Christian ethics

Questions of right and wrong considered within a Christian context. In Christianity, the Bible, the church, and prayer influence Christians when making decisions concerned with right and wrong. Concern for others, as demonstrated through Christian love (Greek agape), is a guiding principle for all Christians, while the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17) form the basis of the Christian moral code. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–11) describe the ideal traits of the Christian character.

Biblical passages repeatedly affirm the importance and principles of Christian love: that ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8); that ‘Whoever loves God must love his brother’ (1 John 4:21); that the two greatest commandments are to love God with heart, soul, and mind, and to love one's neighbour as oneself (Matthew 22:37–40 and Mark 12:8–34); and that the greatest of all virtues is sincere love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Matthew 6:25–34 encourages Christians not to worry about material things, and Matthew 7:1–2 warns Christians not to judge others, as they will be judged by the same measure. Submission to the authorities, and the payment of all debts and taxes, is also encouraged

Birth control Different branches of the Christian church have differing attitudes towards family planning and the use of contraceptives to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. Roman Catholics are taught that the main purpose of sexual intercourse is for the procreation of children; if a woman becomes pregnant, it is seen as a gift from God. It forbids all artificial forms of contraception, and only accepts natural methods such as the rhythm method and withdrawal (the removal of the penis before sperm is released). Both methods are unreliable. Other denominations allow contraception that is acceptable to both partners.

Abortion Jesus did not directly teach his followers about abortion as it was not a particular, or possibly open, issue in his day. Christians believe that all life is a gift from God and, therefore, sacred. Some Christians and branches of the Christian faith consider abortion infanticide (murder), as the fetus is regarded as a living soul from the moment of conception. Many other Christians believe that abortion should not be encouraged for social as well as ethical reasons, and that it is not to be regarded as a form of birth control.

The Roman Catholic Church only permits abortion as a result of a necessary operation to save the life of the woman; for example, if a woman has cancer and her uterus has to be removed. This is because the intention of the operation is not to terminate the pregnancy; the abortion is a side effect of a life-saving operation to treat cancer (a moral philosophy known as ‘double effect’). Other Christian churches are opposed to abortion in principle. However, most accept that in certain extreme circumstances abortion may be the lesser of two evils, for example, if there is serious risk to the mother's life, if conception occurs as a result of rape, or if there is a real risk of the baby being seriously disabled. Some Christians believe that abortion should still be left to the conscience of the individual. Some Christians argue that, in some circumstances, the most loving thing to do is to allow an abortion. However, all Christians believe that they should show compassion towards the individuals making the decision.

Fertility treatment Christians believe that a child is a gift from God and a blessing, but different treatments of infertility raise different ethical questions. Most Christians support infertility treatment that does not involve a third party, although the Roman Catholic Church is against artificial insemination, as it believes that new life should be created by natural means within marriage. More problematic are the use of donor sperm, egg donation from another woman, embryo donation from another couple, or surrogacy (whereby another woman is impregnated with and gives birth to the couple's child). Most Christians prefer artificial insemination using the husband's sperm and wife's egg, because the child is a procreation of the couple. They are usually against paid surrogacy, as a child is regarded as a gift from God and should not be bought or sold.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) creates a problem for some Christians. When IVF is used, more than one embryo is created, and the ‘spare’ embryos are thrown away. For Christians who believe that life begins at conception, disposing of ‘spare’ embryos may be regarded as taking life.

Embryo research For individual Christians, the ethics of embryo research depend upon their view of the embryo. For those, including Roman Catholics, who believe that life begins at conception, experimenting on embryos goes against the teachings about the sanctity of life. Other Christians believe that scientific skills are a gift from God, and that experiments on the detection and treatment of hereditary disease and genetic defects, or the problems of infertility, can be used to relieve suffering and demonstrate love for their neighbours. The Church of England's response to embryo research was to support it under certain strict circumstances, agreeing that it should be permitted under licence on embryos ‘up to 14 days old’, but that embryos should not be created purely for scientific research.

Genetic engineering Some Christians support genetic engineering if it is used to relieve suffering or for other beneficial purposes, and may argue that scientists have received their gifts from God and should put them to good use. Others disagree, arguing that humans should not interfere with life, which is a gift from God and God's creation. They are concerned with the possibility of misuse of scientific experimentation and stress that life must be respected.

Family life The family is important in Christianity as it provides for children to be brought up in the Christian faith. It is there because it is God's will. Living within the family should be a demonstration of Christian faith in action, and involves the giving and receiving of love. The fifth of the Ten Commandments instructs children to honour their father and mother. In 1 Timothy 5:8, Christians are instructed to care for the members of their families. In Colossians 3:20–21, fathers are instructed not to make their children bitter towards them. The parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11–32) is indicative of the forgiving nature of true parental love.

Divorce The Roman Catholic Church does not permit divorce among its members, but many Christians and other denominations recognize that couples may find it difficult and sometimes impossible to live together. If a marriage has become destructive or violent, then it may be seen as an act of love to allow the marriage to end. The Gospels are ambiguous. In the Pauline Epistle 1 Corinthians 7:10–11, St Paul accepts separation if necessary, but not divorce. Although in Mark 10:10–12 Jesus condemns those who remarry after divorce as adulterous, in Matthew 5:31–32 it appears that he would allow divorce in the case of ‘marital unfaithfulness’ (adultery). Some Christians believe that those divorced are still married in the eyes of God, and the marriage vows say that only death can end a marriage. Christian ministers vary on whether they are willing to perform a remarriage.

The Roman Catholic Church regards marriage as a sacrament, an outward sign of a spiritual blessing from God, and unbreakable. However, a marriage can be annulled (declared invalid). Under Pope John Paul II, conditions for annulment have been tightened. Reasons for annulment include that a marriage has not been consummated (no sexual relationship), that a partner has been forced into marriage or not understood what marriage involved, that a partner is unable to carry out the responsibilities of marriage because of mental illness, or that one of the partners never intends to have children.

Suicide Christians believe that God gives life and only God can take it. Life is a sacred gift, and so suicide is contrary to Christian teaching. In the New Testament, Romans 14:8 states that Christians belong to God, so they have no right to end their own lives or that of another. In the Old Testament, the Book of Job 1:21 and 12:10 also confirms that all life belongs to God, and is God's to give and take away. But Christians believe they should show love and compassion to those who attempt suicide. The Samaritans was founded by Chad Varah, rector of St Stephen's Church, Walbrook, London.

In the past, people who had committed suicide were not buried in consecrated (blessed) ground, and Christians believed that the deceased would not have the chance of eternal life. The church has since adopted a much more compassionate attitude, which follows the teachings of Jesus not to judge others, as judgement is for God alone (Matthew 7:1–2).

Euthanasia Much Christian teaching is against euthanasia, in which death is brought about prematurely, particularly in cases of painful and incurable illness. Christians believe that life is sacred, that only God can give and take life. The Ten Commandments forbid the taking of life for any reason as murder. Job 1:21 in the Old Testament states that only God can take life, while St Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 teaches that the human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that harming the body is hurting God. Church leaders have consistently condemned campaigns to legalize euthanasia. Pope John Paul II described euthanasia as ‘a grave violation of the law of God.’ Christians are also concerned to protect defenceless patients from psychological pressures to speed up their own death.

But many Christians have mixed feelings. Watching a loved one die in great pain is difficult. Some people argue that if people are terminally ill and in great pain, they should have the right to ask for help to die. Modern technology has made it possible to keep people alive for longer, sometimes at the expense of the quality of life and human dignity. Most Christians support the principle is not always right to keep a person alive at all costs, and both the Roman Catholic and the Anglican churches allow large doses of painkillers, given with the intention of easing pain, even when the secondary effect of the painkillers is to shorten the person's life. In such circumstances, the main intention was not to cause death but to ease pain. Many Christians prefer the solution of the hospice movement to euthanasia. Hospices control the pain of the patients, and enable them to die with dignity.