Essay (1 Page): What Are Christian Morals?

“Unlocking Christian Morality. Beyond Vice and Virtue, A Positive Action Way of Living Rooted in Love–Exploring the Biblical Definition.”

Morals in the Public Square, Part 3

By Lynn S. Nored, March 11, 2024

How does the bible define Christian morality?  The bible doesn’t use our English word for  morals or morality.  Rather morals are rooted in virtues and what we call vices.  There are two aspects to what is moral: 1) Virtues Christians should do or acquire and 2) Vices they should not do. A summary listing of vices contained in scripture follows: [i]sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, gossip, God-haters, insolence, boastfulness, dissension, jealousy, swindlers, drunkards, cheaters, fits of rage, selfish ambition, disorder, bitterness, anger, obscenity, coarse joking, impurity, lust, evil desires, lying, unholy, irreligious, homosexuality, lovers of money,  covetous, and  idolatry.   

To lead a moral life Christians must refrain from participating or in or acting out any of the vices listed in scripture.  The summary list given is not all of the vices enumerated in the New Testament.  Morality could then be partially defined as acting in the opposite manner as a vice.  For example, one vice is idolatry.  Hence this would have as a virtue: “loving God.”

For the Christian abstaining from and fleeing from vices is not the complete story.  Morality for a Christian  is a positive action way of living.  Indeed, the first label for Christians were those of “The Way.” [ii]All commandants are derived in part from the following: ““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”[iii]  The Christian is admonished to live a moral life as follows:

II Peter 2:5”For this very reason make every effort, by your faith to produce virtue, by virtue knowledge, by knowledge self-control, by self-control steadfastness, by steadfastness godliness, by godliness brotherly affection, and by brotherly affection love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they keep you from being idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Chris. Gal.5: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying one another.”

In the first of these lists from Peter one should note that each statement leads step by step to the conclusion of the greatest virtue of all, “love.” In the first instance of faith to virtue the meaning is “by your faith produce virtue.” The form of the list in Gal begins with the greatest virtue, “love.” Both of the above lists are not to be taken as “complete,” but are representative lists. Other virtues explicitly listed include justice, mercy, faithfulness, fidelity, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, humility, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, bearing good fruit, impartiality, sincerity, pure, righteous, producing good deeds. Typically, these lists include two paths: a virtuous path or a path of vice. These complementary lists are also instructive as to the virtues that should be pursued. For example, the admonition against theft and covetous has as its implied opposite, working for what one has instead of taking from another. ( Eph 4:28 “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”)

Christian morality, then, is a way of life.  It is not just abstaining from evil practices.  It is noted that the Christian must “love himself” as well.  Therefore, any action that demeans the body or is a sin against the body itself is wrong.

[i] The following are examples of listings of “virtues” in the New Testament: Mark 7:21–22 (cf. Matt 15:19); elsewhere in the Pauline letters at Rom 1:29–31; 13:13; 1 Cor 5:9–11; 6:9–10; 2 Cor 12:20–21; Eph 4:31–32; 5:3–5; Col 3:5–8; 1Tim 1:9–10; 2 Tim 3:2–5; Titus 3:3; Jas 3:13–18 (esp. v 17); 1 Peter 2:1; 4:3, 15; and Rev 21:8; 22:14–15. The summary of vices is taken from these scriptures.

[ii] Not only did Christ say he was “the way”, but that was the common designation in Acts. E.g. Acts 24:14

[iii] Mark 12: 29-31