Ethics in Scripture Goals: Students will understand the moral framework of the Christian ethical...

Ethics in ScriptureGoals: • Students will understand the moral framework of

the Christian ethical system by understanding key concepts within the narrative of salvation history.

Essential Questions: • What does it mean to live a Christian life? • What does it mean not to worship false idols in

today’s society? • Who is our neighbor? Understandings: • That “it is not by strength that one prevails.” (1

Samuel 2:9). • That the Christian ethical system is an extension of

the ethics put forth in the Hebrew Scriptures. • That the Judeo-Christian ethical framework depends

upon the redemption of the oppressed. • That the modern-day Western ethical framework

depends heavily on Judeo-Christian ethical thought. • That our “neighbors” include everyone, particularly

the most marginalized.

Case Study

• What kind of spiritual, psychological or emotional problems are Jonathan manifesting?

• If you were Jonathan’s parents, what would you do? • Imagine you were Jonathan’s closest friend, and

Jonathan’s parents came to you, asking for advice. What do you say?

• Is Jonathan simply growing up? Or is the wide-eyed optimism that Jonathan has been losing a good trait?

The Magnificat: Luke 1: 46-55 My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.

Salvation History

• The story of the salvation of God’s People from the Creation to the Resurrection of Jesus.

• This story is interconnected.

Creation Covenant Fulfillment of Covenant

The Magnificat: Luke 1: 46-55 My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.

Hannah’s PrayerMy heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed. The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength. Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry are hungry no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.

The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; on them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness.

It is not by strength that one prevails;

those who oppose the LORD will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.

Mary and Hannah

• What similarities do we see in these two prayers? • Why might the author of Luke want to show Mary

as being similar to Hannah? • Who was Hannah?• Jesus as the new Samuel. Why?• Samuel was a “judge” and prophet

who led Israel to victory despite overwhelming odds

• It is not by strength that one prevails.

It is not by strength that one prevails.

• In your notebooks, list 3 people who, in modern times, have embodied this ethic.

It is not by strength that one prevails.

Oscar Romero

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EXXXq6W8Ds&feature=related

• It is not through strength that we prevail. • Would Hannah say that Romero prevailed?

How? Why?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk

• It is not by strength that we prevail. • Would Hannah say that King prevails? How?

Why?• Whom does King reference when

he says “promised land” and “I’ve been to the mountaintop?”

Moses

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TAtRCJIqnk

• Who was Moses?

10 Commandmants

• Get into 10 small groups. • You will each be assigned a

Commandment, for which you will answer the following questions in your notebooks:

10 Commandmants

• What does this commandment mean? (Define any terms that may not be familiar to the entire class.)

• Has the meaning of this commandment changed today? If so, how?

• Do you believe in this commandment? Why or why not?

• What might be challenging or difficult about obeying this commandment today? How would following or obeying this commandment be rewarding?

10 Commandments

• Do you think the 10 Commandments are good rules to follow today?

• Is this a violation of the separation of Church and State, as outlined in the First Amendment?

• Which commandments are reflected in current laws? • Which ones are most commonly followed or believed by

most Americans, but may not be reflected in a formal law?

• What’s missing? What immoral actions are not included in the Ten Commandments?

10 Commandments

• Let’s come up with 10 Commandments that should be obeyed in our current society.

• What do you think should be in there? • Write in your notebooks.

For Homework:

• For day 3: Read and outline in your notebooks the book of Amos

• For day 4: Read “Losing Moses on the Freeway” chapter 1. Write in your notebooks any sentences or paragraphs that may stick out to you.

Amos: A Background

• Reheboam (son of Solomon) become king. • He is a bad king. • Raises taxes and live lavishly. • He says of his father, Solomon, “My little

finger is thicker than my father’s loins.”

Amos: A Background

• Kingdom just split into two. What were those two kingdoms?

• Why did they split? • Judah stayed true to the

Davidic line; Israel did not. • Jerusalem stays in Judah. • Reheboam rules Judah.

Amos: A Background

• Israel (northern kingdom) falls to invasion by Assyria.

• The city of Jerusalem (the tribe of Benjamin) stayed with the southern kingdom (Judah).

Amos

• “For three sins of ______, maybe four, I will not turn back my wrath.”

• According to Amos, which commandments are the people of Israel breaking?

• What non-commandment sins are they commiting?

• Exodus 22: 21-27

Amos

• Do we break these commandments today? • Do we take special care of the widow? • Of the orphan? • Of the migrant?

Amos

• “For three sins of Israel, maybe four, I will not turn back {my wrath}. They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed. (2:6-7)

• What is the ethical lens here?

Amos

• Do we sell the needy for a pair of sandals? • Check your shoe brand right now. Is there

slavery somewhere in their production line?

Amos

• What are some signs of luxury in Amos’ time for which he castigates Judah?

• Amos 6:4-7

• What are some signs of luxury today? • What would Amos say to us?

Ethics in Christian Scriptures

• Eschatological role-reversal

• Kingdom of God• Strength through faith

in God• Neighbor• Nonviolence• Radical forgiveness• Generosity

The Beatitudes

• Comes from Latin “beatus,” meaning blessed, or fortunate.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3gfMakdlHo

• http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5&version=NASB

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

• Plousios: the rich, gentry class. – Did not need to work. – Used time for leisure, politics, and

education• Penetes: Working poor– Had to do manual labor

• Ptōchos: Destitute, beggar, “untouchables.” – Has nothing, not even family.

Class System at the time of Jesus

Aristocracy (1-2%)

Retainer class: (5-7%): Priests, police, tax

collectors)

Merchant class (75%): Fishermen, farmers, merchants.

Ptōchos (15%): Beggars, prostitutes, cripples, criminals, all of whom lived in the hedges outside

of the city.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

• Matthew uses “ptwcoi tw pneumati)• “Poor in spirit”. • What do you think that means?• Beaten-down• Hopeless • Like Patrick and Tyrone• Nogales• Who are they today?

Class System Today?

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

• Or kingdom of God• What do you think this means?• Who? What? When? Where? How?

• Invokes the Psalms and Proverbs• Main difference is the timing of

the reward. • Wisdom books offer immediate assistance• Matthew and Luke promise assistance in

the end times.

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

• Eschatalogical role-reversal• Eschatology: the study of the end

times.• Not scatology: the study of feces. • Eschaton = Apocalypse, or end

times

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven

• God will uplift the ptochos. • The Kingdom offers hope to the

hopeless. • The life of the plousios to the

ptōchos. • The ptōchos, simply by being in

their condition, are blessed, chosen by God.

• Is this a place where you want to go?

3 Characteristics of the Kingdom

• Joy• Peace– Shalom– Not just the absence of violence– But right relationship with God

• Justice– One cannot be joyful if others are

suffering

Beatitudes

• Those who mourn will be comforted. • The meek (‘anāwîm = ptōchos) will inherit the earth. – Praus: Those whose strength comes from God– Psalm 37:11

• Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will see God.

• The merciful will receive mercy. – Prov. 14: 21, 17:5– God blesses those who are kind to the poor

Beatitudes

• The pure of heart will see God.• Psalm 24:3-4 • “Ascend the hill of the LORD”

• Peacemakers will be called sons of God (the angels).

• Persecuted righteousness’ sake, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Links with 1st and 3rd Beatitude

• Those who are persecuted will receive a great reward.

Beatitudes

• What does this say about how to live a Christian life in Jesus’ time?

• Today?• How do we become blessed?

Neighbor• What was the purpose of the 10

commandments? • The idea of neighbor is different for

Jesus. • http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtisLGW48OU • http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?

search=Luke+10&version=NIV • Looking at the literature, how does Jesus

approach set up the story?• Who is your neighbor today? What do you do

about it?

Nonviolence

• “Eye for an eye”: The law of retaliation– Done to avoid the escalation of

violence• “Turn the other Cheek.” – Avoids backhand.

• Forces aggressor into an act of violence, rather than an act of insult.

• Not passivity; active nonviolence

Nonviolence

• Shirt/Coat. • One wore two garments– Chiton (worn next to the body)– Himation (the outer garment).

• If a person takes one of your garments, you are shamed, as you can’t take care of yourself.

• If you give them both, they are shamed.

Nonviolence

• Whoever forces you to go one mile, go two with him.

• Roman soldiers could legally press civilians into service, but only for 1 mile. – Simon of Cyrene

• Going two miles makes it your choice.

Radical Forgiveness

• Prodigal Son: Lectio Divina. • Best. Video. Ever. • http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=anseOj33vss&feature=related

• Matthew 18:22: 7 times? No 77 times– Reference to Genesis 4:24– Lamech wished to be avenged 77 times. – Self-centered focus vs. Selfless focus.

Generosity