Doing Right: Ethically, Morally, and Legally

Doing Right: Ethically, Morally, and Legally

Introduction

Actually to discuss this topic opens the door even for Christians to discuss what actually serves as the bedrock standard for doing right: ethically, morally, and legally. More often than naught it brings charges of legalism (an over-abused term) or its converse license. Christians are actually commanded and exhorted to do good (right). Our example for these references is found in the small epistle written by the apostle Peter. But even to use these epistle as the basis implies or presupposes my standard for doing right is God's self-revelation of himself in the Bible. It does touch or bear directly into issues such as the scriptures claims of authority and sufficiency. Consider a sampling as follows,

"For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people." (1 Peter 2:15)(ESV)

"having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will than for doing evil." (1 Peter 3:16-17)(ESV)

"Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." (1 Peter 4:19)(ESV)

For Christians to do what is good or right requires a standard. For the Christian, that unchanging standard is the Bible. Unfortunately many today are swept along with whatever standard is produced, endorsed, and punished by the prevailing culture. And yes, this ever-changing standard even for many Christians is simply their own experiences and feelings. To begin a series on this topic I would like to consider also some of following definitions for these terms. What is moral, ethical, or even legal? To be honest, even using advanced search engines for the Biblical text such as Logos, there just aren't pages of Biblical references to terms such as ethical, moral, and legal. So principles and inferences, (yes, proof texting even), might be a better option unless we simply want to resort to imposing the Moral Law (not sure that went to well in the early years for the Pilgrims and those first winters). 

Ethics as defined by The Dictionary of Theological Terms by Alan Cairns is "the science of morals." He goes on to elaborate in terms of human action: "motive" "standard" and "purpose." These three identifications he extracts from Cornelius Van Til. Barrett defines ethics in a similar manner, "the rules or standards that govern conduct." (Complete in Him: A Guide to understanding and Enjoying the Gospel by Michael P. V. Barrett, Appendix 4, p. 295). To add a third source, ethics is "the area of philosophical and theological inquiry into what constitutes right and wrong, that is, morality." (Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, by. Grenz, Guertzki, and Nordling, p. 47). Simply put the study of ethics helps us to evaluate both thoughts and actions which can be viewed as morally right and wrong.

If ethics is to involve what is moral then where can we find a standard for morals? Whatever it means to be moral is important. Cairns writes, "the moral law embodies divine directives by which God commands ... both in private and in public life." (Chariots of God: God's Law in relation to the Cross and the Christian, Alan Cairns, p. 28). I would like to expand on this definition. The moral law or even God's will for us today is found in the entirety of the 66 books found in the scriptures. If this is so true and simple then why do Christians disagree on ethical, moral, and even legal issues? Perhaps in a society with rights and privileges we as Americans don't understand having no privileges or rights. Just to complicate the matter, add in concepts such as "world view" and the individual "conscience" of each person.  

Applications to Consider

As we begin this series simply consider some examples. Where would YOU personally place them? Are there ethical, moral or even legal issues found in these examples? I am deliberately picking these examples because they are current and potentially future realities Christians can or do face.

First, should Christians obey the speed limit? Simple right? Have far above it is okay? Late for work, pregnant wife, wasn't paying attention, conscience issues, etc...? Try explaining obedience to a child who sees the speed limit sign "55 MPH." Doesn't that solve the problem? Does everyone perfectly do this? Why or why not?

Second, should I show up late for work or early? Standing around staring at you iphone (texts, emails, facebook) on work time? How about extra breaks? Longer lunches? What place do the state and federal employment policies have a say? Pay rates, injuries, and other related issues abound, but at what point do these items become issues?

Third, should Christians turn in or hand over their firearms if the government bans all firearms (not just "assault weapons" but revolvers, center fire, rim fire, muzzle loaders, etc...). No more hunting, self-defense period, not even a butter knife. Even the most peacefully and meek-appearing individual get their hackles all bent out of shape over topics like this. Imagine it as a reality--look at foreign countries where this is real. 

We could go on and one. Kids shots, doctor visits, schooling, records, military service, registering for the selective service, social security numbers, and more.... I am beginning to wonder whether some of these issues are simply character flaws or are they conscience issues? I would suggest a great many of these simply are conscience issues. You and I may disagree simply because they are not (or maybe they are) ethical, moral, and legal issues.   

Feel free to comment. I'll be working on this series for a while. 

Bless Your Beautiful Hide:Morality, Ethics and Musicals

Bless Your Beautiful Hide: Morality, Ethics and Musicals
(Seven Brides for Seven Brothers)

I heard a guy tell me once that this was the only musical that they could tolerate watching.  This definitely leans toward the masculine side of musicals (at least in my opinion).  Chopping wood, cabins, hunting, shooting, fighting, singing, dancing, and men taking the initiative to get a wife.




If you've not seen this one before then here's a quick overview.  There are seven brothers named by the first seven letters of the alphabet (in birth order): Adam, Benjamin, Caleb, Dan, Ephraim, Frank and Gideon.  Anyway the oldest brother Adam goes to town and finds a wife (Millie) who apparently falls for him at first sight.  He says she's the one: attractive, works hard, and she can cook.
He brings her home and she must "clean up" the other six brothers.  This includes good manners, clean clothes, and of course how to find a girl (which, includes learning to dance).  AND NO FIGHTING!!!  Which doesn't last very long, but they tried.

Anyway, the six brothers meet six girls, raise a barn, fight all the guys in town, win and go home empty-handed.  They sit around and think about the girls which spawns Adam's idea to go and kidnap the girls they had fallen for back in town.  So goes plot.  They go and take the girls.  It turns out really bad since the girls didn't like that idea.  But after months of isolation and winter the girls turn their gaze toward the guys.  Spring happens and Millie has a child.  Meanwhile, Adam has run off and is having a pity-party in the hunting cabin alone.  He comes back as well as the men from town to get back their daughters.  Musical ends with the six girls marrying the six brothers (at gun point).

Well, let's dive into some of the weeds related to morality and ethics.  The opening song sets the pace for eldest brother Adam.  He wants the perfect bride: works hard, physically attractive, and interestingly enough "sassy, as can be." Interesting combination.  He wins his wife (Millie) with deception.  She thinks she is marrying a man who lives alone on a farm (he seems to skip the part of also having six brothers in the same house).  She even sings about it but he seems to skip this fact again when she talks of cooking for only one man.



So let's pick on some of the issues.  These are a few of the moral and ethical issues that came to mind.

Constant fighting.  Throughout the movie this must be a right of passage for this family.  They fight with each other (in and outside of the kitchen), with the town folk, and with everyone at the barn raising scene. I'm all for self-defense and of course as a field grade Army officer, an appropriate application of just war theory to include but not limited to defensive war and preemptive strikes. Millie does here best to reform them with some manners and common courtesies.



Adam's little pity party and running away. Adam runs away and stays by himself at a far off hunting cabin. Basically, a little pity party of his own. This departure relates to the next scene.  He unfortunately is the catalyst for that problem too.  But I guess someone might blame the books they read.  Some even might want to ban horse and buggies for being an accomplice.  Hmm. This sounds familiar.  Ban the books and make it illegal to own books. It's the books fault.



Sobbin women scene--stealing brides. The six remaining brothers go to town and kidnap the six girls they previously met at a barn raising scene.  Of course, they got in a fight, danced, and went home. Anyway they kidnapped the girls and took them back home.  This is the catalyst that guides the remainder of the film.  Guys and girls stuck on the same homestead all winter long (at least till spring) when Millie has her baby. During this time the guys and girls really do fall for each other.



Deceit of girls at end with marriage resulting. After winter passes the dads and town folk come to the homestead to take the girls back home. One problem--the girls don't want to leave. When cornered the group hears a baby crying, but don't know who the mom and dad are.  So all the girls claim the baby is their own.  Result--the dad's force all the brothers to marry their daughters at gun point.



There are other tid bits here and there but these are just some thoughts to chew on for a while. I enjoyed the singing as always.  I especially enjoy Adam's opening solo which is the title of this article, "Bless your Beautiful Hide."



Enjoy!!
Thoughts and comments as always encouraged.

I wish, I wish, I wish: In the Woods (Musicals, Ethics, and Morality)

I wish, I wish, I wish: In the Woods (Musicals, Ethics, and Morality)



This musical is truly an odd one indeed.  It appeared as a musical on the big screen in 2014.  This one is of particular interest since it has been selected as the musical for my children's participation next summer (2018).  It made its stage debut in the mid-1980s.  Our family has viewed this musical in three different formats: one, junior high stage; two, high school stage; and three, on the theatrical version in 2014.

In case you haven't seen this one, try to image a combination (literally) of story lines from Cinderella, Jack and Bean Stock (including a giant or two), Rapunzel (and a witch), Little Red Riding Hood (with a wolf), and a baker and his wife (childless).  How odd a combination.

So what drives the plot?  What would you do if what you wished for came true?  Would you still make that wish?  What about everyone else too? Try throwing all theses plot lines together in one big musical.  And oh by the way, the setting is in the woods (hence, the name for the musical).

Just for review.  Let's go over the plots again.  Cinderella: wicked step-mother with two snotty step-sisters and Cinderella in a house together.  The prince holds a ball and they all want to go.  Cinderella too. Girl meet prince and they live happily ever after.  Wrong!! Not in this musical.  Just wait till you see it (if not already).  There is a very similar twist with the others as well.  Jack got some magic beans for his cow, threw them in the ground creating a bean stalk.  He climbs it steals a harp and golden-egg laying goose, and finally, chops down the bean stalk and kills the giants who falls down.  Red riding hood is going to grandmas house with some goodies in a basket.  Meets a roof along the way who is later at grandma's house (full with big teeth, eyes, and ears).  He proceeds to eat grandma and Red.  Woodsman comes in and saves the day.  No more wolf.

Well, let's move on to the issues.  For an unbeliever, it may be no big deal, but morality and ethics matter.  More importantly, the source or foundation for ethical and moral decision making is paramount.  In this film (musical), morality and ethics are almost are relative as you can imagine.  In fact, the individual person sets their own rules of good and evil (while in the woods).

Its hard to say too much without ruining the plot and ending.  The focus of the movie is the baker and his wife wanting a child.  Their home however is cursed and childless because his dad stole some magic beans (hint, hint) from a witch, who just happened to take the baker's sister as a child and lock her in a tower (she just happens to have long hair and a familiar name).  The witch tells them they can have a child if they are willing to gather some items for her within a three day period: A cape, red as blood; hair, yellow as corn; a milky white cow; and and a golden slipper (not glass).  You can see now where all these plot lines will cross paths.

The musical changes scenes as the baker and his wife interact with these other plots.  This includes lying, cheating, stealing, or whatever it takes to give these items to the witch so they can have a child (supposedly removing the curse).  The latter half of the musical expands on the lack of morality as expressed "in the woods."  This includes blaming others, more deception, death, infidelity, and of course more deception.

Thoughts and comments as always encouraged.
Discernment is needed with all musicals and every form of cultural engagement.