EVANGELICAL

ETHICS

Fourth Edition

Issues Facing the Church Today

John Jefferson Davis

Copyright © 1985, 1993, 2004, 2015 John Jefferson Davis

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—except for brief quotations for the purpose of review or comment, without the prior permission of the publisher, P&R Publishing Company, P.O. Box 817, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865-0817.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, © 1971 by Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from The Holy Bible, King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Italics within Scripture quotations indicate emphasis added.

ISBN 978-1-62995-218-5 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-1-62995-219-2 (epub)

ISBN 978-1-62995-220-8 (mobi)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Davis, John Jefferson.

Evangelical ethics : issues facing the church today / John Jefferson Davis. -- Fourth Edition.

pages cm

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-1-62995-218-5 (pbk.) -- ISBN 978-1-62995-219-2 (epub) -- ISBN 978-1-62995-220-8 (mobi)

1. Christian ethics--Presbyterian authors. 2. Evangelicalism. I. Title.

BJ1251.D28 2015

241’.0404--dc23

2015027049

To

Robin, Nathaniel, Elizabeth,

Alexis, Hilary, and Elliot

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

1. Dimensions of Decision Making

Cases and Issues

Biblical Authority

Empirical and Deliberative Elements

Cases of Conflicting Obligation

Christian Ethics and Law in a Pluralistic Society

2. Contraception

From Ancient Times to the Present

Modern Methods of Contraception

Moral Dimensions of Contraception

Related Issues

3. Reproductive Technologies

Artificial Insemination

Surrogate Mothers: Wombs for Rent

Sex Selection

In Vitro Fertilization

4. Divorce and Remarriage

Historical Trends

The Biblical Data

Summary and Conclusions

5. Homosexuality

Historical and Anthropological Perspectives

Medical Aspects

The Witness of Scripture

Theological and Pastoral Issues

Homosexuality and the Law

6. Abortion

Historical and Legal Background

Medical Aspects

The Psychological Dimension

Biblical, Theological, and Ethical Considerations

7. Termination of Treatment, Infanticide, and Euthanasia

Infanticide

Death, Dying, and Euthanasia

8. Capital Punishment

History and the Law

The Teachings of Scripture

Philosophical and Pragmatic Considerations

9. Civil Disobedience ...