Social Ethics In The 19th Century

3) Explain how the concept of social ethics developed in theological writings across the centuries and what the term “social ethics” mean today.

INTRODUCTION

What is social ethics? Ethics from the perspective of the Christian – it is the study of the principles and practices of right and wrong in the light of the Scriptures, the application of Christianity to conduct and translating doctrine into deeds, for example, the study and application of the Christian faith. Ethics is faith translated into action. It is living according to biblical facts and principles, not just having knowledge of them.

Social ethics are the moral principles that represent the collective experience of people and cultures. Social ethics are a “code of conduct”

It implies that there is an ethic in the Prophets that is different or perhaps better than ethics in other books. This idea was actually made popular in the nineteenth century in Old testament scholarship. Working from a purely historical perspective, scholars of that era assumed an evolutionary development in Old testament religion. The sequence ran from the “law” or Torah (Hebrew: instruction) of Moses in the earlier tribal periods, to the Prophets during the monarchy, to the era of priestly leadership after the exile.” (http://www.crivoice.org/social

But, he then imprisoned a fellow servant for not repaying a very small amount of money. The master could not understand how someone who has so generously received mercy could so easily withhold it from someone else. “Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you” (Matt18 v 33). Everything that is said in terms of social ethics in the prophets is grounded in this principle. Even in today’s contemporary world the same principle should be a benchmark in our day to day living.

Jesus summarised is required of us, human beings by God. He responded with this same dual ethic: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbour as yourself”. (Matt 22:36-40). To love God and be faithful to him with all my heart is the ethic of righteousness, the payback to God for his loving grace. The second is closely related, because to love God with all your heart, to be righteous, will inevitably lead to loving your neighbour as yourself, the ethic of justice. Jesus said, on these two ethics hang all the law and the prophets.