What is Christianity’s view on ethics and morals?

Christian ethics are unique. They are not abstract laws that govern the behavior of an individual or a community, but a relationship of deep love between the soul and its Savior, who is preparing for it to partake of heavenly glories.

Through this relationship, the faithful learn how to deal with their brothers and sisters, even those who persecute and oppress them, as well as how to deal with heavenly beings, animals, birds, and even inanimate objects. This is why St. Augustine says, “Love, and do what you will.”¹¹³³

Christ set the foundation of Christian behavioral law thus: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35).

The Apostle Paul says, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:8–10). He tells the church to walk according to the spiritual law which is founded on the bible, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

The same idea was presented in the Didache¹¹³⁴ which presents to us the right to choose between the way of life and the way of death. It does not present a very detailed list of the virtues and the vices that lead to death: “There are two ways, one of life and one of death, but a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall

1132 Tertullian, Apology 39 (ANF 3:46).

1133 St. Augustine of Hippo, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of St. John 7.8 (NPNF I/7:504) amended.

1134 The Didache , also known as The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations , is one of the most important works after the writings of the Apostles, as it talks about the life of the early Church from all perspectives: liturgical; organizational; and behavioral.

love God who made you; second, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not do to another what you would not want done to you. And of these sayings the teaching is this: Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do not the Gentiles do the same? But love those who hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly and worldly lusts. If someone strikes your right cheek, turn to him the other also, and you shall be perfect .”¹¹³⁵

In every generation and in every place, shepherds are always interested in talking about specific virtues to address certain things in their communities, but they present these virtues on the basis of a living biblical thought that highlights the importance of love, righteousness, and justice. This is achieved through free divine grace and also through one’s spiritual struggle by his holy will in the Lord.

St. Ambrose says, “Justice, then, has to do with the society of the human race, and the community at large. For that which holds society together is divided into two parts — justice and good-will, which also is called liberality and kindness. Justice seems to me the loftier, liberality the more pleasing, of the two. The one gives judgment, the other shows goodness.”¹¹³⁶

St. Augustine tells the catechumens getting ready for their baptism, “Love is the only thing that distinguishes the children of God from the children of Satan. Let us engrave on our foreheads the cross of Jesus Christ … Let us all be baptized and let everyone come into the church that we may build the gates of the church, for there is nothing that distinguishes the children of God from the children of Satan except for love.”

He also says, “The Apostle Paul in a certain place has brought me a great collection of excellent things; he has laid them open before me, and I have said to him, ‘Show me, if so be you have found among them that “wedding garment”.’ He begins to unfold them one by one, and to say, ‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels …’ Precious garments! Nevertheless, there is not yet here that wedding garment. Now bring out to us the wedding garment. Why do you keep us in suspense, O Apostle? … ‘If I’ says He, ‘have no love, nothing profits me!’ See the wedding garment; put it on, you guests, that you may sit down securely!”¹¹³⁷