Lesson video

Hello, my name's Ms. Ramalli and welcome to today's RE lesson, which forms parts of our unit on Religious law: What is the social context and relevance today? In today's lesson, we're going to be exploring the situation ethics of Jesus.

Okay, let's start today's lesson.

Today's lesson outcome is I can explain what is meant by situation ethics and describe examples from the life of Jesus that might encourage Christians to take this approach.

To help with our learning in today's lesson, we have four keywords.

Our keywords are agape, ethical, law and situation ethics.

Agape is a type of non-romantic love, characterised by selfless and unconditional giving.

Ethical is relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong.

Law is the system of rules which a particular country or community recognises, which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.

And situation ethics is an ethical theory which argues that the most loving action should guide decisions in each situation.

Today's lesson on Situation ethics of Jesus takes two parts.

So we'll start today's lesson by exploring situation ethics and agape and then move on to consider Jesus' application of situation ethics.

So we're going to begin today's lesson by having some discussion.

So with your partner or in a small group, I would like you to discuss the following questions: How do you decide what is a right or wrong thing to do when faced with an ethical decision? What or who influences your ethical decisions? And are you more likely to think of just yourself or do you consider others when making ethical decisions? So pause the video here and then press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Izzy, Sam and Jun are trying to agree on how Christians make ethical decisions.

Izzy says, "For Christians, God's commandments are the foundation for knowing what is right and wrong." Sam says, "Right and wrong for Christians can be understood through reason and reflection on God's natural law." And Jun says, "Surely Christians focus on becoming good people, not just on obeying rules." Christians use various approaches to make ethical decisions.

Some Christians follow God's rules or duties from the Bible, such as the Ten Commandments.

Other Christians focus on laws they believe God has set out in nature, such as natural law.

Other Christians focus on becoming a good person, doing the right thing and choosing the most loving action, just as Jesus did.

Christians do not make ethical decisions in the same way.

True or false? Christians all make ethical decisions in the same way.

You have five seconds to choose the answer that you think is correct.

Well done if you said this statement Is false.

Why is the statement false? Well, Christians use different ways to make ethical decisions, like following God's commandments or laws, or looking for the most loving action.

Christians do not all decide in the same way.

Although Christians approach ethical decision making in different ways, agape love is prioritised above other considerations.

Agape love is from the Greek word meaning "selfless unconditional love." It's different from romantic or friendship love.

It is the love that God shows to people and that Jesus demonstrated.

For example, Jesus taught "love your neighbour as yourself" in the gospel of Matthew.

Jesus emphasised doing the most loving thing in any situation, which can be called situation ethics.

Situation ethics determines what is right based on a specific situation rather than by strict adherence to laws.

Agape love is at the centre of situation ethics.

The term situation ethics was created by Joseph Fletcher.

Joseph Fletcher was born in 1905 in the United States.

He believed that ethical decisions should depend on the specific circumstances, rather than following strict rules.

Fletcher was raised in a Christian family.

His religious background shaped his belief that agape should guide ethical decisions.

Okay, let's complete a check for understanding.

Select the meaning of situation ethics.

A: an ethical theory which argues that the most loving action should guide decisions in each situation.

B: an ethical theory which argues that the Ten Commandments should guide decisions in each situation.

Or C: an ethical theory, which that natural law should guide decisions in each situation.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you selected A as the correct answer.

The meaning of situation ethics is it's an ethical theory which argues that the most loving action should guide decisions in each situation.

So now it's time to complete our first practise task.

Sam and Jun are discussing agape and situation ethics.

For each statement, develop the point by giving an explanation or example.

Sam says, "In the New Testament, Jesus prioritises agape love above all else." And Jun says, "Situation ethics is an ethical theory which argues that the most loving action should guide decisions in each situation." So remember, for each of the statements, you are developing the point by giving an explanation or example.

Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video and press play when you are ready to reflect on your answers.

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

So you were asked to, for each statement, develop the point by giving an explanation or example.

So you may have included the following points in your answers.

So in the New Testament, Jesus prioritises agape love above all else.

Agape means selfless and unconditional love, and is the love God shows to people and that Jesus demonstrated, for example, Jesus taught "love your neighbour as yourself." Situation ethics is an ethical theory which argues that the most loving action should guide decisions in each situation.

The term was created by Joseph Fletcher and his Christian background shaped his belief that agape should guide ethical decisions.

Well done on completing the first practise task.

So that moves us on to the second part of today's lesson on situation ethics of Jesus, to consider Jesus' application of situation ethics.

The teachings of Jesus can be found in the New Testament.

Christians can use the teachings of Jesus as a source of authority on how to apply situation ethics.

Many examples of Jesus showing agape love and following the approach of situation ethics can be found in the Bible.

"Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath." On the Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for 18 years.

She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her: "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." Then he put his hands on her and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

Indignant, because Jesus has healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, "There are six days for work.

So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites.

Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for 18 years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

This story applies situation ethics by demonstrating how Jesus showed agape love.

He recommended going against the law to do the most loving thing.

True or false? Jesus taught that working on the Sabbath was a sin.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Well done if you said that statement is false.

Jesus broke the Sabbath law and healed the sick woman on the Sabbath.

Jesus prioritised showing agape love, even when it meant breaking the law.

"Jesus refused to condemn the adulterer." At dawn, he, Jesus, appeared again in the temple courts where all the people gathered around him and he sat down to teach them.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

In the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.

Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time.

The older ones first until only Jesus was left with the woman still standing there.

Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one can condemned you?" "No one sir," she said.

"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared.

"Go now and leave your life of sin." This story demonstrates Jesus following situation ethics by not condemning the adulterer, even though she was guilty of a sin punishable by death under the law.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan.

On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus.

"Teacher," he asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" What is written in the law," he replied.

"How do you read it?" He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself." "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied; "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself.

So he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" In reply, Jesus said, "A man was walking down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was attacked by robbers.

They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

A priest happened to be going down the same road.

And when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

So too a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was.

And when he saw him, he took pity on him.

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring an oil and wine.

Then he put the man on his donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

The next day, he took out two denari and gave them to the innkeeper.

'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.

' Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise." The Samaritans were seen as enemies of the people at the time.

And this parable demonstrates Jesus applying situation ethics by teaching agape to a stranger in need despite the person helping being seen as an enemy.

True or false? Jesus refused to punish the adulterer to death.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answer.

Well done if you said this statement is true.

Jesus followed the approach of situation ethics by not condemning the adulterer even though she was guilty of a sin punishable by death.

Jun wants to investigate how Christians today are influenced by Jesus' application of situation ethics.

He speaks to Fiona, who is a Christian.

"Does Jesus influence you to apply situation ethics, Fiona?" Fiona applies, "Yes.

One time, my elderly neighbour needed some last minute help to be driven to hospital.

It meant that I missed my dentist appointment and broke the rule of giving 48 hours notice for cancellation." How did Fiona apply situation ethics? With your partner or in a small group, I'd like you to discuss that question.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to move on with the lesson.

Okay, welcome back.

So how did Fiona apply situation ethics? So perhaps in your discussions you identified that through Fiona's actions, she demonstrated agape love because she put the needs of her elderly neighbour before her own.

And perhaps I imagine she might have got told off by the dentist for missing her appointment and not giving them enough notice.

So that is one example of how a Christian might apply situation ethics in their everyday life.

Jun wants to investigate how another Christian is influenced by Jesus' application of situation ethics.

This time he speaks to Asher, who is a Christian.

"Does Jesus influence you to apply situation ethics, Asher?" Asher responds, "Yes.

Just as Jesus forgave the adulterous, I always try to forgive others rather than judging someone when they do something wrong.

I forgave a friend who had lied to me to protect my feelings.

I chose to forgive them instead of ending our friendship." How did Asher apply situation ethics? Again, with your partner or in a small group, discuss the question.

Pause the video and press play when you are ready to reflect on your answer.

Welcome back, everybody.

So perhaps in your discussions, you identified that Asher applied situation ethics by showing forgiveness to his friends.

This would've been the most loving thing to do on reflection that his friend had lied to him in order to protect his feelings.

Let's pause and complete a check for understanding.

Select two ways a Christian may apply situation ethics.

A: by showing forgiveness, B: to help someone in need, or C: refuse to break the rules.

Remember, for this check for understanding, you need to select two answers.

Pause the video and then press play when you're ready to reflect.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to see the correct answers.

Well done if you selected answers A and B.

Two ways a Christian may apply situation ethics is by showing forgiveness and helping someone in need.

So that brings us to the point where we are going to complete the second practise task.

You need to complete the table by explaining three biblical examples of Jesus applying situation ethics.

So the biblical examples are: Jesus healed on the Sabbath, Jesus refused to condemn the adulterer, and the Good Samaritan Parable.

And for each biblical example, you need to demonstrate how did Jesus apply situation ethics? Good luck completing the practise task.

Pause the video and press play when you're ready to check your answers.

Okay, welcome back, everybody.

Time to check your answers.

So you needed to complete the table by explaining three biblical examples of Jesus applying situation ethics.

So your answers may include the following points: So for the biblical example where Jesus healed on the Sabbath, you may have said, Jesus supplied situation ethics by demonstrating agape love.

He recommended going against the law of not working on the Sabbath, to do the most loving thing.

The second biblical example, Jesus refused to condemn the adulterer.

So how did Jesus apply situation ethics here? You may have said, Jesus applied situation ethics by not condemning the adulterer, even though she was guilty of a sin punishable by death under the law.

And the last example of the Good Samaritan Parable.

So this parable demonstrates Jesus applying situation ethics by teaching selfless and unconditional love to a stranger in need, despite the person helping being seen as an enemy.

Well done on completing the second and final practise task.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson on Situation ethics of Jesus.

And here is a summary of our key learning points.

Situation ethics bases moral decisions on the context of a specific situation, rather than following laws rigidly.

Jesus highlighted the importance of choosing the most loving action in any given circumstance, a principle that underpins situation ethics.

Situation ethics places agape above all other considerations, reflecting how Jesus demonstrated the application of the law.

The Bible contains several examples where Jesus encouraged actions that broke traditional laws in order to show greater love and compassion.

And finally, Christians may be influenced by Jesus as a guiding authority on how to interpret and apply ethical laws.

Well done on all of your hard work completing today's lesson, and thank you very much for joining me.

Goodbye.