State and Explain the Term "Christian Ethics".
The term "ethics" deals with what is morally "right" or "wrong". Christian ethics therefore, deals with what is morally right or wrong for a Christian. There are several distinguishing characteristics of Christian ethics, each of which play a vital role to its analysis. Christian ethics is based on God's will and is a form of divine command position. However, God never wills anything contrary to his unchanging moral character. The ethical imperatives that God gives are in accord with his unchangeable moral character. That is, God wills what is right in accordance with his own morals - "Be Holy because I am Holy" (Leviticus 11:45). .
Christian ethics is absolute, since God's character does not change; it follows that moral duties from his nature are absolute (always binding everywhere, on everyone). For example, God's command not to murder applied before the law was given to Moses (within the 10 Commandments), under the law of Moses and also since the time of Moses. In brief, murder is wrong at all times and all places for all people. This is true because humans were created in the "image of God" (Genesis1:27, 9:6) and a moral likeness to God. Absolute moral duties are binding to all people, at all times, in all places.
Christian ethics is deontological, stating that even some acts that fail are good. The Christian ethic insists that it is good to work against racism, even if one fails. This is due to the fact that moral actions that reflect God's nature are good, whether they are successful or not. However, Christian ethics does not neglect results or ends. No anticipated result as such can be used as a justification for breaking any God-given moral law. For example, whilst Christian ethics allows for the inoculation against disease, it does not allow the killing of infants with genetic defects (e.g. Down's-syndrome) to purify the genetics of the human race.
