The Particularity

Of Christian Morality

The Particularity of Christian Morality

“Does Christianity offer a

distinctive way of life different from and superior to all others? Do Christian norms of behavior apply equally to all people? Or

only to Christians?”

The Particularity of Christian Morality

“Is the Christian life universal or particular?”

The Particularity of Christian Morality

Christians claim a particular source for their understanding of how they should live, and the source

is our Jesus Christ.

The Particularity of Christian Morality

Christian moral teaching can make no claim upon those

who do not share the fundamental convictions upon which it is based.

The Particularity of Christian Morality

Why be good?Because the God is revealed in Jesus Christ, the God who loves us and forgives us, and the God who saves us from sin and death

has called us to his LOVE AND SERVICE.

The Particularity of Christian Morality

Christian Moral Teaching

The Particularity of Christian Morality1. Christian moral teaching is

Particularistic. What is good? The basic good is

love, because God is love. Because God has called us to love one another. These statements are not ethical arguments, they are religious convictions they will have little persuasive power for people who do not believe in the first place.

The Particularity of Christian Morality

Christians believe that Christ is Lord, not just for the Church,

but for all. Christ is the head of the whole human race.

The Particularity of Christian Morality

“God’s will is not just for Christians but for all humankind; his love embraces all. Love is not

just a particular demand upon Christian believers; it is

fundamental underlying principle of unity in all creation.”

— F.D Maurice

The Particularity of Christian Morality

2. Christian moral teaching is or can claim to be universal.

Christians believe that we are called to be and to do what God wants all people everywhere to be and do. Christian principles, which are grounded on the principle of love and justice, can be supported by others outside the community of faith in normal, if not on religious grounds.

The Particularity of Christian Morality

3. We, Christians need to recognize the rights of other people to oppose our ethical views, even those views which we think should commend themselves to all people.

We live in an ethically pluralistic culture. We can properly claim the right to follow our own moral convictions, but we must at the same time, accord that right to other persuasions.

Christian Ethical

Perspective

Christian Ethical Perspective

Christian Anthropology

Christian Ethical Perspective

Christian Anthropology is a doctrine that establishes the

moral status: ‘God has made us in his own

image.’ We have been making our own moral choices. We can choose whom or what we shall serve.

The Doctrine

of Original Sin

The Doctrine of Original Sin

“Surely I was sinful at birth,    sinful from the time my mother

conceived me.”– Psalms 51:5

The Doctrine of Original Sin

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world and death by

sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

– Romans 5:12

The Doctrine of Original Sin

“Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation;even so by the righteousness of one

the free gift came upon all men.For as by man’s obedience many were made

sinners, so by the obedience of oneshall many be made righteous.”

– Romans 5:18-19

The Doctrine of Original Sin

Augustine’s Argument goes as follows:

The church is baptizing infants.

The Doctrine of Original Sin

“For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or

evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand,

not of works, but of Him that calleth” – Romans 9:11

The Doctrine of Original Sin

The Church today is to distinguish between the good and the not so

good in Augustine’s teaching.

The Doctrine of Original Sin

The center of Christianity is not the moral law but the Gospel.

The Doctrine of Original Sin

The Cross is the symbol of the terrifying power of human sinfulness.

The Risen Lord is the sign of God’s grace and power that overcomes sin

and death.

The Doctrine of Original Sin

For us Christians, the moral life is our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God for that

salvation which is given to us.

The Doctrine of Original SinThere is then this

TWO-SIDED VIEW OF HUMANITY:

1. It recognizes the fact of sinfulness, but

2. denies that this is the last word to be said.

The Doctrine of Original Sin The image of God makes our freedom

operative, even though it is limited and distorted by sin.

We have the capacity for both good and evil: therefore we have responsibility for our own moral choices.

And most of all, we have available to us the grace and forgiveness of God when we fail and repent of our evil ways.