Ethics in a Culture of Confusion
- Krista Bontrager
- Aug 1
- 5 min read
The word ethics is an academic word, but we want to go beyond textbooks and ivory towers and give you a practical guide to understanding what ethics really means. Krista talked to our friend, Dr. Joe Miller, and got his help to unpack big questions like what makes something right or wrong and how our everyday choices shape a more ethical society. From small personal decisions to big cultural debates, you’ll learn how to recognize ethical grey areas, apply timeless principles, and stand firm in a world where right and wrong often get blurred.
On tonight’s episode, we talked to our friend and colleague, Dr. Joe Miller. Dr. Miller is a member of our Academic Advisory Council and he has been a frequent guest on the podcast. He is an ethicist, theologian, and associate professor at Grand Canyon University.
Here are the highlights from our conversation:
Q. What is ethics, and how is it different from just following rules?
Dr. Miller defines ethics as the systematic study of moral principles concerned with beliefs and judgments about right and wrong, aimed at guiding human behavior consistently to predict outcomes and avoid unintended consequences. Unlike a rigid set of rules, ethics involves a framework for decision-making. For Christians, this framework is relational, rooted in the nature of God, scripture, and community, rather than merely following rules like the Ten Commandments.
Q. How does ethics impact everyday life for those without formal training?
Ethics affects daily decisions, such as discussions about in vitro fertilization, responses to crime, immigration policies, or parenting. These involve moral choices about right and wrong, even if not explicitly recognized as ethical issues. A Christian ethical framework, based on God's holiness and scripture, helps navigate these decisions to promote human flourishing, akin to a ship navigating obstacles to avoid relational "disasters."
Q. Where does a framework for making good moral choices come from?
While humans have an innate sense of right and wrong, sin can distort this, and culture can either reinforce or undermine it. For Christians, the framework is grounded in God's nature—holy, personal, and relational—revealed through scripture, experienced through Jesus, practiced in the church, and perfected by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4 is an example, which emphasizes humility, unity, and growth in Christ to avoid being swayed by false doctrines.
Q. How does the relational component of Christian ethics differ from other frameworks, and what challenges arise from worldview conflicts?
Christian ethics is relational, not rules-based, focusing on aligning with God's holiness through a relationship with Him and others, unlike secular or other religious frameworks (e.g., Islam's rules-based Sharia law or secular humanism's social contract or happiness-based morality). This relational approach avoids individualism and ensures consistency but can clash with secular or other religious worldviews, leading to ethical conflicts.
Q. How does the Christian worldview approach ethical decision-making differently?
The Christian worldview grounds ethics in an objective standard—God's word and nature—beyond personal feelings. This invites emotions to conform to God's framework, ensuring decisions align with His purpose (telos) rather than subjective happiness or love. Examples like cannibalism during World War II illustrate how "reason" varies by worldview, highlighting the need for an external, divine standard.
Q. How can someone approach an ethical dilemma to make a sound decision?
Dr. Miller uses a scenario of a woman in an abusive marriage considering an affair. The Christian framework prioritizes God's holiness and purpose for marriage (fidelity, reflecting Christ and the church). Even in abuse, an affair violates this purpose, though other moral actions (e.g., seeking safety) may be justified. Another example involves AI use by a marketing writer. Using AI to generate content may undermine the God-given purpose of using one's mind, especially if passed off as original work, whereas editing AI content with transparency may align with employer expectations.
Q. How does AI fit into ethical decision-making?
AI poses ethical challenges, as it reflects programmers' moral frameworks, not divine standards. For instance, AI-generated essays bypass human reasoning, potentially atrophying cognitive abilities. In scenarios like the trolley problem, AI decisions depend on programmed ethics, not relational or biblical principles. Christians must establish non-negotiables based on scripture to navigate AI's use, ensuring it aligns with human purpose and God's design.
Q. How does peer pressure affect ethical decisions?
Peer pressure can lead to decisions based on approval rather than God's holiness. Christian ethics prioritizes doing what is right over appearing virtuous (virtue signaling). Decisions should reflect relational integrity, not public perception, as illustrated by the analogy of treating a spouse well in private, not just publicly.
Q. How does the Christian framework address pleasure and pain in ethical decisions?
The Christian worldview recognizes morally good pleasure (e.g., hugging puppies), morally evil suffering (e.g., torturing puppies), morally evil pleasure (e.g., enjoying others' suffering), and morally good suffering (e.g., pain in childbirth for new life). Unlike secular systems that prioritize maximizing pleasure and avoiding pain, Christianity acknowledges that good suffering (e.g., discipline) can align with God's purpose for flourishing.
Q. What is an example of a small, common ethical dilemma, and how should it be approached?
A common dilemma is whether to confront someone in sexual sin, which might cause emotional pain. The Christian framework, rooted in God's holiness, requires speaking truth in love (Ephesians 4) to align with God's purpose, even if painful, as it promotes long-term flourishing. An analogy is a mother causing physical pain to a burned child by straightening their arm to ensure future mobility, reflecting how discipline aligns with purpose despite temporary pain.
Q. Should laws and policies be based on Christian ethics, or should we adopt a "live and let live" approach?
Certain universal principles (e.g., against murder) should be enshrined in law for societal good, and Christians should advocate for these. For example, Dr. Miller supports voting for traditional marriage but not actively funding advocacy, prioritizing cultural transformation through personal change over legal enforcement. Laws like historical blue laws (mandating church attendance) are inappropriate, as they force behavior without heart transformation.
Resources:
Christian Ethics: Living a Life That is Pleasing to God by Wayne Grudem: https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Ethics-Living-Pleasing-Revised/dp/1433590840/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title
Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics by Scott Rae: https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Choices-Introduction-Scott-Rae/dp/0310536421/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title
Check out a previous episode we did on weighing the pros & cons of AI: https://youtu.be/pM2K92MoDtQ?si=wslX5VIokFu1JlaE
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Connect with the Guest:
Stay up to date with Dr. Joe Miller at his website, More Than Cake: https://jrmiller777.substack.com/
X: @jrmiller777
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