Modern ethics...
Ethics: "moral principles that govern a person's or
group's behavior."
Philosophy professor at the University of Wisconsin,
Lester H. Hunt, said, "Ancient ethics is a theory of normal life, while
modern ethics, by comparison, is a theory of life in crisis. It aims at sorting
out the conflicting reasons for different courses of action that come into our
heads when we face difficult decisions, declaring which reasons are more
important or fundamental and which are less important or, indeed, not good
reasons at all."
In other words, we're always trying to figure out what
we're supposed to do, why we're supposed to do whatever it is we're supposed to
do and how we're going to do it. Ethics are those beliefs-in-action that guide
our reasons for doing something or not doing something.
Most of us are interested in doing "what's
right" (as the saying goes), so we want to develop personal ethics that
lead to doing "what's right".
I'm concerned that any of us might live by ancient or
modern ethics. Each is flawed, if Mr. Hunt's definition is to be trusted, that
is. "Normal life..." to mankind is self-centered and full of
licentiousness. Determining what to do while one's life is "...in
crisis..." and deciding on what action is "right" based on what
quell's the crisis equates to mob ethics. That's how we turn things like
frustrated protest into stealing-burning-riotous destruction -- you know,
because so many were doing it, it seemed "right."
Me? I prefer timeless wisdom and holiness in shaping my
ethics. The Proverb writer got it. Timeless wisdom calls out, saying, "To
you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn
prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from
my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is
an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is
nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who
understands, and right to those who find knowledge." (Proverbs 8:4-9 ESV)
Such wisdom is neither modern nor ancient; it has existed
with God since before time began: "The LORD possessed [wisdom] at the
beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old." (Proverbs 8:22 ESV)
So, let us be wise and let wisdom shape our ethics! The
Proverbist continues, "And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those
who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed
is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my
doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, but he
who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death."
(Proverbs 8:32-36 ESV)
We should not learn our ethics from what is
"normal" to man, for surely, we will be fools. We should not learn
our ethics from what quells or answers "crisis" simply for the sake
of quieting the problem, for that may lead us to peace with the crowd and
disturbance with God at the same time. The Psalmist would put it like this:
" Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor
stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight
is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night."
(Psalm 1:1-2 ESV)
Friend, let us seek to shape
our ethics by God's word and God's wisdom as we walk in God's ways. Let us
disdain any lesser path.
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