Individual Ethics in the Bible
As we studied in Chapter 21, to live an
ethical life, each individual should be honest (or just), fair, modest,
blameless, not too much greedy, humble, generous, diligent, and trustworthy (or
faithful). In this chapter, we will review Christians’ economic ethics in their
relationships with others. Believers should not live according to the habit of
this world but according to the word of God as wrongdoers will not inherit the
kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5) and
cannot please God. They should not conform to the pattern of this world but be
transformed by renewing their mind (Romans 12:2).
Paul advises believers to
avoid lawsuits when there is a debate or a fight among believers (1 Corinthians
6:1-6). Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:7 states: “To have lawsuits at all with one
another is defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be
defrauded?” As we discussed, the economy of God is God’s governing activities
and rules over each different unit of his household. So, each household’s
ethics should be based on God’s governing activities and rules.
Household Ethics in the Bible
1.
Husbands and Wives
Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 states: “3The
husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to
her husband. 4For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband
does; likewise, the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does.”
Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 advises husbands and wives to fulfill their duty to
each other. Both husbands and wives should fulfill their duty first, instead of
demanding the other’s duty.
Paul in Ephesians 5:22-23
and 25 states: “22Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of
the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. … 25Husbands, love
your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Paul in
Ephesians 5:21-33 compares the relationship between the husband and the wife to
the relationship between Christ (the head of the church) and his people (the
body of Christ). According to Paul, wives should submit themselves to their
husbands as they submit themselves to the Lord whereas husbands should love
their wives as Christ loves the church.
2.
Parents and Children
Paul in Ephesians 6:1-4 advises children and
parents: “1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is
right. 2Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment
with a promise), 3that it may be well with you and that you may live
long on the earth. 4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Paul in
Colossians 3:20-21 also advises children and parents: “20Children, obey
your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21Fathers, do
not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” The relationship
between God and his people is parallel with human parents and their children. Children’s
ethical duty for their parents in Ephesians 6:1-4 and Colossians 3:20-21 does
not seem to be Paul’s own but is from Exodus 20:12 (also in Deuteronomy 5:16). God
in Exodus 20:12 tells the Israelites: “Honor your father and your mother, that
your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” The
phrase, “it may be well with you,” in Ephesians 6:3a implies God’s blessings in
quality, and the phrase, “you may live long on the earth,” in Ephesians 6:3b
implies God’s blessings in quantity.[1]
“The earth” is “the land of promise” which points to not only the Kingdom of
God but also the land where we live today, and God is with us. While God in
Exodus 20:12 (Deuteronomy 5:16) tells only children’s ethical duty for their
parents, Paul in Ephesians 6:1-4 (Colossians 3:20-21) also includes parents’
ethical duty for their children. Children are not parents’ property but are the
ones that belong to God’s household and are entrusted to their parents.
Church Ethics in the Bible
Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:24b-27 states: “24bBut
God has so composed the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior part, 25that
there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same
care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together;
if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” Paul explains the church
ethics or the ethical culture that exists among believers in the church. Some
believers blame or find fault with others. There may be a division in the
church, and sometimes some members bring their debates to the court. Paul
advises them that believers are one body of Christ and the parts that belong to
the same body. If one part of the body suffers, every part of the same body
suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it (1
Corinthians 12:26). As Christians are one body of Christ, so there should be no
division or conflicts among themselves.
Social Ethics in the Bible
Paul in Romans 12:14-21 explains social
ethics for believers. First, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not
curse them” (v. 14). Paul seemed to be aware of Jesus’ saying in Matthew 5:44,
“love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Second, “Rejoice with
those who rejoice; weep with those who weep” (v. 15). Those who rejoice and
those who mourn here are those outside of the church. Christians should also be
sympathetic with unbelievers. Third, “Live in harmony with one another” (v.
16a). Believers do not live separately from unbelievers. So, believers learn
how to live, in harmony with others in the same community. Fourth, “Do not be haughty,
but associate with the lowly” (v. 16b). This is the example of life that Jesus
Christ had shown in this world (Philippians 2:5-8). Fifth, “Never be conceited”
(or “Don’t think you know it all!”, NLT) (v. 16c). Our human wisdom is nothing,
comparing with the wisdom of God. Sixth, “Repay no one evil for evil, but take
thought for what is noble in the sight of all” (v. 17; see also 1 Peter 3:9).
Proverbs 17:13 states: “If a man returns evil for good, evil will not depart
from his house.” Evil goes against the image of God whereas good follows and
imitates the image of God. Seventh, “If possible, so far as it depends upon
you, live peaceably with all” (v. 18). Believers should live also at peace with
unbelievers so that they may find an opportunity to spread the gospel. Eighth,
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God” (v. 19).
This is wisdom of believers who live in this world. Otherwise, vengeance will
produce another vengeance. Ninth, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is
thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his
head” (v. 20, Proverbs 25:21-22). This is the ethics of love that can embrace
even enemies. Believers good conduct will make an evil person be shameful, and
later let them open their heart. Tenth, “Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good” (v. 21). What God wants believers to do is to build a
society where God’s goodness is revealed. When believers overcome evil with
good, God will let them build the Kingdom of God or God’s household on this
earth and expand it until the Lord returns to us.
1.
Neighbors Relation
The second part of Moses’ ten commandments (6th
commandment to 10th commandment) defines our relationship with our
neighbors or our love for our neighbors. God in Leviticus 19:18 commands the
Israelites: “You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons
of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
“Love your neighbor as yourself” becomes a central theme of the New Testament
(Matthew 5:43, 22:39) and is expanded by including “But I say to you, ‘Love
your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’” (Matthew 5:44). “Love your
neighbor” is an essence for us to establish a good ethical relationship with
our neighbors.
2. Sellers-Buyers
Relation
As a seller, a Christian should be honest,
using a just or accurate scale/measuring tool. Some sellers try to use
dishonest scales, deceive their customers to make more immediate profit.
However, in the long run, buyers will recognize the sellers’ dishonesty. Proverbs
11:1 states: “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight
is his delight,” and Proverbs 20:23 states: “Diverse weights are an abomination
to the Lord, and false scales are not good.” Most people are both sellers and
buyers at the same time. People who are buyers in the product market are
sellers in the labor market. People sell their labor to make money and live
with the money that they earn.
3.
Employers-Employees Relation
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 states: “14You
shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of
your brethren or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns; 15you
shall give him his hire on the day he earns it, before the sun goes down (for
he is poor, and sets his heart upon it); lest he cry against you to the Lord,
and it be sin in you.” God in Leviticus 19:13 tells the Israelites: “You shall
not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not
remain with you all night until the morning.” God tells the employers not to
hold back of a hired worker overnight, knowing that they need daily bread. Some
employers exploit their employees, paying less than the minimum wage with a
delayed payment. There are some giant companies who pay late to small companies
when they have contracts or subcontracts with them. Sometimes, they issue 90-day,
120-day, or even late-day promissory notes although the delivery of products is
done much earlier within a month. Even some Christian colleges pay their adjunct
faculty’s payment late, sometimes more than one month after the course is
completed, which seems to be quite unethical, knowing the message of
Deuteronomy 24:15 and Leviticus 19:13.
The government imposes the
minimum wage to protect workers/sellers in the labor market. The current
federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour since July 2009 although some states,
cities and counties have a higher minimum wage rate. Is the federal minimum
wage of $7.25, which has not increased since 2009, fair to young unskilled
workers today? If a person works 40 hours per week and 52 weeks per year based
on the current federal minimum wage of $7.25, he/she makes about $15,000
(before tax) a year. Although the $7.25 minimum wage seems to be a little bit too
low, many employers do not want to pay this minimum hourly wage to their (young)
unskilled workers. Rather, they try to hire illegal workers who are willing to
work even at $3-4 per hour to settle in the United States. This may be another
unethical behavior of the employers. Rabbi Michael Knopf translates Leviticus
19:16 as: “Do not profit by the blood of your fellow.”[2]
Many economists point out that the government’s price control, including the
minimum wage in the labor market, gives more negative effects than positive
effects. Yet, the Bible tells us that rich people should remember their poor
neighbors and should be ready to share their plenty with them.
Paul’s advice for masters
and servants or slaves may be applicable to employers and employees in today’s
society. Paul in Ephesians 6:5 and 9 states: “5Slaves, be obedient
to those who are your earthly masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness
of heart, as to Christ; ... 9Masters, do the same to them, and
forbear threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in
heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.” Paul in Colossians 3:22 and
4:1 states: “3:22Slaves, obey in everything those who are your
earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of
heart, fearing the Lord. … 4:1Masters, treat your slaves justly and
fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.” When people live in
this world, there are discriminations due to different races, sexes,
educations, classes or ethnic backgrounds, etc. Paul, however, advises them to
do their best under the given situations, Jews or Gentiles, men or women,
masters or slaves/servants. Paul considered the slave system or the
masters-slaves relationship as a temporary situation or environment while
people lived in the world in his time.[3]
The same Paul in Galatians 3:28 claims: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile,
neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in
Christ Jesus.” Paul tells us that when faith came (Galatians 3:25), we are no
longer under a custodian but all children of God in Christ Jesus (3:26), and
thus there is no distinction, but we are all one in Christ Jesus (3:28). So,
each of Christians should respect each other.[4]
National Ethics in the Bible
Paul in Romans 13:1 and 6-7 states: “1Let
every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority
except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. … 6For
the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God,
attending to this very thing. 7Pay all of them their dues, taxes to
whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is
due, honor to whom honor is due.” Acknowledging that the authority of the
government is from God, people should respect its authority as they revere God.[5]
People should observe their duties as the citizens of the nation. The ‘authority’
in Greek is ἐξουσία (exousia), which is a compound
word of ἐξ (out from) and ουσία (being, substance, or essence). Thus, an authority is given from the
substance or essence – God. Paul regards the authorities of a nation or leaders
are from God, and thus the leaders had not only the authorities but also the
duties to God. The government or leader should govern the nation and its people
according to the will of God who gives the authority. In this sense, the
government or the leader is a vicar of God, who should exercise the economy of
God on behalf of him. If the leader does not govern the nation and its people
well, he/she is not against his people but against God who has given him/her
the authority.
[1]
K. P.
Choi, To Me, To Live Is Christ: Oikonomia
Bible Interpretation Series 2 – Ephesians-Philippians (in Korean). Seoul,
Korea: Qumran Publishing House, 1999, 173-174.
[2]
Michael
Knopf, “A Biblical Case for Raising the Minimum Wage,” Huffington Post (February 18, 2014). Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-michael-knopf/a-biblical-case-for-raisi_b_4804908.html
[3]
K. P. Choi, To Me, To Live Is Christ: Oikonomia Bible
Interpretation Series 2 - Ephesians-Philippians (in Korean). Seoul, Korea:
Qumran Publishing House, 1999, 178-181.
[4]
K. P. Choi, No Other Gospels: Oikonomia Bible
Interpretation Series 4 – Galatians (in Korean). Seoul, Korea: Qumran
Publishing House, 2000, 196.
[5]
K. P. Choi, Present Your Bodies as a Living Sacrifice: Oikonomia
Bible Interpretation Series 1 – Romans (in Korean). Seoul, Korea: Qumran Publishing
House, 1999, 254-257.
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