Download Book Study - Seeing Gray - Session 4 (answers)

S E E I N G G R A Y I N A W O R L D O F B L A C K A N D W H I T E S E S S I O N F O UR M A I N T H E M E : I S Y O UR J E S US T O O S M A L L ? A B O R T I O N M A Y 3 , 2 012 1. On p. 36 Adam Hamilton writes: “Christianity, when most effective, most faithful, and
most empowering, is found in the sweet spot between legalism and libertinism. It
holds together, in tension, the seemingly opposite ideas of grace and holiness, faith and
works, legalism and libertinism.” Do you agree with this argument?
Hamilton’s point is that Jesus didn’t tend toward legalism or libertinism, but instead called us to a life of
discipleship somewhere in the middle of these extremes. Still, these words can be a bit awkward. We
don’t ever want to equate obedience to Jesus’ commands as “legalism.” Nor do we want to equate
“libertinism” with an anything-goes philosophy.
2. Traditionally there are three ways of doing ethics.
a. Rules-based ethics
Deciding what is right or wrong purely based on rules that have been handed down by an authority. The
weakness with rules-based ethics is that one cannot possibly have enough rules to cover every
contingency. For Christians, there are at least 1413 biblical commands. We can’t begin to keep them all.
b. Outcomes-based ethics
An activity isn’t moral in and of itself, but only in relation to how it affects others.
The weakness with outcomes-based ethics is that some things are simply wrong in and of themselves.
c. Values-based ethics
This involves making moral decisions based on a set of values.
The weakness with values-based ethics has to do with who is choosing the values.
There are strengths and weaknesses to each of these positions. As Christians, it is
important that we tie our ethical principles to the life and teachings of Jesus. As
disciples of Jesus, we try to follow his example when it comes to decision about how
we will live our lives.
A few years book, the phrase WWJD (What would Jesus Do?) was popular. Did you find
this phrase helpful? What were its shortcomings?
People found WWJD helpful, but limited. We are not Jesus. Nor do we presume to speak for Jesus. We
have an easier time asking the question, “What would Jesus have me do in this situation.
3. In his teachings, Jesus spells out three simple precepts to live by:
a. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all
your mind.” (Matt. 22:37).
Key Question: Will this honor God?
Jesus referred to this as the first and greatest commandment. We need to get in the habit of asking
ourselves whether the moral choice we are making in some way honors God.
b. “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Matt. 22:39).
Key Question: What is the loving thing to do?
This is the central ethical principle of Jesus’ teaching. It directly relates to many of Jesus’ teachings such
as: “Forgive 70 x 7. Feed the hungry. Don’t judge.”
c. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matt. 7:12).
Key Question: How would I feel if I were in the other person’s shoes?
In whatever situation we find ourselves, it is helpful to consider what it would be like to walk in another
person’s shoes for a while.
4. You’re having coffee with a friend at Caribou. The friend happens to be a Hindu. She
asks how you would describe Jesus. What would you tell her?
Answers given by the class included: Son of God; Messiah; Rabbi; Carpenter; Radical; Friend; Miracle
Worker; Son of Man; Savior; Lord; Revolutionary
5. Do you resonate more closely with the picture of Jesus as the social reformer
fighting against injustice, racism, poverty, and war, or the picture of Jesus as personal
Savior and Lord, seeking and saving lost souls?
In the morning class, virtually the entire class resonated more with Jesus as personal Lord and Savior.
In the evening class, about 2/3 of the class leaned in the direction of Jesus as social reformer. Both
classes concluded that one picture isn’t right and the other wrong. We need a well-rounded picture of
Jesus that includes both.
6. Do you think our image of Jesus is too small? If so, what can we do about that?
The answer is probably yes. Jesus resists our efforts to pin him down. He regularly challenges our
assumptions, even as he calls us to follow him. Anytime we talk with others about their perceptions of
Jesus, especially those from a different tradition than ours, our picture of Jesus gets a little bit larger.
7. Suppose a young woman at Zumbro confides in you. She is feeling desperate. She is
pregnant, unmarried, and feeling no support from the father of her child. She is
worried that her parents would disown her if they found out she was pregnant. She
shares that she is leaning toward having an abortion. What would you say to her?
Many in the group encouraged adoption. Others said that regardless of what decision she might make, it
is our job to stand beside her with love and support. That might include financial help for adoption, going
with her to talk to her parents, and even going to the abortion clinic.
8. Hamilton’s attempts to help those who are pro-life and those who are pro-choice to
find some middle ground. On p. 158 he suggests seven points on which they might
agree. What do you think of this list?
2 Many found the list helpful as Hamilton tried to steer us away from extremes and closer to the point
where we could find some common ground (i.e., promoting both the sanctity of our relationships and the
need for birth control).
9. The Wesleyan Quadrilateral (p. 150) is meant to guide our ethical reflections. It
consists of Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason. Scripture is primary; tradition is
secondary; experience is specifically the Holy Spirit’s direct witness to our hearts; and
reason is given by God to help us discern what is right. Do you find this quadrilateral
helpful?
Lutherans don’t have anything like the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. In general, we have held up the primacy
of Scripture as a guide for our faith and life. At the same time, Lutherans recognize the importance
tradition and reason in helping us in interpreting the words of Scripture.
Remember: No class on May 10. Our class will resume on May 17
(morning class will meet in the Kairos Room this date only).
3