Ethics V Morals
Ethics: moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.
Morals: a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.
I think it is safe to say ethics are law, morals are a conviction.
Morals are unavoidable. As we read Scripture our worldview will flavor our understanding and we will all apply scripture differently to our individual lives. It’s part of the beauty of Christianity, freedom in Christ, grace. One of my morals is I don’t drink alcohol. Is it a sin to drink alcohol? No. I simply don’t think it is wise for me to do. Therefore, I don’t. If you do, more power to you. Your morals must allow that freedom. Which is fine. Scripture does not have anything prohibiting alcohol except under certain circumstances. Paul even tells Timothy to drink wine for medicinal reasons. Thus removing even its possibility of being a sin. Sin is always sin regardless of the reason it’s being committed.
The issues arise when we start judging others based on our morals, instead of Scriptures ethics.
Were I to say “I don’t think drinking alcohol is wise, therefore you can’t”. That is me judging you based on my own morals. My own convictions. I’m judging you based on my own conscience.
Were I to say “I don’t think drinking alcohol is wise, therefore Scripture must say it’s wrong” Is twisting scripture to match my own convictions. We need to realize that Scripture is law, and our convictions are based on our relationship with Christ and the understanding he has given us of His word. It is not necessarily true that because two people disagree one of them is wrong. There can be different understanding and applications without there being sin. Blue cars are not any better than red cars. Just so long they both qualify as cars, they’re both cars. Just so long we aren't sinning, it's not sinning.
We must each stand before God on our own two feet. We must each stand before God with a clear conscience. We can not knowingly do what we believe is wrong. And to knowingly do what we believe is unwise is foolish.
Now, as I’ve pondered these thoughts and scriptures that apply to this issue, I’ve come to a realization. Grace requires humility. Freedom requires a lot of humility. I have to be humble enough to see that other peoples opinions are just as valid as mine. And I have to be humble enough to understand that my opinion is just that. It’s my opinion. It matters to a whopping 0.0000001% of the world's population. Or whatever a handful of friends comes out to. My opinion is not Scripture.
If you can drink alcohol in a clear conscience before God. More power to you. I’m glad you can enjoy that freedom in Christ. That grace.
Use that grace to worship God. Use that freedom to bring God glory.
My fiance and I recently read the book of Galatians and thought “Boy, this is an awesome book on freedom in Christ. I wish our pastor would do a sermon series on Galatians”. And then he did. Like, literally the next week :D
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=812181951501
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=81918194584
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=831181714533
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=94181256304
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=910181146153
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=9281814561510
Morals: a person's standards of behavior or beliefs concerning what is and is not acceptable for them to do.
I think it is safe to say ethics are law, morals are a conviction.
Morals are unavoidable. As we read Scripture our worldview will flavor our understanding and we will all apply scripture differently to our individual lives. It’s part of the beauty of Christianity, freedom in Christ, grace. One of my morals is I don’t drink alcohol. Is it a sin to drink alcohol? No. I simply don’t think it is wise for me to do. Therefore, I don’t. If you do, more power to you. Your morals must allow that freedom. Which is fine. Scripture does not have anything prohibiting alcohol except under certain circumstances. Paul even tells Timothy to drink wine for medicinal reasons. Thus removing even its possibility of being a sin. Sin is always sin regardless of the reason it’s being committed.
The issues arise when we start judging others based on our morals, instead of Scriptures ethics.
Were I to say “I don’t think drinking alcohol is wise, therefore you can’t”. That is me judging you based on my own morals. My own convictions. I’m judging you based on my own conscience.
Were I to say “I don’t think drinking alcohol is wise, therefore Scripture must say it’s wrong” Is twisting scripture to match my own convictions. We need to realize that Scripture is law, and our convictions are based on our relationship with Christ and the understanding he has given us of His word. It is not necessarily true that because two people disagree one of them is wrong. There can be different understanding and applications without there being sin. Blue cars are not any better than red cars. Just so long they both qualify as cars, they’re both cars. Just so long we aren't sinning, it's not sinning.
We must each stand before God on our own two feet. We must each stand before God with a clear conscience. We can not knowingly do what we believe is wrong. And to knowingly do what we believe is unwise is foolish.
Now, as I’ve pondered these thoughts and scriptures that apply to this issue, I’ve come to a realization. Grace requires humility. Freedom requires a lot of humility. I have to be humble enough to see that other peoples opinions are just as valid as mine. And I have to be humble enough to understand that my opinion is just that. It’s my opinion. It matters to a whopping 0.0000001% of the world's population. Or whatever a handful of friends comes out to. My opinion is not Scripture.
If you can drink alcohol in a clear conscience before God. More power to you. I’m glad you can enjoy that freedom in Christ. That grace.
Use that grace to worship God. Use that freedom to bring God glory.
My fiance and I recently read the book of Galatians and thought “Boy, this is an awesome book on freedom in Christ. I wish our pastor would do a sermon series on Galatians”. And then he did. Like, literally the next week :D
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=812181951501
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=81918194584
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=831181714533
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=94181256304
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=910181146153
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=9281814561510
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