Think Christian When Answers Are Not Entirely Clear

We live in an age filled with complex and confusing issues. For instance, AI presents new challenges regarding intellectual property, plagiarism, and discrimination. Biotech advancements force new questions about the difference between making human beings versus begetting them. And organ transplanting raises concerns about the nature of death.

In a world marked by moral confusion, Christians face the difficult task of thinking deeply about matters that resist simple answers. God's creation testifies to His intricate beauty through the interplay of unity and individuality woven throughout our world. As complex creatures inhabiting a complex world, our intuitive capacity to discern right action has been distorted and darkened by sin's effects.

Thankfully, God provides His people with the tools pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3). Even though the Bible doesn’t provide direct commands about every issue, it does provide commands and principles that direct our path in every age. Here’s the reality: we are not the first to wrestle with moral complexity in a fallen world—many have gone before us (Heb. 12:1-2).

For this reason, we look to Scripture for a moral framework that helps us make godly decisions in a complex age. We use four questions to guide our path when confronted with moral confusion: What is the Act itself? How does it affect the Actor? Where is the act Aimed? And how will our Associations be affected?

The Act: What's Really Being Done Here?

Euthyphro presented a legitimate question regarding God's commands: "Is something good because God wills it, or does God will it because it is good?" However, we believe that God "is" good (His essence is goodness), so anything that He commands flows from His good nature. Therefore, we can look at the nature of His commands and discern the intrinsic nature of the act. In this way, certain actions carry intrinsic goodness—they are good in themselves, not merely because of their consequences. 

Some acts are intrinsically evil—wrong by their very nature, regardless of circumstances or intentions. Rape, for instance, can never be good. God is love; rape expresses hatred. God is just; rape is injustice. God honors dignity; rape destroys it. The act of rape is contrary to God's nature; therefore, the act itself is always morally evil. There is no intention or circumstance that makes an intrinsically evil act good.

But many moral questions involve acts that aren't explicitly addressed in Scripture. This is where we ask: what category does this act fall under? When we trace an act back to biblical commands or principles, we begin to discern the nature of certain acts. 

The Actor: Who Are You Becoming?

Christian ethics considers how certain acts shape our character. The acts we perform produce internal fruit (Gal 5:16-25)—every act that does something for us does something to us! This is why virtue ethics matters. Virtue in Christian ethics is not subjective—God tells us what is virtuous. Jesus is the perfect expression of virtue.

For example, consider your decisions regarding AI. The question is more complex than simply "Should I use it or not?" Our questions must include "What kind of person will this technology make me into?" Perhaps I become more efficient, but what fruit or virtue does it produce in me?

The Aim: What's the Goal Here? 

Christian ethics examines the motive and ultimate purpose behind actions, because Christians understand history as more than random events or synthesis and antithesis. Christians believe history is a story of God’s purposes for creation and redemption. Time has a trajectory; time is moving toward a goal (Col 1:15-17). And because God's creation has a purpose; therefore, godly acts comport with His desired ends for creation.

Our motives are to correspond with God's intended purposes for every act. For instance, consider using AI to craft your final term paper for school. Some might argue, "My motive is good—I just want to pass the class!" Yet when we consider the telos of education, we see it's not merely about passing classes but developing knowledge, wisdom, and competence. An act that circumvents this purpose misses the mark, regardless of short-term motives.

Just because something accomplishes a proximate goal doesn't mean it's aimed at the right ultimate end. We must consider the purpose behind God-given structures and capacities.

The Associations: How Does This Affect Others? 

We're made in God's trinitarian image—we are relational. Our actions affect the world around us. Love of God and love for others must inform our decisions. This is slightly different from the previous question regarding the Actor. We are created beings in an ecosystem with other created beings. We live in an enchanted world with neighbors, animals, angels, and demons. Individual ethics meets social ethics here. We're not isolated decision-makers but part of communities, and our choices contribute to their flourishing—or degradation. Therefore, we can't simply ask "What should I do?" but we must ask "If I do this, what are the consequences for the community in which I live?"

Putting It Together

These four frames work together to provide comprehensive moral reasoning. When faced with an ethical dilemma, we do well to consider: What is the essential nature of this action? How will this shape my character? Where is this ultimately aimed and what are my motivations? And how will this affect my relationships and community?

This framework doesn't eliminate the need for wisdom, prayer, or dependence on the Holy Spirit. But it provides structure for moral deliberation when the path isn't clear. In a world where speedy technological change challenged our ethical intuitions and cultural values shift beneath our feet, we need more than knee-jerk reactions. We need a framework grounded in Scripture that helps us navigate apparent dilemmas with both conviction and nuance. The next time you face a decision where the right answer isn't obvious, don't just ask "Is this technically allowed?" Consider the act, the actor, the aim, and your associations. You might be surprised how much clarity emerges. Because ethics isn't just about following rules—it's about becoming people who reflect God's character in every square inch of life.