What Are Ethics?

Ethics refers to the branch of philosophy that deals with questions about what is morally right and wrong, good and bad, fair and unfair. Essentially, it's the study of how people ought to behave, both as individuals and as members of society.

In contemporary society, people have expectations when interacting with one another. These expectations include ethical standards between parties, whether it involves agreements reached, information provided or even casual conversations. Typically, in any relationship, there is an assumed level of ethical and moral treatment, but the standards of ethics and morals can vary greatly, depending on the group.

In this article, ethics and morals will be examined from the perspective of the Christian faith, which is typically thought of as a life of ethical and moral thoughts and actions. These values are defined in the Bible, where God, who is love, is the ultimate source of ethics and morals.

The Christian faith, as presented in the New Testament, offers a life filled with joy and satisfaction. When individuals become Christians, they enjoy a unique relationship with God through Jesus Christ. New believers receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, who guides them into all truth (John 16:13). By patterning their lives after Christ, Christians embrace the ethics and morals taught in the Bible and are reinforced by the Holy Spirit. This lifestyle is transformative and becomes one of service and giving.

In this article:

• What Does it Mean To Be Ethical?
• What are Morals?
• The Difference Between Morals and Ethics
• Biblical Applications
• Pursue the Challenge

What Does it Mean To Be Ethical?

Merriam-Webster (n.d.) defines ethics¹ as “a set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values.” This definition directly links ethics and morals, with ethics functioning as the application of moral principles in everyday life. The Christian faith provides both well-defined morals and a system of ethics that is founded on biblical principles. These principles are guided by wisdom and love, reinforced by faith and obedience, and guided by the Holy Spirit. The resulting lifestyle gives Christians confidence in such a system because their faith is anchored in the abundant love and firm hope that comes from God alone.

As Christians grow in their faith, they experience the connection between ethics and love. The Apostle Paul asserts that love is the fulfillment of the law because it “does no harm” to our neighbor (Rom. 13:8-10 NASB). In this passage, he describes biblical ethics as love enacted. For the term “love,” Paul uses the word agape, indicating selfless, sacrificial love. This is the love that fulfills the law and is summed up by the command to love our neighbors as ourselves (Rom. 13:9). 

What Are Morals?

When considering morals, Merriam-Webster (n.d.) offers the following definition: “of or relating to principles of right and wrong behavior (e.g., moral judgments).”² Morals in the Bible are presented as unchanging principles that define right and wrong. These biblical morals are not based on the latest trend or human opinion; rather, they reflect God’s will. They address the Christian’s relationship with God, with our fellow man as neighbors, with our treatment of others in business, and with our treatment of each other in marriage. A variety of biblical passages presents moral principles in different contexts, whether in direct commands, such as the 10 Commandments (Ex. 20:2-17) or in actions displaying these principles, as seen in Paul’s suffering and hardship as he served others (2 Cor. 11:23-28). Because the morals held by the Christian help the individual determine the context and ramifications of a difficult situation, these morals play a crucial role in the thought process when faced with a dilemma.

Like ethics, morals have an inseparable connection to love. In the 13th chapter of Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, he offered one of the most complete definitions of love ever described, beginning with, “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1 NASB). The first verse of this passage shows the connection of love and action. Once again, he used the term agape, showing that morality is empty without love, but morality is perfected with love. In short, morals define what is right and wrong, but love gives them substance. Paul ends the chapter by saying, “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13 NASB). From this, biblical morality shown toward others through agape love aids the recipient and demonstrates the Christian faith. This is a faith without fear because Christians can rest their confidence in Christ, who is their hope.

The Difference Between Morals and Ethics

Put simply, ethics are the application of morals. As previously shown, these two concepts intertwine, with moral principles indicating the appropriate ethical response. Morals in the biblical context are universal, absolute and unchanging, finding their foundation in love and anchored in God. Ethics, on the other hand, are dependent on moral principles, guiding the Christian in living out these principles every day.

To sum up, the following statements encapsulate the key concepts of morals and ethics:

• Biblical morals define what is right and wrong.
• Biblical ethics apply those morals to real-life situations.
• Both are shaped by Scripture and substantiated by love.

As Christian believers live obedient lives, the habits they develop by practicing biblical principles build character in them, and ethical behavior becomes normal. The result is a life filled with joy and satisfaction, knowing that practicing love helps our neighbor and harms no one.

Biblical Applications

Scripture contains numerous examples of men and women who lived lives that exemplified the principles previously described, offering a glimpse of how one may put these principles into practice. One example from the Old Testament is Joseph, Jacob’s son, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. He became the property of Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officers. While he was in Potiphar’s service, Potiphar’s wife became attracted to Joseph and made several advances toward him. On one occasion, she was able to get close enough to try to grab Joseph but only came away with his garment as Joseph ran out. She then falsely accused Joseph of accosting her, and Joseph was thrown into prison. Although the story of Joseph did not end there, he showed strong moral character, demonstrating unbending ethical behavior by refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife. He endured unjust imprisonment while he patiently waited on God, his source of hope.

In the New Testament, the disciples of Jesus lived out their faith in Christ, only to die in shame as martyrs. Most died by crucifixion — Peter, it is reported, was crucified upside down — and one died in exile. This exiled disciple, the Apostle John, was banished to the prison island of Patmos in the last years of his life, where he was sentenced to slave labor quarrying stone. While there, he wrote the Revelation and the epistles of 1st, 2nd and 3rd John. He was the apostle described as “the one Jesus loved,” yet he lived a life of hardship and imprisonment. John submitted to such a life of burden and pain because of his undying faith in his Savior, his abiding love for Him, and the hope Christ provided. From this, it is easy to see why he had the moral fiber and the ethical stamina necessary to faithfully perform his work in the quarry and obediently write the words of his Lord. None of these disciples were considered important in society, yet God used them to start a movement that spread worldwide.

The Christian life is one of service and love, demonstrated by its moral principles and ethical lifestyle. Many times, the Christian is called upon to come to the aid of those who are hurting, downcast, sick or without hope. It is often not glamorous, nor does it bring fame and riches, but following Christ is the most spiritually rewarding life imaginable. The privilege of sharing God’s love with people who need it by showing the moral values taught in the Bible and applying them through ethical actions is immeasurable. The reward of watching people blossom into hope-filled believers is hard to describe. 

Pursue the Challenge

A Christian life of service is filled with both joys and challenges, whether the believer is serving in a secular position or serving in ministry. If you are interested in pursuing the challenge of your life, you can start by exploring the theology degrees offered by Grand Canyon University’s College of Theology.