This series begins with foundational Biblical ethics and applies them on an increasingly large scale. This page arranges them from oldest to newest.
The Fruit of Knowledge and the First Tablet
This is the first post in the series “Ethics From the Ground Up,” in which I apply foundational Biblical morals on an increasingly large scale. This post will examine our basic duties to God, which is the foundation of all other ethics. God gave man life, and a good and fruitful world to enjoy. In…
The Penultimate End of Man, Part 1
Sure, the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, but how are we supposed to do that? The best way to find out is to see what God told man to do when He made him. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and…
The Penultimate End of Man, Part 2
I am God almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless. I will establish my covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly… As for Me, My covenant is with you: you will become the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram, but your name will be Abraham,…
Isaiah 49-55 Fulfills Genesis 1:28
This post should be the climax of this project of laying a foundation for Christian ethics. I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the centrality of Genesis 1:28 to a proper understanding of human purpose. Today I’ll look at a chunk of Isaiah that describes the fulfillment of God’s purposes for Adam, for Abraham,…
The Command is a Blessing
When God made man, He did not leave them to guess what they were supposed to do. He did not tell them to follow their heart and find their purpose. Man does not exist before he is defined. The individual human is not autonomous. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful…
SFUSD Votes to Name All Schools After Jesus Christ
San Francisco, CA— After days of deliberation, San Francisco Unified School District has decided to name every school in the district after the only person they could think of who has never done anything wrong: Jesus Christ. The process started when the school board realized that all of their schools were named after people who…
What Does it Mean to Abide in Christ?
Today I was asked this question and I wasn’t sure what to say. It is a familiar phrase, and a powerful image, but what exactly did Jesus mean by it? I did give a sermon from John 15 about 8 years ago, but I don’t trust the exegesis of 20-year-old me, so I’m back to…
The Need for Positive Ethics
The current implosion of Western society reveals that we are great at criticizing cultures, but ill-equipped to present a positive vision of a good life. Philosophies like existentialism, Darwinism, postmodernism, Marxism, and critical theory can tear down ideas, but do not build anything in their place. They criticize the patriarchy and wonder where the fathers…
Purposes of Marriage in Ruth
Rest Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to return to Moab and prays that they will find rest, each in the house of her husband (Ruth 1:9). Like the Israelites found rest in Canaan after their jouney and war, Ruth and Orpah would find security and stability in marriage. As Ruth is laboring to provide for her,…
Hapax Blogomena 