Situation Ethics

1. Situation Ethics “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25

2. Situation Ethics New Morality John A.T. Robinson Joseph Fletcher

3. Definitions Morality = The character of being in accord with the principles or standards of right conduct. Ethics= The system or code by which attitudes and actions are determined to be either right or wrong. Subjective= Every man decides for himself right and wrong. Absolute= There is a standard for right and wrong.

4. The New Morality Are Morals Today Different from Morals of Yesterday? • “What a person must do will differ with every century, group and individual.” • “Stealing, lying, killing and adultery are destructive of human relations. But this does not, of course, mean that stealing or lying can in certain circumstances never be right.” • Therefore every person must work out their own ethics or morals.

5. The New Morality Fruits of this Teaching • Marriage / Divorce and Remarriage - Matt. 19 • Sex outside of marriage • Homosexuality - alternate life-style • Abortion is acceptable • Stealing, Lying, etc.

6. What is wrong with This New Morality ? • If situation ethics implies false doctrine, then situation ethics is false • Situation ethics does imply false doctrine. • Therefore situation ethics is false. Changeable Unjust Limited in Knowledge Liar Implies God is

7. God is Changeable 1. Situation Ethics Implies… Robinson “What God says will not always be the same as He said to our fathers.” • Cannot decide right and wrong / trying to learn • Implies a lack of knowledge • God would be imperfect

8. God is Changeable 1. Situation Ethics Implies… “Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. 27 But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.” Ps. 102:25-27

9. God is Changeable 1. Situation Ethics Implies… • A Changeable God would not be worthy of Worship • If He changed and said murder was not wrong. • 10 years later He declares murder to be wrong. • If God changed from generation to generation then He would be less than perfect. • - Could not be trusted • - Revelation would be useless • - Defective Situation Ethics is wrong because it implies a false doctrine !

10. God is Unjust 2. Situation Ethics Implies… • Teach that Morals have changed with time ! • God’s justice demands that He punish sin. • Habakkuk 1:13 “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. ”

11. God is Unjust 2. Situation Ethics Implies… Gal. 6:7-8 “…whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” Ps. 5:5 “…You hate all workers of iniquity.” Ps. 7:11 “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.” Gal. 5:19-21 “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

12. God is Unjust 2. Situation Ethics Implies… • The Justice of God is not changed by anything that man does. • He can no more cease to hate impurity than He can cease to love holiness. • God does not for one instant approve of anything that is filthy or sinful. Situation Ethics is wrong because it implies a false doctrine !

13. God is Limited in Knowledge 3. Situation Ethics Implies… Divorce laws in Matt. 19:9 are superseded by 1 Cor.7 • Supersede = something has become obsolete or inferior and has been replaced by something better. • This implies that God’s standard, the Bible, needs to be updated and this means God is not omniscient.

14. God is Limited in Knowledge 3. Situation Ethics Implies… • Did God not have enough wisdom to give commands that would apply to all people in all generations? • But there are changes in the N.T. from the O.T. • - God’s scheme of redemption was planned • - O.T. served purpose that God intended • - Prepare world for coming of Christ • “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” Gal. 4:4

15. God is Limited in Knowledge 3. Situation Ethics Implies… Ps. 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite. Matt. 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” Gal. 1:8 “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Situation Ethics is wrong because it implies a false doctrine !

16. God is A Liar 4. Situation Ethics Implies… Men say the law of God may be different for this generation. This implies that God is a liar ! • God says his law will last till the end of time. • Matt.24:35 “My words shall not pass away” • To say that the law changes implies that God Lies.

17. God is A Liar 4. Situation Ethics Implies… Num. 23:19 “God is not a man, that He should lie.” Titus 1:2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” Heb. 6:18 “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie…” Rev. 21:8 “all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”

18. God is A Liar 4. Situation Ethics Implies… • If men will be punished for lying and If God himself could lie, then He would not be just and fair ! • God does not lie. • “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” Rom. 3:4 • “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Gen.18:25 Situation Ethics is wrong because it implies a false doctrine !

19. Christian Ethics • The new Morality is just the Old Immorality! • The Bible is our Standard of authority. • Situation Ethics is every man doing what he wants to do with no standard of authority. “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25

20. Situation Ethics Changeable Unjust Limited in Knowledge Liar Implies God is

21. Bible Ethics Unchangeable Just Omniscient Truthful God is

22. “ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS” (EPH. 1:3) SALVATION (2 TIM. 2:10) IN CHRIST BAPTISM ROM. 6:3-4 “NO CONDEMNATION” (ROM. 8:1) “NEW CREATION” (2 COR. 5:17)