ETH-201
Christian Ethics
Applying biblical moral principles to real, often difficult modern questions, reasoning from Scripture rather than cultural consensus in either direction.
Topics: Moral reasoning, Applied ethics
Suggested resource: Work through case studies drawn from real pastoral situations you've encountered or heard about.
Week 1: A Biblical Framework for Moral Reasoning
Reading: Micah 6:6–8; Romans 12:1–2
Micah answers, in one of Scripture's most quoted verses, the question of what God actually requires when religious ritual alone isn't enough: “he hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (6:8). Christian ethics reasons from that kind of biblical moral logic, God's own character, the value of human beings made in His image, and the pattern of Christ's own life, rather than starting from secular philosophical systems or simple cultural consensus in either direction. Paul adds the mechanism by which this actually happens: “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2) — ethical clarity isn't primarily about memorizing more rules, it's about a mind genuinely being renewed so that discerning God's will becomes increasingly natural.
A helpful framework asks three questions of any ethical issue: what does Scripture directly say, what biblical principles apply even where Scripture doesn't speak directly, and what does love for God and neighbor require in this specific situation.
Key terms: Micah 6:8 (justice, mercy, humility), Romans 12:2's renewed mind, Direct command vs. principle, Love as the interpretive key
Discussion Questions
- Where have you seen someone reason toward an ethical conclusion primarily from cultural consensus rather than Scripture, in either direction?
- What would it look like, practically, for your mind to be 'renewed' in the way Romans 12:2 describes, rather than just following more rules?
Challenge: Pick one contested ethical question and work through it using the three-question framework above, quoting Micah 6:8 as your starting point.
Week 2: Case Studies in Pastoral Ethics
Reading: Practical exercise — no reading assigned
Real pastoral ministry constantly presents specific, often difficult ethical situations that don't come with an obvious verse attached, financial disputes, confidentiality conflicts, questions about how to handle a member's serious moral failure. Working through real or realistic case studies, rather than only abstract principles, builds the actual judgment a minister needs, since knowing a principle in the abstract doesn't guarantee knowing how to apply it wisely under pressure with real people involved.
Key terms: Case-study method, Judgment under pressure, Applying principle to specific people
Discussion Questions
- Think of a real ethical situation you've witnessed in ministry. How would you apply this course's framework to it?
Challenge: Write out one realistic pastoral ethics case study from your own experience or observation, and work through how you would handle it.
Week 3: Ethics and Public Ministry
Reading: Practical exercise — no reading assigned
Publishing teaching content publicly, as you already do, raises its own ethical questions: financial transparency around anything you sell, honesty about your own qualifications and limits, and care in how you represent other people, traditions, or organizations you discuss or critique. Holding yourself to a clear, stated ethical standard in your public ministry work protects both the people you serve and your own long-term credibility and integrity.
Key terms: Financial transparency in ministry products, Honesty about qualifications, Fair representation of others
Discussion Questions
- What ethical standards do you already hold yourself to in your public ministry work, and are any of them worth writing down formally?
Challenge: Write a short, personal ethical statement for your own public ministry and content work.
Course Exam
Five questions for review or self-testing.
Q: What three questions does this course's ethical framework ask?
Reveal Answer
What Scripture directly says, what principles apply where it doesn't speak directly, and what love for God and neighbor requires.
Q: Why use real or realistic case studies in pastoral ethics?
Reveal Answer
Knowing a principle abstractly doesn't guarantee knowing how to apply it wisely under real pressure.
Q: What ethical issue does publishing ministry content publicly raise?
Reveal Answer
Financial transparency, honesty about qualifications, and fair representation of others.
Q: What should Christian ethics avoid reasoning primarily from?
Reveal Answer
Cultural consensus alone, in either a conservative or progressive direction.
Q: What's a practical output of this course?
Reveal Answer
A short, personal ethical statement for your own public ministry work.