Page 75 - Biblical Ethics Course

Study Section 11: Biblical Ethics Develops Spiritualty

11.1 Connect

In Jesus’s day, there was groups of religious leaders known as the Pharisees and Sadducees. These
men were the religious teachers to the people. Everyone was supposed to look up to them because
they considered themselves “spiritual” examples for all to follow. They wore special clothing and
were involved in all kinds of religious rituals in obedience to the Mosaic Law. They even went above
the call of duty and created over 600 additional rules for the people to follow. They believed that by
doing all of these religious duties, they achieved good standing in God’s eyes. It was these groups of
religious leaders who crucified Jesus on the cross.

The other day, I noticed one of the gentlemen at my church had a very large Bible. I asked him why so big. He
said, “When I carry it around, people think I am spiritual.” Does the size of your Bible, or the suit you wear make
you appear to be spiritual in the eyes of onlookers? If you think so, you are of the same mindset as the
Pharisees and Sadducees! Today, let’s find out what true spirituality is….

11.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to define what true spirituality is and how ethical decisions are related
to spirituality.

2. The student should be able to explain how solitude is a part of Biblical ethics.

3. The student should be able to list several practical applications in life as a result of developing Biblical ethics.

11.3 Biblical Ethics Develops Spiritualty.

What Spirituality?

A. “Spirituality is simply the holistic quality of human life as it was meant to be, at the center of
which is our relation to God.” (Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, p. 77)

B. “In 1 Corinthians 10:23, 24 I am told that my longing in love should be to seek the other man’s
good and not just my own . . .
These are areas of true spirituality. These are not basically external; they are internal, they are
deep; they go down into the areas of our lives we like to hide from ourselves. The inward area is the first place
of loss of true Christian life, of true result. If we can only get h old of this – that the internal is basic, the external
is always merely the result – it will be a tremendous starting place.

C. “The life of the Christian ought to be adorned with all virtues, that he may be inwardly what he outwardly
appeareth to men.” (Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, I: XIX)

D. Summary – Spirituality is the result of taking what we say we believe, and making it a matter of the heart, so
that it deeply and positively affects our relationship with God and fellow man.

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