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II. Ethical Reasoning Paper:
Making New Testament Connections to the 21st Century
Objectives: To help students reflect biblically and ethically on the issue of civil discourse and the New Testament and apply those findings to the world today. All CHS 121 face-to-face and online instructors will use the ethical reasoning assignment to generate comparative analytical data regarding student responses, which will then be reported to the General Education Committee.
The Question: Path(s) to Civil Discourse in the Apostle Paul
It’s not unusual to find differences of opinion in many areas of life: within families, churches, local communities, and national affairs. When these differences of opinion harden into angry disagreement, everyone is affected, and the community is weakened.
How can we avoid the downsides of disagreement? How can we listen to another’s viewpoint? How can we live together in peace, even when we disagree strongly? Are we capable of holding strong views and remaining unified? Does the New Testament address such concerns, and if so, how? What does the apostle Paul teach us about civil discourse?
Assignment:
In your written response, first, discuss your own tendencies, that is, how do you evaluate others’ positions, and do you tend to demonize those with whom you disagree (1-2 paragraphs)? Second, what specifically do you find in one or more of the selections below from the apostle Paul that may help in moving toward civil discourse and building stronger communities? (3-4 paragraphs). Be as specific as possible in your responses. The assignment is due by the end of class on, Friday, March 28, by 12:30 pm and is worth a total of 25 possible points.
In the course of your paper, you should include what you learned particularly from Paul’s New Testament letters that touch on civil discourse that helped you formulate your answer. You will also need to use at least one (1) of the secondary resources listed below in bold font and found in the links under “Course Resources” at the top of the Moodle webpage.
Supporting Resources and How to Cite Them Parenthetically Within Your Response:
Use these New Testament resources from the letters of the apostle Paul:
Paul’s letters of Galatians, 1 Corinthians, Colossians, and Romans (abbreviate, respectfully, in your response as Gal, 1 Cor, Col, and Rom [and then the chapter and verse(s)], e.g., (Rom 12:16).
From Galatians 3:26-29:
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
From 1 Corinthians 1:10-17:
10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
From Colossians 3:5-11:
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
From Romans 12:14-21:
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Choose also to use in your paper at least one (1) of the three (3) following resources (found in the links that are available at the top of the Moodle course website under the “Course Resources” heading) . . .
James Herrick, “Healing Words: Biblical Models of Civil Discourse”: Abbreviate in your response as (“Herrick, HW”).
Samuel James, “The Case for Civility”: Abbreviate in your response as (“James, TCC”).
Jonathan Six, “7 Steps to Help Restore Civil Discourse”: Abbreviate in your response as (“Six, 7 Steps”).
