Christian Ethics & Politics: Theology, Church-State, Abortion Issue

This essay explores the intersection of Christian ethics and politics, focusing on how a Christian might engage in the political sphere. It examines the theology of church and state relationships, highlighting the historical complexities and varying interpretations found in the Bible. The essay app...Read More

Running head: CHRISTIAN ETHICS
Christian Ethics
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1CHRISTIAN ETHICS
Abstract
Christianity is not only one of the fastest growing religions of the world but at the same time
one which is being followed by the maximum number of people. The use of the notion of
ethics and morals with the spectrum of Christianity has not only made the religion much
easier to follow but at the same time has reinvigorated it as well. For example, the notion of
Christian ethics requires the individuals to indulge in the kind of actions that are not only
virtuous and dictated by ethics as well as morals but at the same time intended to cause
maximum good as well. For example, the application of the notion of Christian ethics within
the domain of politics is not only likely to improve the political system of the world but at the
same time is likely to rejuvenate it as well. This becomes especially important when the
tumultuous relationship that the state and the church have had since the traditional times.
Furthermore, when a close analysis of the process of abortion is undertaken on the basis of
the concept of Christian ethics it reveals the fact that the process is an unjustified one.

2CHRISTIAN ETHICS
Topic: How might a Christian engage in politics? In your answer, include a theology of
church and state relationships, and then apply your theory to either the issue of
homosexual marriage or abortion.
Christianity is one of the most followed religions of the world and it is seen that the
concerned religion has followers from almost all countries of the world1. Simmons, Frederick
and Sorrells2 are of the viewpoint that the major reason for the extensive popularity attained
by the religion can be attributed not only to the unorthodox nature of the religion but also to
the liberty regarding religious practices that the concerned religion offers to its followers.
Furthermore, the use of the theories of ethics and morals as substantially widened the genre
of the religion and has given it a dimension which is being easily accepted by the different
followers3. In addition to this, it is seen that the use of concepts of ethics and morals ensures
the fact that there is no misappropriation of the power held by the religious priests and papists
and the fact that it is beneficial for all its followers4. The essay will discuss about the manner
in which a Christian needs to engage in politics in the particular light of the concept of
Christian ethics. The essay will undertake a discussion of the notion of abortion from the
perspective of Christian ethics.
The notion of Christian ethics is being aptly explained by the lines from “Colossians
3:1-6” wherein it is being said that “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your
hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on
1 Wells, Samuel, Ben Quash, and Rebekah Eklund. Introducing Christian Ethics. )John Wiley & Sons, 2017).
2 Simmons, Frederick V., and Brian C. Sorrells, eds. Love and Christian Ethics: Tradition, Theory, and Society.
(Georgetown University Press, 2016).
3 Miguel, A. Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins: Revised and Expanded. (Orbis Books, 2014).
4 Ward, Keith. Ethics and Christianity. (Routledge, 2014).

3CHRISTIAN ETHICS
things above, not on earthly things…..Because of these, the wrath of God is coming”5. Brown
et al.6 are of the viewpoint that Christian ethics can be seen as a branch of theology which
define the kind of virtuous, moral and ethical behavior which the Christians need to display.
As opined by Wadell7, the lacuna of this branch of theology is on three questions, namely,
“how the rich should act toward the poor, how women are to be treated, and the morality of
war”. It is pertinent to note that these three questions to a large extend determine the behavior
of the individuals not only in the spectrum of their personal lives but also in the other facets
of their lives like politics, education, profession and others. However, Miguel8, on the other
hand, have argued that this branch of theology is not a static one and has undergone a
substantial amount of transformation in the recent times. This change is being manifested in
the attitude of the religion of Christianity towards politics, abortion, drug use, heterosexuality
and the other aspects of the lives of the individuals.
Newlands9 has stated that one of the most important implications of the concept of
Christian ethics is manifested in the genre of politics. The machinery of politics requires the
individuals to take the help of the help of various kinds of diplomatic negotiations and also
other kinds of mechanisms which often belong to the category of unethical practices10. As
opined by Sider11, rather than causing the maximum amount of good to the majority of the
5 Simmons, Frederick V., and Brian C. Sorrells, eds. Love and Christian Ethics: Tradition, Theory, and Society.
(Georgetown University Press, 2016).
6 Brown, Charles C., Randall K. Bush, Gary Dorrien, Guyton B. Hammond, Christian T. Iosso, Edward LeRoy
Long Jr, John C. Raines et al. Applied Christian ethics: foundations, economic justice, and politics. (Lexington
Books, 2014).
7 Wadell, Paul J. Happiness and the Christian moral life: An introduction to Christian ethics. (Rowman &
Littlefield, 2016).
8 Miguel, A. Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins: Revised and Expanded. (Orbis Books, 2014).
9 Newlands, George. Christ and human rights: The transformative engagement. (Routledge, 2017).
10 Rostbøll, Christian F. "Kant and the critique of the ethics-first approach to politics." Critical Review of
International Social and Political Philosophy (2017): 1-16.
11 Sider, Ronald J. Nonviolent action: What Christian ethics demands but most Christians have never really
tried. (Brazos Press, 2015).

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people the focus of the majority of the politicians since the traditional times is on the
acquisition of power for personal benefits. This is perhaps one of the major reasons for the
various unethical as well as immoral practices which have being used by the different
politicians since the traditional times. The net result of this is the fact that there is an unequal
amount of power division within the contemporary society and at the same time it is seen that
various sections of the population have been marginalized12. It is precisely here that the need
for the application of the notion of Christian ethics within the spectrum of politics becomes
important.
Kane13 has stated that a Christian who is willing to engage in the machinery of politics
would have to take into effective consideration a plethora of factors or entities into
consideration for the performance of their job roles. In this regard, the primary dictum of
Christian ethics of virtuous action and refraining from doing any harm become the most
important ones. The concerned individual would have to indulge not only in the kind of
actions which are considered to be virtuous as per the construct of Christian ethics but at the
same time are intended to cause the maximum amount of benefit to the majority of the
people14. In addition to this, it is also seen that a politician at times need to resort to the kind
of actions or activities which are not only unethical but at the same time focus on the interests
of only a smaller section of the people. However, a politician who is following the dictums of
Christian ethics needs to avoid resorting to the use of such kind of actions focus on the kind
12 Brown, Charles C., Randall K. Bush, Gary Dorrien, Guyton B. Hammond, Christian T. Iosso, Edward LeRoy
Long Jr, John C. Raines et al. Applied Christian ethics: foundations, economic justice, and politics. (Lexington
Books, 2014).
13 Kane, Ross. "The Ethics of Everyday Life: Moral Theology, Social Anthropology, and the Imagination of the
Human." Anglican Theological Review 98, no. 4 (2016): 747.
14 Morris, Daniel A. "Reinhold Niebuhr's Paradox: Paralysis, Violence, and Pragmatism by Daniel Malotky,
and: Moral Man and Immoral Society: A Study in Ethics and Politics by Reinhold Niebuhr, and: An
Interpretation of Christian Ethics by Reinhold Niebuhr." Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics35, no. 1
(2015): 207-210.

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of actions which are not only moral but at the same time ethical as well15. As opined by
Morris16, another major role of a politician who is following the concept of Christian ethics is
to maintain the right kind of balance of power between state and the church authorities.
Simmons, Frederick and Sorrells17 have stated that the relationship between the state
and the church authorities has always been a complex one and at various points of time it is
that both are friends, foes and even sparring partners. This dichotomous relationship between
has largely been dictated by the Bible and also the various amendments to it18. For example,
in the Psalms, it is seen that the kind is being exulted as the head of the state and also the
inheritor of his kingdom19. On the other hand, the prophet Samuel, denounces the power held
by the state and also the kings and states that the kings are no more than crooks or buffoons
who use coercive power for the attainment of their own personal benefits20. In contrast to this,
the Gospel of John, states that the king is not only imbued with the role of the governance of
his kingdom but at the same time to offer religious leadership to the people as well21. In this
regard, the lines of “Psalm 110” related to the notion of divine kingship is important to note
“The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool”22.
15 Ward, Keith. Ethics and Christianity. (Routledge, 2014).
16 Morris, Daniel A. "Reinhold Niebuhr's Paradox: Paralysis, Violence, and Pragmatism by Daniel Malotky,
and: Moral Man and Immoral Society: A Study in Ethics and Politics by Reinhold Niebuhr, and: An
Interpretation of Christian Ethics by Reinhold Niebuhr." Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics35, no. 1
(2015): 207-210.
17 Simmons, Frederick V., and Brian C. Sorrells, eds. Love and Christian Ethics: Tradition, Theory, and Society.
(Georgetown University Press, 2016).
18 Wells, Samuel, Ben Quash, and Rebekah Eklund. Introducing Christian Ethics. )John Wiley & Sons, 2017).
19 Wells, Samuel, Ben Quash, and Rebekah Eklund. Introducing Christian Ethics. )John Wiley & Sons, 2017).
20 Wadell, Paul J. Happiness and the Christian moral life: An introduction to Christian ethics. (Rowman &
Littlefield, 2016).
21 Kane, Ross. "The Ethics of Everyday Life: Moral Theology, Social Anthropology, and the Imagination of the
Human." Anglican Theological Review 98, no. 4 (2016): 747.
22 Ward, Keith. Ethics and Christianity. (Routledge, 2014).

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More importantly, an important contribution to this debate was being made by “Life of
Constantine” wherein it is being said that “Emperor who was formally only a candidate for
reception into the church…directing the administration of the entire world, including the
church, in imitation of God”23. However, when a close analysis of the relationship between
the state and the church in the particular context of the nation of the United Kingdom, France
and others is being undertaken it becomes clear that the church and the state authorities have
not always shared a cordial relationship24. This discrepancy becomes clear when the fact that
the focus of the church is on the promotion of Christianity whereas that of the state is on the
personal interests of the state is taken into consideration25. The net result of this is the fact
that some of the measures or the actions undertaken by the state are not approved by the
church and vice versa.
Thomas26 upholds the view that one of the most important dictums of the Bible is the
fact that the giver as well as the taker of the human beings is God and thus the human beings
have no right to take their own life or for that matter the life of the other individuals. Thus,
the church and the individuals related to it repudiate the notions of murder, suicide, abortion
and others on the basis of this dictum of the Bible. In this regard, the wide spread usage of the
process of abortion when viewed through the lens of Christian ethics would reveal insightful
information. As opined by Peters27, the church as well as the various religious texts related to
it since the traditional times although being silent about this evil have repudiated it and also
23 Ward, Keith. Ethics and Christianity. (Routledge, 2014).
24 Brown, Charles C., Randall K. Bush, Gary Dorrien, Guyton B. Hammond, Christian T. Iosso, Edward LeRoy
Long Jr, John C. Raines et al. Applied Christian ethics: foundations, economic justice, and politics. (Lexington
Books, 2014).
25 Newlands, George. Christ and human rights: The transformative engagement. (Routledge, 2017).
26 Thomas, Dan. "Better Never to Have Been Born: Christian Ethics, Anti‐Abortion Politics, and the Pro‐Life
Paradox." Journal of Religious Ethics 44, no. 3 (2016): 518-542.
27 Peters, Rebecca Todd. "Beyond the Abortion Wars: A Way Forward for a New Generation by Charles C.
Camosy." Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 36, no. 2 (2016): 210-211.

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considered it to be derogatory. For example, it is seen that there is no mention of abortion
either in the New Testament or in the Old Testament and this as a matter of fact has created a
confusion as regard the stance of the church on this particular issue28.
The church believes that the act of killing an individual and for that matter an infant
who has not even seen the light of the day is totally unacceptable and at the same time
completely unethical as well as immoral. For example, the Roman Catholic Church clearly
states that “human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of
conception”29. In contrast to this, the Protestants hold a mixed view related to the same time
and at the same time it needs to be said that the various abortion campaigns and others lead
by them in the recent times has actually confused the individuals as regards the stance that
they take against this issue30. In addition to this, it is also seen that there are references in the
various Biblical religious texts which actively repudiate the notion of abortion like “Genesis
4:1; Job 31:15; Isaiah 44:24, 49:1, 5; and Jeremiah 1:5” and others31. However, in the recent
times, it is seen that the opinion of the church regarding this issue has changed in a
substantial manner32. This becomes especially apparent when the leverage that the church is
providing to the various communities like the Africans, Afro-Americans and others is taken
into effective consideration.
28 Outka, Gene. "The Ethics of Love and the Problem of Abortion." Church, Society, and the Christian Common
Good: Essays in Conversation with Philip Turner (2017): 146.
29 Gill, Robin. Moral Passion and Christian Ethics. Vol. 34. (Cambridge University Press, 2017).
30 Peters, Rebecca Todd. "Beyond the Abortion Wars: A Way Forward for a New Generation by Charles C.
Camosy." Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 36, no. 2 (2016): 210-211.
31 Thomas, Dan. "Better Never to Have Been Born: Christian Ethics, Anti‐Abortion Politics, and the Pro‐Life
Paradox." Journal of Religious Ethics 44, no. 3 (2016): 518-542.
32 Gill, Robin. Moral Passion and Christian Ethics. Vol. 34. (Cambridge University Press, 2017).

8CHRISTIAN ETHICS
Outka33 has stated that despite the recent development and also the leverage that is
being provided to the some of the communities the stance of the church related to the process
of abortion has not changed in any substantial manner. For example, even in the 21st century
the individuals are required to act as per the dictums of the Christian ethics and thus are
required to have recourse to the kind of actions which are not only virtuous but at the same
time moral as well34. Thus, on the basis of this fact it can be said that the process used to kill
an infant even before its actual birth is not a virtuous action and at the same time an immoral
act.
To conclude, the notion of Christian ethics forms an important aspect of the entire
domain of Christianity and the various followers of the religion of Christianity are required to
take into effective consideration the notion of Christian ethics. The major focus of the
concept of Christian ethics is on the entities of virtuous actions and also the ones which can
be justified on moral as well as ethical grounds. This dictum becomes even more important
when the kind of actions that the human beings have been indulging in since the traditional
times is taken into effective consideration. In this regard, the machineries of politics as well
as abortion gain special prominence and at the same time it can be said that there is a need for
the individuals to take into effective consideration the notion of Christian ethics within the
cannon of these processes. An effective consideration of the notion of Christian ethics is not
only likely to improve the quality of the lives of the individuals but at the same time will help
them to perform virtuous action as well.
33 Outka, Gene. "The Ethics of Love and the Problem of Abortion." Church, Society, and the Christian Common
Good: Essays in Conversation with Philip Turner (2017): 146.
34 Peters, Rebecca Todd. "Beyond the Abortion Wars: A Way Forward for a New Generation by Charles C.
Camosy." Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 36, no. 2 (2016): 210-211.

9CHRISTIAN ETHICS
References
Brown, Charles C., Randall K. Bush, Gary Dorrien, Guyton B. Hammond, Christian T. Iosso,
Edward LeRoy Long Jr, John C. Raines et al. Applied Christian ethics: foundations,
economic justice, and politics. (Lexington Books, 2014).
Gill, Robin. Moral Passion and Christian Ethics. Vol. 34. (Cambridge University Press,
2017).
Kane, Ross. "The Ethics of Everyday Life: Moral Theology, Social Anthropology, and the
Imagination of the Human." Anglican Theological Review 98, no. 4 (2016): 747.
Miguel, A. Doing Christian Ethics from the Margins: Revised and Expanded. (Orbis Books,
2014).
Morris, Daniel A. "Reinhold Niebuhr's Paradox: Paralysis, Violence, and Pragmatism by
Daniel Malotky, and: Moral Man and Immoral Society: A Study in Ethics and Politics by
Reinhold Niebuhr, and: An Interpretation of Christian Ethics by Reinhold Niebuhr." Journal
of the Society of Christian Ethics35, no. 1 (2015): 207-210.
Newlands, George. Christ and human rights: The transformative engagement. (Routledge,
2017).
Outka, Gene. "The Ethics of Love and the Problem of Abortion." Church, Society, and the
Christian Common Good: Essays in Conversation with Philip Turner (2017): 146.
Peters, Rebecca Todd. "Beyond the Abortion Wars: A Way Forward for a New Generation
by Charles C. Camosy." Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics 36, no. 2 (2016): 210-211.
Rostbøll, Christian F. "Kant and the critique of the ethics-first approach to politics." Critical
Review of International Social and Political Philosophy (2017): 1-16.

10CHRISTIAN ETHICS
Sider, Ronald J. Nonviolent action: What Christian ethics demands but most Christians have
never really tried. (Brazos Press, 2015).
Simmons, Frederick V., and Brian C. Sorrells, eds. Love and Christian Ethics: Tradition,
Theory, and Society. (Georgetown University Press, 2016).
Thomas, Dan. "Better Never to Have Been Born: Christian Ethics, Anti‐Abortion Politics,
and the Pro‐Life Paradox." Journal of Religious Ethics 44, no. 3 (2016): 518-542.
Wadell, Paul J. Happiness and the Christian moral life: An introduction to Christian ethics.
(Rowman & Littlefield, 2016).
Ward, Keith. Ethics and Christianity. (Routledge, 2014).
Wells, Samuel, Ben Quash, and Rebekah Eklund. Introducing Christian Ethics. )John Wiley
& Sons, 2017).