodus 20:16) which is viewed as sin (Psalms 59:11, 12) and is pronounced an abomination to God (Proverbs 12:22). We know that God never lies (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:16-18), and that Jesus identified Satan as a liar and the source of all lies and "the heart" (a mind of disobedience, rebellion against God) as a motivating factor (Mark 7:20-23). Yet there are Scriptures which indicate that under certain circumstances, lying is not condemned.

Two examples are, first, the actions of the midwives in Egypt who disobeyed Pharaoh’s command to let newborn baby boys die at birth and lied to him when questioned about it, (Exodus 1:15-21). The midwives are not commended for lying, but for refusing to kill because they feared God much more than Pharaoh, verses 20, 21. The second incident is described in Joshua 2:1-7, the story of Rahab hiding the two Israelite spies and telling the king of Jericho that the men had left the city when she had hidden them on her roof. Rahab’s faith in God, not her lies to Pharaoh, Joshua 2:8-14, was honored when she and her family were spared when Jericho was captured by Israelites later on.

Because lifesaving is a higher ethic than truth telling, many believers and unbelievers lied to the Nazis in order to protect thousands of Jews from being captured and exterminated. Other examples of this ethic exist as well. With such exceptions, however, the New Testament holds believers to the highest standard of speaking truth (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9, 10). Revelation 22:14, 15 describes the final word about liars and lying, as John paints a verbal picture of believers as residents of heaven while "outside" are unbelievers including "everyone who loves and practices lying. "The implication is clear. Lying is a serious offense to God.

Are there specific prohibitions in the Bible about smoking?  top

No, not in specific terms but anything that is potentially harmful to our bodies and to the bodies of others becomes an ethical issue. The dangers and harm of second-hand tobacco smoke to the physical body particularly that of a fetus are now proven facts. In addition environmental studies have elevated personal smoking habits in confined spaces to the level of local, state, and federal laws. Lawsuits concerning various issues of smoking are major issues in the courts.

The Scriptures, in I Corinthians 6:19, 20, asks the believer, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." Our actions in this present life are important. It is through actions and attitudes that the soul and the spirit finds expression to the glory of God or the self-centeredness of man.

In Genesis 4:9, Cain asked God this question, "Am I my brother’s keeper?" The answer is found in the issue of love for one another which implies the highest responsibility of concern for another’s welfare, "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his (Cain’s) deeds were evil and his brother’s (Abel) were righteous," (I John 3:11, 12).

Does the Bible approve of slavery?  top

No, because from the beginning, God declared that all humans are created in the image of God, (Genesis 1:27). Paul also declared that "we are the offspring of God," (Acts 17:29) (NKJV), and God "has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth," (Acts 17:26).

In time, however, the institution of slavery became part of Semitic culture. One might become a slave as a war captive, by birth to slave parents, purchase of a thief in order to repay the theft, a debtor unable to pay his debts, or of one who voluntarily became a slave to escape poverty, (Numbers 31:7-9; Exodus 21:4; Exodus 22:3; Leviticus 25:39-53). After six years of service, an Israelite was bound to free an Israelite slave unless that person chose to remain in his service, (Deuteronomy 15:16,17), and slaves were protected from harsh treatment by the Mosaic code, (Exodus 20:10; 21:7-11, 26, 27).

In the New Testament, the Romans used thousands of slaves who were mostly war captives throughout the Roman Empire. Many were highly educated professionals such as teachers, doctors, and administrators. In fact many held very important positions in government.

The Bible treats slavery as a part of existing cultures and does not discuss the morality of ownership of one person by another. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament called for good treatment of slaves by their masters. Believing slaves were told to serve their masters as though they were serving Jesus Himself, (Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22). Divisions of persons according to race, culture, gender, and social class were broken down by Jesus, (Galatians 3:28), and it was Paul’s insistence that believing masters were to treat their believing slaves as brothers (and sisters), (Philemon 16, 17), that replaced the notion of ownership and authority with equality of all persons which undermined the slave system. It was this concept that led to the outlawing of slavery first in England and later in the United States.

What about human cloning? Could a cloned human have a soul?  top

Because God made mankind in His image (Genesis 1:27, 9:6) and, therefore, with dignity and a unique value, cloning humans violates God’s domain and authority. God gave us absolute authority over plants and animals, not human life.

Dolly, the sheep who was successfully cloned after over 200 unsuccessful attempts and the death of several defective clones, lived for a few years, aged prematurely, suffered several ailments, and died recently.

On December 27, 2002, Clonaid, a company affiliated with a religious sect that teaches extraterrestrials created life on earth, announced the clone of a 31-year-old American woman claiming the child had been born by caesarean section the day before. The location of the birth was not published nor has supporting proof been presented since that day.

So far, we know that the cloning procedure for Dolly consisted of removing genetic material from a non-reproductive cell of an adult sheep and then inserting it into a reproductive egg whose own nucleus had been removed. Stimulated to divide by using electrical energy, it ultimately developed into a lamb which became a mature sheep identical to the donor sheep from which the original cell was taken. Named Dolly, she was an exact genetic replica, but, of course, a few years younger.

Appears to be relatively straight forward and harmless doesn’t it? Actually there are several other ethical concerns. Among them is destruction of embryos. Scientists clone embryos that they may obtain stem cells for research into cures for a number of diseases. Is it ethical to destroy a viable embryo in an effort to save another’s life? Also consider this. Although cloning does not require tampering with genetic material, it can lead to manipulation of genetic DNA so that animals and possibly humans with certain, selective genetic code or design are created. That, clearly, would be a violation of God’s reproductive intention.

To answer the second question, there is much debate as to whether or not a cloned human would have a soul. One would think that the answer is "yes" in that many Christian doctors point out that since we know that identical twins each have souls as well as identical chromosome structure, that would be true of a cloned human being.