BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS

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BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS

• e.g. Lying
• Is it ever Justified?

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DEFINITIONS

• A false statement deliberately presented as being
  true a falsehood.
• Something meant to deceive or give a wrong
  impression.
• To present false information with the intention
  of deceiving.
• http//www.yourdictionary.com/

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SITUATION ETHICS DEFINED
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SITUATION ETHICS

• The Situation Ethic, unlike some other kinds,
  is an ethic of decision of making decisions
  rather than looking them up in a manual of
  prefab rules.
• Fletcher J, Situation Ethics The New Morality
  (Library of Theological Ethics), (p.52),
  Westminster John Knox Press, 1997

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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SITUATION ETHICS

• In Christian Situationism the ultimate
  criterion is, as we shall be seeing, agapeic
  love. It relativises the absolute, it does not
  absolutise the relative.
• Fletcher J, Situation Ethics The New Morality
  (Library of Theological Ethics), (p.45),
  Westminster John Knox Press, 1997

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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SITUATION ETHICS

• Thus when facing a moral dilemma the Legalist
  says, What does the Law say? whereas the
  Situationist says, Who is to be helped?.
• Situation Ethics Four Working Principles
  http//www.faithnet.org.uk/AS20Subjects/Ethics/si
  tuation
• _ethics_fwp.htm

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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GODS VIEW OF LYING
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GODS VIEW OF LYING

• In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot
  lie, promised before the world began
• Titus 12 KJV

• God cannot lie by His inherent character.
• It is of fundamental importance to us that He
  does not lie.
• Those who hope to bear His name must develop His
  moral characteristics.

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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GODS VIEW OF LYING

• These six things doth the LORD hate yea, seven
  are an abomination unto him
• A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that
  shed innocent blood,
• An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet
  that be swift in running to mischief,
• A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that
  soweth discord among brethren. Prov
  616-19 KJV

• God hates falsifying information with an intent
  to deceive.
• God hates perjury falsifying information when
  one is asked to testify as a witness.
• If God hates a particular moral activity, so
  should those who intend to bear his name before
  the world.

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GODS VIEW OF LYING

• Agape is the greatest of moral characteristics.
• It can only be pure when it is based in the truth.

• Agape
• Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the
  truth
• 1 Cor 136 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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VARIOUS ASPECTS OF LYING
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LYING IS A COMMON, BUT A WRONG EXPERIENCE

• For there are many unruly and vain talkers and
  deceivers, specially they of the circumcision
• Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
  houses, teaching things which they ought not, for
  filthy lucre's sake.
• One of themselves, even a prophet of their own,
  said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts,
  slow bellies.
• This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them
  sharply, that they may be sound in the faith
• Titus 110-13 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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LYING HAS NO PLACE IN THE BODY OF BELIEVERS

• And that ye put on the new man, which after God
  is created in righteousness and true holiness.
• Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man
  truth with his neighbour for we are members one
  of another.
• Eph 424-25 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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LYING IS AN ASSAULT ON OUR CONSCIENCE

• Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
  latter times some shall depart from the faith,
  giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of
  devils Speaking lies in hypocrisy having their
  conscience seared with a hot iron
• 1 Tim 41-2 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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EXTENDED WAYS OF LYING
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EXTENDED WAYS OF LYING

• If a man say, I love God, and hateth his
  brother, he is a liar for he that loveth not his
  brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God
  whom he hath not seen?
• 1 John 420 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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EXTENDED WAYS OF LYING

• He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his
  commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in
  him.
• 1 John 24 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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EXTENDED WAYS OF LYING

• He that believeth on the Son of God hath the
  witness in himself he that believeth not God
  hath made him a liar because he believeth not
  the record that God gave of his Son.
• 1 John 510 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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IS LYING EVER JUSTIFIABLE?
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IS LYING EVER JUSTIFIED? (Abraham)

• And it came to pass, when he was come near to
  enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his
  wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair
  woman to look upon
• Therefore it shall come to pass, when the
  Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say,
  This is his wife and they will kill me, but they
  will save thee alive.
• Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister that it
  may be well with me for thy sake and my soul
  shall live because of thee.
• Gen 1211-13 KJV

• Gen 2012 KJV
• And yet indeed she is my sister she is the
  daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my
  mother and she became my wife.
• Abram did not consider that he was stating a
  falsehood in saying that Sarai was his sister.

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IS LYING EVER JUSTIFIED? (Rahab)

• And the woman took the two men, and hid them,
  and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist
  not whence they were
• And it came to pass about the time of shutting
  of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went
  out whither the men went I wot not pursue after
  them quickly for ye shall overtake them.
• But she had brought them up to the roof of the
  house, and hid them with the stalks of flax,
  which she had laid in order upon the roof.
• Josh 24-6 KJV

• Rahab certainly lied to her fellow-citizens in
  order to deceive them.
• Rahab was not a member of Israel and would not
  have understood the expected moral standards of
  YHWH at this stage.
• She was commended for her faith in risking her
  life to save the spies.
• This account does not justify lying in order to
  save life. (Agape)

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IS LYING EVER JUSTIFIED? (Samuel)

• And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt
  thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him
  from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with
  oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the
  Bethlehemite for I have provided me a king among
  his sons.
• And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it,
  he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an
  heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice
  to the LORD.
• And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew
  thee what thou shalt do and thou shalt anoint
  unto me him whom I name unto thee.
• 1 Sam 161-3 KJV

• Even though what Samuel did may have deceived
  Saul, what he said and did was not false.
• Samuels actions in no way justify telling lies
  if agape is involved.

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LYING IS NEVER JUSTIFIED
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SITUATION ETHICS IS NEVER JUSTIFIED!

• Possible Scenario
• It is the time of the 2nd World War, in Holland.
• You have Jews hidden in your house.
• Some Nazi officers knock on your door and ask if
  you have any Jews hidden in your house
• Your answer ... ?

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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SITUATION ETHICS IS NEVER JUSTIFIED!

• But all the princes said unto all the
  congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord
  God of Israel now therefore we may not touch
  them.
• This we will do to them we will even let them
  live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath
  which we sware unto them.
• Josh 919-20 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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SITUATION ETHICS IS NEVER JUSTIFIED!

• LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who
  shall dwell in thy holy hill?
• He that walketh uprightly, and worketh
  righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his
  heart.
• He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth
  not.
• Ps 151-2,4 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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THE FLESH SHOULD NOT DECIDE SPIRITUAL MATTERS
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DONT SET YOURSELF UP!

• Rom 1313-14 NASV
• Let us behave properly as in the day, not in
  carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual
  promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and
  jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
  make no provision for the flesh in regard to its
  lusts.

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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DONT BE DECEIVED BY SITUATION ETHICS!

• Or do you not know that the unrighteous will
  not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
  deceived neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor
  adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor
  thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor
  revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom
  of God.
• 1 Cor 69-11 NASV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS
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GODS JUDGMENT AGAINST LIARS

• But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
  abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
  sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
  have their part in the lake which burneth with
  fire and brimstone which is the second death.
• Rev 218 KJV

BIBLE STANDARDS vs. SITUATION ETHICS