Christian ethics and moral decision-making—applying biblical principles to complex issues.
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 12004 Tattoos were once associated almost exclusively with sailors, soldiers, and subcultures. Today they are mainstream, and increasing numbers of Christians either have tattoos or are considering getting one. The question is whether Scripture prohibits them, permits them, or leaves the matter to individual conscience. The answer requires careful handling of the one Old…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 12036 The Bible does not contain a list of approved films, television programmes, or music genres. This frustrates some Christians who would prefer a clear set of rules, and it emboldens others who take the silence as permission to consume whatever they please without reflection. Neither response is adequate. Scripture provides principles that, when…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 12003 Few subjects generate more heat and less light in Christian circles than the question of alcohol. Some traditions teach total abstinence as a biblical command; others treat drinking as an unremarkable part of ordinary life. The Bible itself is more nuanced than either position allows, and a careful reading of the relevant texts…
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 12058 Cohabitation has become so normalised in Western culture that many people, including many professing Christians, no longer see it as a moral issue at all. The reasoning typically runs along practical lines: it makes financial sense, it lets you test compatibility before committing, and it is what everyone does. The church needs to…
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 12064 Few phrases have generated as much heat in contemporary Christian conversation as “love the sinner, hate the sin.” It is often attributed to Augustine, though the precise formulation is closer to a paraphrase than a direct quotation. It has become a shorthand for the Christian attempt to navigate between two extremes: unconditional approval…
Reading Time: 4 minutesQuestion 12010 Marriage is one of the most discussed topics in contemporary culture, and almost everyone has an opinion about what it is, what it should look like, and who gets to define it. The Christian answer to that question is straightforward: God defines marriage, because God created it. Before there was a state, a…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 12009 The concept of a “white lie” is so deeply embedded in everyday life that most people never stop to examine it. The assumption is simple: some lies are harmless, told with good intentions, and are therefore morally acceptable or even virtuous. “You look great in that dress.” “The dinner was wonderful.” “I’m fine,…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 12008 The question of lying seems simple enough on the surface. The Bible says not to lie, and that should settle it. But as soon as the question is pressed into real-world situations, complexities emerge that Christians have wrestled with for centuries. What exactly constitutes a lie? Does the prohibition apply without exception? What…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 12007 The question of whether a Christian may use force to defend themselves or others is closely related to the broader questions of war and capital punishment, but it is more personal and more immediately practical. If someone breaks into your home and threatens your family, what does Scripture allow? If a fellow believer…
Reading Time: 3 minutesQuestion 12006 War is one of the most painful realities of human existence, and the question of whether a Christian can support, participate in, or justify it has been debated throughout the history of the church. The spectrum of Christian opinion ranges from absolute pacifism to the just war tradition to, in some cases, the…