Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/93

Contributor - Jeff Kingswood

Title - Ethics

Topic - Editorial

On a recent Sunday afternoon I was enjoying a visit with one of my cousins and his family. As we sat on his front porch we were approached by a couple of gentlemen who introduced themselves as representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or more simply, the Mormons.

We entered into a lively discussion of how man is saved and what part works play in his salvation, when one of the Mormons said, "Aren't you impressed by the Mormon emphasis on moral living?" The answer was of course"Yes ". In an age of moral decay and outright depravity, the Mormons do stand as a distinctly moral people. But as my cousin so ably put it "Your moral living doesn't earn any check marks with Jesus."

How does the Christian regard the issue of morality and ethics? What are morality and ethics? In our theme articles, we have asked some Reformed Church members to tackle particular ethical issues, and we hope that you find them helpful. Unfortunately, while our writers have given us helpful information, the necessity of writing on these subjects serves to point out that we are in a time of moral and ethical confusion in Canada. The "because I told you so" school of morals that so many people grew up with has been rejected, and I suppose rightly so. Morals without any basis are simply systematized hypocrisy. We need an ethical framework within which to live our moral lives. We need an absolute ethic upon which to base our morals. How do we lead the way in our fallen world? By pointing to Jesus Christ.

Only the Law of God and the summary of that Law given by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40 are able to give us an unshakable basis for our morals. And only those who are changed people saved people - will be able to live truly ethical lives in the eyes of God. We have to have a living relationship with Jesus Christ that transforms us from being pleasers of self into pleasers of God. We hope this issue of Pioneer Christian Monthly leads you into a greater knowledge of the riches of God's grace to you and to His Church.

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