6 Fundamental Principles Flashcards
What do they demonstrate?
Different characteristics of agape
Explain ‘only one thing is intrinsically good; namely love nothing else at all’
Love is the only thing that is good within itself
Actions aren’t intrinsically good or evil. They are good or evil depending upon whether they promote the most loving result. They are extrinsically good, depending on their circumstances and consequences
Explain ‘the ruling norm of Christian decision is love; nothing else’
The basis of all decision making for Christians should be love.
Jesus replaced Torah with principle of love.
Healing on the Sabbath rejecting keeping it as a holy day
Commandments aren’t absolute - Jesus broke them when the situation demanded it
Love replaces law
Explain ‘love and justice are the same, for justice is love distributed, nothing else’
Acting out of love means you are ensuring justice
Can’t be separated
Justice is love at work in the whole community, for the whole community
Explain ‘love wills the neighbour’s good, whether we like him or not’
Always got to treat people with respect. Regardless of whether you like them or not.
Agape = attitude of the will not a feeling
= neighbour is anyone
= nothing required in return (no praise etc)
Explain ‘only the loving end justifies the means, nothing else’
If you do something and intend to ensure a loving outcome the means are justified.
Must consider, desired end, means available, motive for acting and foreseeable consequences
Explain ‘love’s decisions are made situationally, not prescriptively’
Love isn’t something that follows a set of rules. You must look at the situation then act.
Jesus distanced himself from the Jewish groups that lived in a rule based society
Whether something is right and wrong depends on the situation
