While I want to use my spiritual gift to serve God, I also know the seriousness of being a teacher in church. Jas 3:1 says: “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” If I teach something wrong which leads anyone of you to have wrong beliefs or, even worse, to commit sinful actions, I am partially responsible. I then will be judged for that on Judgment Day.
Yes, I will be judged. But you, each one of you, will be judged too. Remember the story in the first class? Let me repeat.
STORY: On Judgment�h Day, a man approaches the
judgment throne. God shows him a long list in red letters and asks him, “You said
you are a Christian, but why have you persistently and unrepentantly committed
all these sins violating my commandments?” The person replies, “Sorry, God, I
have no knowledge about your commandments. I would have followed if I knew
about them. Can I be pardoned because of my ignorance?” What do you think God’s
answer will be?
Questions about morality are very serious and have great impact on your whole life. The problem, however, is that when we are faced with moral decisions that have serious consequences, our emotions may often cripple our reasoning and we may make grave mistakes as a result. It is therefore important that you think through the principles of many ethical questions when you are in full control of yourself, like in this class.
My only wish is that this class has provided you with some general guidelines so that you can make correct moral decisions that are always pleasing to God.
TEST ANSWERS
1. BBDBD CDACC
2. ADBAD AAAAA
3. BBDAB BBBBB
4. BCCCC CCDCC
a summary of issues with opposing views
[Augustine in his City of God describes two cities or the two invisible but opposing societies in the world. The City of God is the community of true Christians living according to God’s law. The City of Man is the pagan society following its own desires and seeking material gain. Christianity & secular humanism are these two cities and are entirely opposite in many ethical issues.]
|
Issue |
Christianity |
Secular humanism |
|
Basic position |
There is a God and man is subject to the rule of God. |
There is no God and “man is the measure of all things.” (man is God) |
|
Origin of morality |
Moral rules are based on the commandments of God. Moral rules are absolute and do not change with time & culture (ethical absolutism). |
Moral rules are created by man. There are no absolute moral rules; they are relative and change with time & culture (ethical relativism) |
|
View on life |
a culture of life; pro-life |
a culture of death; pro-choice, anti-life |
|
Abortion |
abortion is killing of the innocent who has the right to life, acceptable only to save the life of the mother |
mothers have the right to freedom and the right to choice to decide whether they want to kill the baby or not |
|
Euthanasia |
sanctity of life above quality of life; reject euthanasia & suicide |
quality of life above sanctity of life; support right to die |
|
Church & state |
state not to establish church, but state needs to recognize church and supports its moral stance and allows religious activities |
total separation in order to exclude God from all public institutions, children will be educated in a godless culture, restrict religious freedom |
|
Human rights |
rights originated from humans as image of God; everyone is equal; against unlimited pursuit of rights |
misinterpret equality rights to mean every distinct human charateristic is equal in value and must be accepted and treated equally (including sins) |
|
Feminism |
support traditional feminists’ goals of reaching equality with men |
often support radical feminists’ anti-family, anti-tradition goals |
|
Political correctness |
avoid offending people, but continue to object what is sinful |
push tolerance and diversity to the extreme in order to suppress religious freedom |
|
Marriage & Divorce |
Marriage is a life-long commitment; divorce is restricted |
marriage is for convenience; divorce allowed for any reasons |
|
Children |
support parental rights; parents to decide how children are educated |
support children’s rights; sexual independence of children |
|
Extra-marital sex |
all extra-marital sex is immoral |
total sexual freedom for everyone and for every orientation |
|
Homosexuality |
homosexuality is against the laws of God and is a sin |
homosexuality is a sexual preference and should be fully accepted |
|
Environment |
mankind as stewards of God to rule over environment; support reduction of pollution and conservation of resources |
mankind as part of the environment; support radical environmentalists to use terrorism to stop development in nature |