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Godly ethics, one code from a higher source than humans, should be our guide for appropriate behavior. That blueprint exists, but unfortunately, humans are not receptive.

Godly ethics were given to humankind as a guide for appropriate behavior.

God clothed Adam and Eve with a way of life to live outside the Garden of Eden in psychological harmony. Each of their descendants is under the law, defined, at minimum, as the Ten Commandments, Godly ethics, until the appointed time of their calling by the Father. In this chapter, we continue to define that law. In the 2022 term of psychology, the law refers to the morality or ethics encompassing our behavior. The good and bad actions that govern our interrelationship with the world, the material resources at our disposal, and the people in our sphere of influence.
(Mind-Body Problem Solved, Chapter 38 – Table of Contents)

Godly Ethics and Psychology

This image incorporates the Ten Commandments into psychology. They surround our exterior influences like a guardrail we hold so we don’t tumble off the edge. The Ten Commandments stop us from falling into bad behavior and plunging into suffering.God's ethics for all humanity based on the Ten Commandments.

Notice eight of the ten commandments are in red; these are the do-nots. Only two are in green; these are the dos. The emphasis is on the do-nots; otherwise, you will tumble off the edge into physical and mental ill-health.

A guardrail also keeps you on the right path of good physical and mental health. That’s the role of remembering the Sabbath (which I cannot elaborate on here, read this chapter in Evidence for Bible Wisdom). I hope the importance of honoring your father and mother is evident to you; unfortunately, in many circles, this is no longer the case; we’ve fallen off the edge, and sadly, our kids are paying a heavy penalty in their mental health, as are parents because we’re not following God’s ethics.

One might ask, are humans capable of applying the Ten Commandments? Nobody can do that perfectly, but could humans tend in that direction and stay more within the bounds of the guardrails? Yes, here’s why.

In the image, note the yellow background behind the Ten Commandments; it represents the spirit in (hu)man(s) we discussed in Chapter 25. God provides each human with the spirit (with a small s) to accomplish the duties He’s assigned to humans. “For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” (1 Corinthians 2:11, I will quote the rest of the verse in Section 7 :)). The spirit of man is the mind power we possess to accomplish the five aspects of consciousness, one of which is how humans function (see image above).

God gave us the spirit-power and the method, the Ten Commandments, to reach well-being, including mental stability through the application of Godly ethics.

God’s standards, the Commandments, as established by His Word for the well-being of all people, guide the five areas of human consciousness, our life here and now. Those five areas are why God created Earth and placed humans here. As much as we align these guidelines with our principles, we benefit, individually and collectively, from mental health and prosperity in our lives and community.

The Creator knows how His Creation functions best; He gave the instruction manual. For example, a car owner cannot decide how to do maintenance on the vehicle; if they don’t follow manufacturer instructions sooner or later, they’ll run into problems. With humans, this does not mean a total absence of setbacks; it does ensure a stable society. Wouldn’t we enjoy that?

The Bible states that life’s results correlate to how we live our lives. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). It’s our choice to live positively (put on God’s clothing) or negatively (put on fig leaves). Psychology exists to help babies, children, and adolescents put on God’s clothing from the start of their lives. Remedial psychology helps those who, for whatever reason, have wrapped themselves in fig leaves, in negative worldly influences, take off such dirty clothing and don clean clothes instead.

Let me add a corollary here, If psychologists or instructors are themselves wearing fig leaves, that’s the blind leading the blind. And both will tumble off the cliff. “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” Matthew 15:14. If science and psychology don’t know what the mind is, how can they treat it? Could this situation be the cause of our mental health state today? You be the judge.

Adam and Eve, natural law, and Old Testament Godly ethics

Adam and Eve needed the know-how, the Godly ethics, the rules to be able to play and win at relationships and rulership in their new location, Eden. God clothed Adam and Eve. He gave them physical protection. Figuratively, we see this as the instruction to correctly reason and lead their lives on a physical level in the new world. The Explanation’s goal is to elucidate the difference between human and God’s ways through God’s Word. Humans, by observation and intuition, have figured out a few of these Godly ethics.

Romans 2:14-15

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law (Sam: The Old Testament Godly ethics), these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.

Natural law is a theory in ethics and philosophy that says humans possess intrinsic values that govern their reasoning and behavior.  If any person, family, or nation applies Godly ethics, they will be blessed physically. There will be sorrow, but with that sorrow will also come benefits. God wants His and all UNconverted nations to maintain balanced physical and mental lives.

Here’s a quick summary of laws and statutes; you can read more details here. We can call them anything we want, rules, ways, and ethics; this chapter calls them Godly ethics. This is basic; there are many other references to these vast subjects, some of which we’ll see in the next chapter. The idea here is to realize that God expects us, individuals and nations, to follow law and order. These Godly ethics relate to two of the five characteristics of our consciousness.

Relational laws

  • Deuteronomy 15:7-11 How to help the poor.24:14 Respect of servants and poor.
  • 24:19 At harvest: leaving a portion for the stranger (foreigner), fatherless, widow (23:24).
  • 24:6, 10 Making loans to the poor.
  • 21:10 Dating.
  • 21:15 Mariage.
  • 21:18 Parenting.
  • 22:13 Men/women relations: adultery (verse 22), rape (25), divorce (24:1).

Rulership laws

  • Deuteronomy 17:13 How a King should rule. His responsibilities.
  • 19 Justice in the Community. 19:2 How to handle different types of murderers (21:1).
  • 19:14 Respect of property (21:22).
  • 19:15 The role of witnesses in Justice.
  • 19:22 Capital punishment (a vast subject to be understood in the context of what death is).
  • 24:7 Slavery (another contentious subject) to be understood in that context.
  • 24:14 Employee relations.
  • 24:8 Contagious diseases. Directives on how to handle Coronavirus.
  • 25 Justice includes measured punishment, retribution, and rehabilitation, but there’s no reference to prison.
  • 25:4 Treatment of animals (22:1-6).

Do a detailed study to see that each judgment can be judiciously adapted and applied to contemporary cases. All aspects of life are covered here. Do not denigrate the laws in the Old Testament. The Apostle Paul knew them intimately and gave recommendations about their application. Retain his inspired evaluation of these laws. We’ll see more in the next chapter.

2 Corinthians 3:7

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

Punishment, and even punishment by death, are necessary elements of Justice to maintain law and order. Paul states Godly ethics; the law is GLORIOUS. I don’t want to get into a long explanation, but many will focus on the end of this verse, which glory was to be done away. YES, done away for repentant believers in Christ, those in the Church, no longer under the law, to whom Paul is writing. A small minority. But, the key is these glorious Godly ethics, would bring peace and prosperity to all people worldwide. Here’s the implication.

Meditate on the following passage. Generally overlooked, but a key to understanding God and how He works with the UNconverted worldwide. Israel was to be a beacon nation. The light shining in the dark, projecting Godly ethics, His statutes, judgments, and law (see verse 8 below). Israel and ALL nations can and should recognize GOD as the God and His moral code as the one leading to harmony.

Deuteronomy 4:5-9

5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do so in the land whither you go to possess it.

6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

7 For what nation is there so great, who has God so nigh to them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

8 And what nation is there so great, that has statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

9 Only take heed to yourself, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life: but teach them your sons, and your sons’ sons; (Sam: down through the generations)

Only when a nation is ready to accept these Godly ethics, adjusted for modern living (next chapter), will God intervene to bless that nation. Study the examples of Jonah sent to Nineveh (Book of Jonah) or King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23). God did NOT ask for their spiritual conversion. Even Nineveh, not an Israelite nation, benefited from the blessings of the glorious law engraved in stones, as Paul put it.

Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden Tree. They warranted death. But, always keep in mind God wants life to prevail, “Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11).

It was valid for Israel and Nineveh and is just as accurate for individuals and any nation today. Turning from evil ways to God’s ethics is part of the answer to many of the world’s problems and would undoubtedly be beneficial to mental health.

 

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