"Applying Scripture to Ethics"

In many religious traditions Scripture is the basis of living an ethical life. Christianity is no exception, but there is a great deal of variation in how Scripture is interpreted and applied to living the Christian life. In fact, these same differences in interpretation in large part distinguish between the various churches and sects in the Christian church.

The most obvious difference in Scriptural interpretation is whether one takes the Bible literally or not. Even the literalists often make some differentiation between which texts are more important or not, helping them to take positions on Scripture. But by and large if one approaches Scripture on its own merits one is likely to not accept God's ongoing revelation in human history. When approaching any of the contemporary issues in ethics these more literal interpreters will be likely to reject any new stances in Christian ethics.

Those who do not approach Scripture literally allow for God's Word to be reinterpreted to meet new issues in our world today. Although the text of Scripture will be respected as a codification of what human beings inspired by God had to say in a particular way over a period of centuries there will be allowance for new issues in human history for which Scripture needs to be reinterpreted. There will be allowance for a new word from God for today. Scripture will be recontextualized.

In large part this has created the major difference in the approach to homosexuality today. Those who are literalists have taken specific passages and repristinated them for today, allowing for no change. Those who have treated the Word of God as speaking to a new day have centered in on Jesus' approach to people and the difference grace makes, and have applied Scriptures such as Galatians 3 and John 8 as being applicable to people's lives today. Above all there has been an understanding that human beings, inspired by God, did not articulate a specific word for the specific situation for today. It has to be applied.

One interesting thing to consider in relating Scripture to ethics is "what would be the key verse for you in building a Christian ethic?" {If you want to consider this, take five minutes to write down how you would respond and then continue reading.] Whenever I have asked this of students in my ethics classes, usually some of the following passages get mentioned: The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20 and Deut. 5), The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), The parables of Jesus (The Good Samaritan and Prodigal Son), Micah 6:8, Love God and Love Your Neighbor (Matthew 22:34-40), 1 John 4;7-12, Philippians 2:5-11, 2 Corinthians 5;14-22, and 1 Corinthians 13. Now what would be most important for you in building your Christian ethics?

We interpret Scripture, first and foremost, by what passages we prioritize. One passage which I mention somewhere in concluding this discussion is Colossians 3:12-17. This passage communicates to me that everything ultimately is doxological, for the glory of God. Paul concludes in verse 17: "whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." If we just followed this in our lives, wouldn't the world be a better place? Perhaps we would also find more to agree upon than that on which we divide.