LOA’s Flashcards
(3 cards)
‘The Bible is the only authority for Christian ethical practices.’ Discuss.
The Bible alone is insufficient as the sole authority for Christian ethics; a responsible Christian ethic requires integrating scripture with Church tradition and reason to faithfully and effectively navigate moral questions.
Love (agape) as the only Christian ethical principle which governs Christian practices
Love (agape) must be the guiding principle but works best within a framework supported by Scripture and Church authority to govern Christian practices consistently and faithfully.
Bible, Church and reason as the sources of Christian ethical practices
The Bible, Church, and reason each contribute significantly to Christian ethics, but each has inherent limitations if relied upon exclusively.
The Bible offers foundational divine guidance but faces interpretive challenges and contradictions.
The Church provides authoritative interpretation and moral guidance rooted in tradition but can be fallible and historically corrupted.
Reason offers practical application and moral reflection but is imperfect and influenced by human fallenness.
Final line of argument: A robust Christian ethical framework requires a theologically informed synthesis of Scripture, Church teaching, and reason, recognizing the strengths and limits of each source in guiding believers toward moral truth.
