Consistent Principle

“There’s no such thing as situational ethics.” I once heard this statement expressed and affirmed many times over. As the heads nodded, I asked a simple question: “in what situation is ethics always consistent?”

Much to my chagrin an answer was not offered. You see, I found a silver lining in that proposed question. God. In order for there to be ethics, then there has to be an ethical standard that is worthy of setting that standard. However, such an ethical standard must be applied situationally as problems arise.

In other words, ethical standards have a way of posing a consistent principle in every situation. Situation #1 – In the Pentateuch, as Israel was set to enter their rest in the Promised Land, Moses was given a message for Israel in Deuteronomy 10.12-22. Situation #2 – In the Minor Prophets, the prophet Micah is given a prophetic message for Samaria and Jerusalem under the reign of Judah kings about the Lord’s remnant and the Lord’s rule in Micah 6.8. Situation #3 – In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus’ enemies, Pharisees and Sadducees, teamed up together to quiz him about what God’s word had to say about the greatest commandment in Matthew 22.34-38.

The consistent principle in every situation above is this: God requires that his people love him with all their heart and mind by obeying his commandments, namely to promote justice, be faithful, and live humbly.

God is consistent and gives commandments for every situation. Sure, some are harder to decipher than others. Yet the principle remains the same. The requirement is the same. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His standards have never changed. And they never will.

So when someone says there is no such thing as situational ethics, you can make better sense of what’s really being said under the surface.