I. DEFINITION:
'Joseph Fletcher, a professor of Social Ethics, an Episcopalian and a well known proponent of 'situation ethics', stated: "As we shall see, Christian situation ethics has only ONE NORM or principle or law, that is binding and unexceptionable, always good and right regardless of the circumstances. That is "Love". 'For the situationalist there are NO RULES...none at all. Circumstances ALTER RULES and principles. All laws and rules and principles and ideals and norms, are only contigent, only valid if they happen to serve love in any situation..the Christian chooses what he believes to be the demands of love in the present situation...the new morality, situation ethics, declares that anything and everything is right or wrong, according to the situation'.
II. SPECIFIC SITUATIONS:
'On pages 164-165 of Fletcher's book, Fletcher captures the attention of the readers about a German woman separated from her husband at the Battle of the Bulge, and imprisoned in the Ukraine. While in prison she learned that her husband, who was a prisoner of war, had been released from another camp and had located their two children in Berlin. There were two reasons the Russians would release a prisoner: (1) Severe medical treatment or (2) Pregnancy. She persuaded a Russian soldier to impregnate her in order to be released. Following her pregnancy she was released and joyfully united with her family. All loved her and the child born out of adultery. Fletcher lauds this as a loving act, the law against adultery being superseded by the SITUATION AT HAND' ('Abstain from Every Form of Evil'. Weldon E. Warnock pgs. 13-14)
Other 'situations' used are the 'Alligator River Story, and the Too many people in the Lifeboat '.
III. 'THE LOVING THING TO DO'?
Fletcher and others argue, that "love" always takes the priority, even over laws against lying, stealing, adultery, fornication, and MURDER! Here we see the breakdown of 'human reasoning' apart from the word of God.
'Fletcher says that love is the only norm of ethics. But what is love? How is its context determined? We need the REST OF THE BIBLE to guide us as to just what the LAW OF LOVE expects from us' (Peter Wagner. Eternity Magazine, Feb. 1967)
'The fundamental difficulty with the "situational" approach is the absence of a definite criterion for what constitutes a "loving course" of action in any given situation. Harmon Smith asks, "How does a person know what he is doing (or has done), is the loving thing in the situation? The question is very much to the point'
a. This 'Ethic' places 'trust' in Human wisdom:
Proverbs 3:5; 16:25; Jeremiah 10:23; 1 Cor. 1:21
b. Jesus and the 'Loving Thing to Do':
John 14:15 'If ye love me, ye will keep my
commandments'
'The Serious reader of Scripture is confronted by the statement of Jesus that AUTHENTIC LOVE for God is demonstrated by keeping His commandments'
See 1 John 2:5 also.
c. Love excludes 'Sin':
Romans 13:9-10
Notice carefully: Paul says that all these 'Thou Shalt Not's', including 'thou shalt not commit... adultery, murder, theft, are included in the command 'Love Thy Neighbor'. Therefore, adultery, murder, theft, etc..ARE NEVER THE LOVING THING TO DO ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE! In addition, looking at verse 10, all these actions would be 'Working ILL' TO YOUR NEIGHBOR!
d. The Very Definition of 'Love':
1 Corinthians 13:6 'rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth'
Love never involves itself in 'Sin', but always will side with the Truth, i.e. the Word of God (John 17:17). Paul here is saying, 'TRUTH DETERMINES THE LOVING THING TO DO IN EVERY SITUATION'.
IV. THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS 'ETHIC':
A. Promotes 'Here and Now' Thinking:
'The Bible points the moral agent away from the SHORT-TERM rationalizations of personal preference toward the LONG-TERM perspective of ETERNITY' (Evangelical Ethics. John Jefferson Davis pgs. 13-14)
The woman that Fletcher used as an example, who committed adultery in order to be re-united with her family. She received what she wanted, AT THE COST OF HER SOUL, AND THE SOUL OF THE SOLDIER! Is that a "loving" relationship? 1 Corinthians 6:9
B. Elevates 'Pleasure' above all Else:
The reasoning is, in cases of hardship, pain, trouble, difficulty, or something cramping your style, you are 'excused' from the 'rules':
"If Christians may violate the law of God when it's observance would involve hardship or suffering, then there is an end to suffering for the name of Christ, and even an end to self-denial. The following passages become irrelevant. 1 Peter 2:19; 21; 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:5 'SUFFER HARDSHIP'. What has happened to 'take up your cross and follow?' Matthew 10:38
C. Promotes a 'Save Your Own Skin' Mentality:
This teaching promotes a "think about yourself and your own problems above all others".. If the truth is going to get you into trouble, then lie-i.e. save your own skin. If waiting before marriage is going to cause you discomfort, then don't-i.e. please yourself. If being a faithful Christian is going to cost you your life, then deny Christ, i.e. save yourself. HOW CAN YOU HARMONIZE THIS KIND OF REASONING WITH WHAT CHRIST SAID? Matthew 16:25 'whosoever would save his life shall lose it'. Matthew 10:33 'whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven'. The Christian is to think about others John 15:13; Philippians 2:3-4
D. Presumes Each Act will Turn Out Well:
In all these situations, it is ALWAYS ASSUMED, that the choice made will lead to happiness ever after. SITUATION ETHICS PRESUMES TO KNOW THE FUTURE!
'But what if the woman (described earlier) and her husband divorce? What if the two young people living together (claiming they are in love, and this makes it right), BREAK UP???? 'How often have you heard people justify sinful situations, by saying, 'But they are so happy now'. WHAT ABOUT A YEAR FROM NOW? Situation Ethics never answer's the question, 'HOW DID IT FINALLY TURN OUT IN THE END!'.
E. Creates a "Lesser of Two Evils Position":
'Some argue that in some circumstances any course of action open to the believer will be sinful to some degree' Like the 'Life Boat' situation, where you must decide who will live and who will die.' 1 Corinthians 10:13 And Points to Note:
1. This verse applies to 'every temptation, and trial men face'.
2. THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY OF ESCAPE.
3. God expects us to 'endure', AND NOT BAIL OUT!
F. A Lower Ethic than the Pharisees:
At least the Pharisees and scribes taught that Murder, adultery, and making false vows (those that included the name of God); were all a violation of the word of God, and hence sinful. (Matthew 5:21,27,33).
But situation ethics, would argue that 'situations' can make all of the above right!. Now which direction did Jesus take? Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees had not GONE FAR ENOUGH!! Not only murder, but anger was wrong, not only adultery, but the Lust was wrong too! AND JESUS SAID OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS MUST EXCEED THE PHARISEES! (Matthew 5:20)
G. Makes God a Liar: 1 Corinthians 6:9; Revelation 21:8
Because situation ethics argues that all fornicators, adulterers, liars, etc...will not end up lost! In fact, according to situation ethics, since everything depends on WHAT THE INDIVIDUAL THINKS THEY SHOULD DO IN THE SITUATION; in reality according to this teaching, really NO ONE HAS EVER SINNED!
The point is since God does not excuse sin in the most DIFFICULT SITUATION, I.E. LIFE AND DEATH, THIS RULES OUT ALL LESSER SITUATIONS!
Some situations for the person that teaches 'situation ethics': Matthew 4:4; Daniel 3:15-18; Genesis 39:9.