Is Christian ethics a form of deontological ethics?

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Curt Hayashida
member, Community Bible Church (Non-denominational)
Vallejo, CA

Deontological ethics is a form of Christian ethics. Christian ethics encompasses duty, to be sure, but it also encompasses telos (e.g.,--goal--the Kingdom of God, the glory of God) and motive (e.g., heart purified by faith).

Deontological ethics (or normative ethics) is a very important aspect of Christian ethics and is sadly being downplayed, even by many in Reformed circles. But no, it is not the whole of Christian ethics.

Good question. Very good question.

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J. B. Atken
John Knox PCA
Layman, M.A. student at Louisiana College

Yes but not only.

I'd say it involves the main three: deontological, teleological, and existential.

Jesus frequently condemned mere outward conformity to the law. The actions of obeying the right standard should spring from a right heart (motive) and have the aim of glorifying God (goal). We can see that Standard, motive, and goal conform nicely to what I caleld "the main three."

So, it is not just "doing the right duty" but doing it for the right goal, and for the right motives.

But, standard trumps the other two in the sense that the motive and goal must be brought into conformity with the norm, but then again the norm tells us about the right motives and goals.

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Regards,

P.M.
PCA
Suffix

Bahnsen teaches that Christian ethics requires the goal, motive, and standard. Each one is necessary and each one is sufficient. When all is said and done they are equivalent to each other. One cannot take a motivational approach to ethics and leave out the norms and goals of ethics. The same goes for the other two. The goal, motive and standard all require each other in Christian ethics. These three perspectives all end up saying the same thing because God does not give us three competing systems of ethics in the Bible. We can approach it from three different angles, but there is harmony and the conclusion is always the same.

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Ryan Barnhart - Pastor of OGBC
Husband to a beautiful wife, Father to two beautiful girls
"But by the grace of God I am what I am." I Corinthians 15:10

"I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms. And in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer." - John Paton

BTW - I don't pretend to be an expert in this field. I didn't realize J and PM had already responded while I was responding. Just listen to what those guys say. They know whereof they speak.

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Ryan Barnhart - Pastor of OGBC
Husband to a beautiful wife, Father to two beautiful girls
"But by the grace of God I am what I am." I Corinthians 15:10

"I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms. And in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer." - John Paton

Thank you for your input. I appreciate it.

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Curt Hayashida
member, Community Bible Church (Non-denominational)
Vallejo, CA

For example, we are called to "love" and that "love" fulfills the law. Yet "love' is not vague and content-less, but is defined by obedience to God. Jesus said in John "if you love me you will keep my commandments."

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J. B. Atken
John Knox PCA
Layman, M.A. student at Louisiana College