Fauni, Katrizia Cerize L.

LAW AND CHRISTIAN VALUES

A. Industry (II Thessalonians 3:6-12)

Our Lord made us good. It is only the evil who has made some people evil. The Lord would like
us not to be blinded by the vices that the society could give us. It is within our faith that would
bring us into the path of righteousness. Therefore, it is a must to keep our faith burning and
focus ourselves on what is right, in accordance to the teachings of the Lord, not on what the
vices of the society can bring.

B. Orderliness (I Corinthians 14:33)

God is the author of salvation and peace. A person who follows the will of the Lord will definitely
not be confused as the Lord is a God of all Holiness and Peace. Also, He will never lead us into
the path wherein our lives would possibly be miserable. If you set an example to others and
follow His teachings, everything will be in order. We may experience challenges but we can
overcome it if we know how to think the right way. We just need to put in mind that God will
never confuse us.

C. Human Life and Human Dignity (Genesis 1:26; 2:7; John 10:10 Genesis 2:20-23)

We believe that all human life is sacred, unique and God-given. We should also believe
that all humans are made in the image of God. We believe this to mean that many of the
characteristics of God are reflected in humans. As a result, we attest that all human life
should be treated with respect and dignity. We are entitled to every right that is in
accordance with what God has delivered in the Bible. We should always bear in mind
that every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ,
and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family.
Every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and
a right to life consistent with that dignity. Human dignity comes from God, not from any
human quality or accomplishment. Therefore, we must use this inherent power in
accordance to the will of God.
D. Integrity of Creation (Genesis 1-2)

Human beings are a part of and are intimately interrelated with every other dimension of
creation. The belief that the human community and the earth community need to live in
right relationship with one another and that the human community cannot use or abuse
the rest of creation is fundamental to this commitment.

We should always adhere to believe the Christian mandate “to love our neighbor”. It
extends not only to other human beings but also to every facet of creation. The human
community is called to live in life-giving and mutually life-enhancing relationship with all
of creation.” For the human and earth communities to live in a world of life-giving
reciprocity demands the demise of dualistic, hierarchical, and patriarchal patterns of
oppression rooted in sexism, racism, classism, ageism, militarism, violence, greed and
exploitation.

E. Due Process (Genesis 3:7-9)

God has provided us in His word with sufficient information to understand how He
expects justice to be administered. The administration of God’s justice must follow a
regular procedure with definable elements that are to be applied impartially. Because
God insists that His ministers act justly, fair and even-handed treatment is everyone’s
right. This has come to be known as "due process", that is, treatment that is due, or
owed, to all alike.

The Scripture made it clear that God considers earthly justice a matter of paramount
importance. He requires those who administer justice to do so in rigorous adherence to
His specifications. The bible presents for our instruction many clear examples of
justice carried out by means of the due process of law as well as examples of the
miscarriage of justice.
F. Principle of Legality (Genesis 1:29; 3:3)

God has given as a treasure which helps us to differentiate right from wrong. It is
within us to determine which is to be chosen. God made possible to know as to
whether or not we are in the right path. God has given us the mind to think what
amount of regulation we should follow.

G. Community (Genesis 25:7)

Community is simply sharing a common life in Christ. It moves us beyond the self-
interested isolation of private lives and beyond the superficial social contacts that pass
for "fellowship." The biblical ideal of community challenges us instead to commit
ourselves to life together as the people of God.
We know all too well that maturity takes time. We know less well that it also takes
our sisters and brothers in Christ. It’s a process that is revealed in the "each other"
language of the New Testament: Love one another, forgive each other, regard each
other more highly than yourselves. Teach and correct each other, encourage each
other, pray for each other, and bear each other’s burdens. Be friends with one another,
kind, compassionate, and generous in hospitality. Serve one another and submit to one
another out of reverence for Christ. This list just scratches the surface, but it is enough
to remind us that we need the community of faith to grow up in Christ.

H. Gender Equality (Genesis 2)

According to the Bible, gender is important to God. He created both male and female
“in his image” (Genesis 1:27). So aspects of men and women equally reflect part of
God’s nature. He is strong yet gentle, He defends and He nurtures, He is independent
and social. In short, God is like both a good father and a good mother.
Furthermore, though the male was created first, and though men are physically
stronger and often called to roles of religious, social, and economic leadership, in
heaven marriage will disappear. There both men and women will become glorious
angel-like beings. For that reason, even here on earth, men and women are to God of
equal value. Jesus showed mercy to repentant prostitutes and even honored one.

Also, God made for man a woman as a helpmate, someone who would meet his needs
and he would meet hers. This is a Complimentarian view of the male/female
relationship that says while men and women are equally valuable (fully deserving of
dignity and respect), they are designed with complimentary purposes so that they
might fulfill what the other lacks. Seen in this light, it should be understood that
neither men nor women are superior to the other because we mutually benefit from the
other sex by God’s design and purpose.

I. Family and Family Life (Genesis 2: 23-24)

Family has been the foundation of society. Within a strong, well-functioning family
we can fulfill our physical and emotional needs. Strong family ties provide us the love
and security we need for a happy life. Children grow into well-adjusted adults through
example, instruction and discipline. Chores and responsibilities are shared for the
good of all.
Family is at the center of God’s plan for the happiness and progress of His children.
The Holy Bible teaches that God established families from the very beginning and
shows us many examples of strong families. It also teaches us how to have a loving,
happy family.

J. Children ( John 6: 1-15; Mark 10:13-16)

God tells us that children are a blessing and a gift. Their spirits are filled with
innocence, joy, and laughter. Jesus actually tells us, as far as I can remember, to be
like children and to come to Him full of faith and trust. Children are innocents which
means that God absolutely treasures them as they are the heritage of the Lord.
K. Restorative Justice Principle (Luke 19:1-10) (John 8: 1-11)

Justice that makes salvation, doing so by bringing about reconciliation among

previously alienated human beings. God is not punitive but restorative. Justice is a
main characteristic of God, who creates out of a wish for relationships with creatures
and who seeks endlessly to restore those relationships when they are broken.

Also, God responds to the alienation and brokenness that came to characterize the
human situation with a long-term commitment to bring healing through the formation
of a particular community of people who would know God’s shalom and share that
widely, blessing all the families of the earth.

Moreover, Jesus emphasizes that living as part of his people involves seeking justice,
even to the point of facing persecution for doing so. Such “seeking justice” for him
included at its heart caring especially for vulnerable people, acting to restore them to
the community, and opening up the concept of “neighbor” (meaning, in part, one who
deserves being treated justly) to enemies.

Further, “The justice of God” is all about restoring wholeness in relationships, with
God and with other human beings.

Lastly, “Justice” in the Bible is restorative, through and through. The Bible’s God is
“just” especially in that God seeks to bring about healing in relationships, transform
alienation into community, restore offenders into God’s family, and bless all the
families of the earth.
L. Free Will (Genesis 1; Deuteronomy 30: 19-20)

God dignifies us with free will, the power to make decisions of our own rather than
having God or fate predetermine what we do. Consider what the Bible teaches.

God created humans in his image. (Genesis 1:26) Unlike animals, which act mainly
on instinct, we resemble our Creator in our capacity to display such qualities as love
and justice. And like our Creator, we have free will.

To a great extent, we can determine our future. The Bible encourages us to “choose
life by listening to God’s voice, that is, by choosing to obey his commands. This offer
would be meaningless, even cruel, if we lacked free will. Instead of forcing us to do
what he says, God warmly appeals to us.

Our success or failure is not determined by fate. If we want to succeed at an endeavor,

we must work hard. “All that your hand finds to do,” says the Bible, “do with your
very power.”(Ecclesiastes 9:10) It also says: “The plans of the diligent one surely
make for advantage.” Proverbs 21:5.

Free will is a precious gift from God, for it lets us love him with our “whole heart”
because we want to. But let us always remember to use it wisely and in accordance to
the will of God.