COURSE: RLGS 3663
TITLE: Christian Ethics 基督教倫理學

Short Assignment 2

短作業二 (Due: July 27, 2011)

 

細讀下列三個有道德困境的實例,選擇其中一個:(1)引用聖經其他倫理原則去分析這個難題2選擇及解釋你會有何行動。不超過1000字)

 

 

實例(4女權主義:差傳策略

 

一個女傳教士在一個偏僻的部落地區宣教,這初建立的教會需要她的領導,所以她申請被按立,好使她能講道和主持聖禮另一個男傳教士在附近一個山谷工作,他反對按立婦女於是,他決定每週遠離他的工場乘坐危險飛機旅程到女傳教士工場代替她講道,他相信會保佑這種工作,因為重視男女不同角色的神聖次序。女傳教士認為男傳教士入侵和輕視她工場,但男傳教士的行動則基於強烈的信念

你是該宣教工場的領導者,宣教區域主任曾經告訴你,教會通常不按立婦女,但他也認為,在特殊情況下,婦女可以講道和主持聖禮。你應該怎樣做?有讓步的可能嗎?讓步是否會危及重要的原則呢?你如何能肯定屬下的傳教士,也同時維持宣教事工呢?

 

 

實例(5)公民反抗:禁止崇拜

 

你是一個帶職事奉的傳教士,在一個敵視基督教的國家內擔任工程師工作。如果外國基督徒不向當地公民傳福音,則政府會容忍他們;但如果當地公民由國教改信基督教,政府就嚴重迫害。有時,視乎當地法官的興緻,政府會將基督徒的孩子取去;有些基督徒甚至為信仰獻出了生命。許多基督徒住在鄉村,他們秘密地以小組聚會,也秘密和其他信徒通訊。最近,有些人研讀了使徒行傳四章和五章,認為他們不應再隱瞞自己的信仰。他們散佈消息說,他們將在兩週後在城外的河邊舉行公眾洗禮儀式,然後開始定期在那裏舉行主日崇拜。他們完全準備接受迫害。

因為你是成熟的基督徒,也經過神學訓練,當地的基督徒咨詢你的意見。你應該建議你的朋友(有一些已婚並有兒女)積極參加公民反抗,出席洗禮聚會呢?抑或建議他們取消聚會呢?

 

 

實例(6)死刑:謀殺犯成為傳福音者

 

凱利因綁架、強姦和謀殺兩個8歲的女孩被判處死刑。當年他20歲,是他第一次暴力犯罪。判處之後,他在監獄參加查經小組而成為基督徒。他承認自己應受死刑,但他亦准許自己的律師申請將死刑改為終生監禁。他多年在監獄期間,獲得極大的喜樂而開始為基督作見證,並在基督教雜誌發表了兩篇文章。他承諾只要他活著,會在監獄中繼續做福音事工。經過六年的訴訟和幾次死刑延期,最後他坐了電椅。

如果謀殺犯真正懺悔,是否應和不後悔的犯人有不同的處分呢?為什麼?對於今日,聖經是否教導說,謀殺犯必須被處死呢?抑或只是允許的和可選釋的?還是完全不能接受的呢?

 

 

 

ENGLISH VERSION BELOW

 

Study the following 3 controversial ethical cases and select ONE. (1) Analyze the case using Biblical and other ethical principles, and (2) select and explain a course of action that you would take. (up to 1000 Chinese words)

 

 

CASE 4: Feminism: Missionary strategy.

 

A woman serves as a missionary in a remote tribal region. The fledgling church in her care needs leadership, so she seeks ordination in order to preach and give the sacraments. Another missionary in the next valley, however, opposes ordination for women. So he decides to take hazardous plane rides to the women’s area, taking time away from his duties, so he can preach for the woman. He believes God will bless the mission if it honors the divine order for male and female roles. The woman believes the man is intruding and trivializing her ministry but the man is acting out of strong convictions.

 

You are the field leader for the mission. The regional missions director told you that the church does not normally ordain women, but he also thinks that in unusual circumstances, women can preach and give the sacraments. What should you do? Are concessions possible or would they compromise important principles? How can you best affirm your missionaries and preserve the ministry?

 

 

CASE 5: Civil disobedience: Forbidden worship.

 

You are a “tentmaker” missionary, working as an engineer in a country hostile to Christianity. The government tolerates foreign Christians if they do not evangelize citizens of the country, but the authorities severely persecute citizens who convert from the national religion. At times, depending on the whim of local judges, the state takes children away from their Christian parents. Some Christians have even given their lives for their faith. While many Christian citizens live in the country, they meet covertly in small groups and communicate with other believers secretly. Recently some became convinced, through a study of Acts 4 and 5, that they should no longer hide their faith. They have spread the word that in two weeks they will conduct a public baptism ceremony by the river outside the city as the beginning of a regular Sunday service schedule on the site. They are fully prepared to accept persecution.

 

Because of your theological education and maturity, the national Christians in your city look to you for counsel. Should you advise your friends, some of whom are married with children, to engage in active civil disobedience by attending this baptismal service, or should you advise against it?

 

 

CASE 6: Capital punishment: Murderer turns evangelist.

 

Robert Kelly was sentenced to death for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of two 8-year-old girls. He was 20 at the time, and this was his first violent crime. After his conviction, he became a Christian through the ministry of a prison Bible-study group. Admitting that he deserved to die for his crime, he nevertheless allowed his attorneys to seek life imprisonment for him instead of execution. During his years in prison he found great joy in testifying for Christ. Christian magazines published two of his articles. He committed himself to an evangelistic ministry in prison for as long as he lived. After six years on death row and several stays of execution, however, he went to the electric chair.

 

Should cases of genuinely repentant murderers be treated differently from those who show no remorse? Why? Do the Scriptures teach that the death penalty is mandatory for murderers today, permissible but optional, or totally unacceptable?