Regarding human life, how can we summarize the ethical demands of the Bible?
Regarding human life, how can we summarize the ethical demands of the Bible?
- God calls us not to murder (Ex 20:13), meaning, do not intentionally kill an innocent human being.
- God calls us not to be indifferent to the murder of innocents; not to turn our eyes from it. Dt 21:7
- God calls us to actively intervene; to rescue the innocent.
- “Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” (Pr 24:11-12).
- “Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Ps 82:3-4).
- “Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Pr 31:8-9).
- Jesus summarizes all of biblical ethics in Mt 7:12.
- “So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”