Introduction to Lutheran Theology

1
Introduction to Lutheran Theology

• Lecture 11
• Gods principles are central to what you do
• Christian/Lutheran Ethics

2

• Reflection on journal entries from previous
• session God Calls you and Everyone Else
• Vocation

3
This Session

• Today we examine
• 1. The foundations to how we live.
• 2. How we live.

4
Beginning thoughts

• humans are moral beings
• either moral or immoral (or amoral is this a
  possibility??)
• ethics, the structure / activity / impact /
  expression of morality
• ethics in turn is the object of morality and
  further influences the components of ethical
  thinking

5
Components of Ethical Thinking

1. People and circumstances - who, when, where
   influences the issue
2. Relationships how important and what effect do
   relationships have
3. Values what is important / what needs to be
   considered
4. Reasoning logic, justification, arguing
5. Authorities foundation / basis / wide-ranging

6

• 6. Process the way one travels / moves towards
  a decision
• 7. Judgments coming to / arriving at a point of
  decision
• Human nature what one thinks about who/what we
  are
• Philosophical/religious outlook meaning and
  basis to life
• these components vary in impact

7
Approaches reflecting these components

• Consequentialism (Teleology Gr. telos goal)
• Considering the consequences in order that a
  decision results in the greatest good and least
  evil. Can be either an
• egoistic approach greatest good for me
• or
• utilitarian approach greatest good overall

8

• Deontology (Gr. dei it is right / necessary)
• Ethical decisions which are based on what is seen
  as right or morally correct regardless of
  what the consequences may be. 2 approaches
• Act deontology where one acts on what one feels
  is the right way gut feeling / compulsion
  (anti-legalism)
• Rule deontology certain rules remain
  normative / compulsive (legalism)

9

• Love ethics (agapism Gr. agape love /
  self-sacrificing)
• Acting in a way that is the loving thing to do
  either because
• it will produce the best results or greatest good
  (consequentialist) or
• it is demanded of us (deontologist)
• Also situationalism because it is the loving
  thing to do in this situation.

10
A Lutheran/Christian Approach(philosophical/relig
ious values authorities)

• The Bible is the basis!?
• what does it say on
• rule-deontological approach? (n.b. the laws of
  the Bible which do not apply food etc. and
  the areas where there is no rule smoking!)
• yet Bible is the norm for faith and life
• what is the heart of the Bible? the Gospel
• the Gospel is the norm for faith and life

11
Moral life flows from faith / gospel

• christians live under the gospel of forgiveness
  (justification)
• ones motivation for living
• but not only saints, but also sinners
• struggle big time! need armour (Eph. 4)
• Gods word (Gospel and Law) provides motivation
  (Gospel) and direction / guidance (3rd. Use of
  Law / imperatives of grace)

12
Free to act!

• free to act because we live under the Gospel
  (sin boldly Luther!)
• a freedom for and not freedom from (Gal 51
  very important)
• free to live and act confidently / boldly /
  happily)
• c.f. 2 ways a child responds to a
  command/request
• - compulsion leading to fear leading to slavery
• - willingly leading to peace leading to
  freedom

13
Faith active in love (Gal 56)

• c.f. Forrell,George (1954) Faith Active in Love
  Augsburg USA
• fruit of the spirit (Gal 522, 23 c.f. Matt
  717ff)
• love determines all we do (1Cor.13)
• who we are is as important as what we do!
• good works are done only by good people
• the Spirit works in the life of the Christian
  through the means of grace to produce good works
• but the battle rages!

14
My ethics and the Church

• Rom 1212 Eph. 28-10 etc. show the
  collective nature of ethics
• it is part of the people of God (Church) to live
  as people called (vocation) by God
• personal ethics within the context of the
  community of Christians
• closely connected to the worship life
• of the Christian where one is renewed.

15
Discussing/deciding on an Ethical Issue

• We need to come to decisions / points of view on
  personal as well as community/social issues
• e.g. smoking / euthanasia /drugs
• Similar processes are invovled
• - c.f. OHT and handouts

16
Journal/Reflection Topic

• Do you feel that the Christian Church needs to
  be much more forthright and give greater guidance
  to people in their decision-making processes?
  Give theological reasons for your view.

17

• This completes this course