Christian Discipleship, Christian Ethics, Peace and Justice, and Environmental Stewardship

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the Cost of Discipleship, Parables of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, Ethical Theories, War, Peace and Non-Violence, Human Rights, and Environmental Stewardship.

Building the Tower (Luke 14:28-30)

A parable illustrating that anyone desiring to follow Jesus must first count the cost and evaluate the commitment required, just as a builder calculates expenses before laying a foundation to avoid ridicule for failing to finish.

The King and His Army (Luke 14:31-32)

A parable of a king with $10,000$ soldiers who considers whether he can face an opponent with $20,000$, choosing to sue for terms of peace when outnumbered to avoid destruction; it illustrates reflecting on the cost of discipleship and allying with the more powerful one.

Saltiness (Luke 14:34-35)

A metaphor for discipleship and a warning to God's Chosen People; salt served as seasoning, fertilizer, or a catalyst on oven floors of cattle dung, but when diluted or mixed with impurities like Dead Sea gypsum, it lost its taste and was thrown away.

The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)

A parable in which a shepherd leaves ninety-nine sheep to conduct an intensive search for one missing sheep, placing it on his shoulders when found; it illustrates God's protective care and the joy in heaven over one repentant sinner.

The Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10)

A parable about a woman who loses a silver coin worth an average day's wage, lights a lamp, and sweeps her house diligently until she finds it, calling friends to celebrate, illustrating heaven's rejoicing over a single repentant sinner.

Cultural Inheritance Law (Parable of the Lost Boy)

The Jewish legal standard where an elder son receives a double portion ($\frac{2}{3}$) and a younger son receives $\frac{1}{3}$ of the father's estate upon the father's death.

Father's Five Gifts (Luke 15:22-24)

The items given to the repentant younger son upon his return: a kiss (welcome and forgiveness), a robe (honor), a ring (authority), shoes (sonship, as only the family wore shoes), and a party (celebration of a new beginning).

Wayside Soil (Matthew 13:4, 19)

The hard-packed walking path between field strips where seeds are devoured by birds; represents hearers whose minds are set against the gospel, from whom Satan snatches away the message before they can understand.

Stony Ground (Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21)

A thin layer of topsoil over an underlying shelf of limestone rock where seeds sprout quickly but wither in the heat because of lack of root depth; represents shallow converts whose faith fails during trouble (personal hardship) or persecution (physical abuse).

Thorny Ground (Matthew 13:7, 22)

Soil that looks clean but contains dormant thorns that choke out growing crops; represents hearers whose faith is choked by anxiety about this life and the deceitful pursuit of riches combined with a distrust of God's provision.

Good Ground (Matthew 13:8, 23)

Deep, clean, and soft soil that provides moisture and nourishment, yielding an abundant harvest; represents contagious Christians who receive the word with joy, remain obedient despite trials, and lead others to Jesus.

The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

A parable told to a lawyer seeking to justify himself, in which a despised Samaritan shows mercy to an injured Jewish traveler by bandaging his wounds with oil and wine, carrying him on his mule, and paying for his inn lodging after a priest and a Levite passed by.

Lord's Prayer Guidelines (Matthew 6:5-15)

Jesus' model of sincere, private prayer rather than hypocritical displays or wordy babbling; emphasizes showing respect for God ('Our Father'), seeking the kingdom, trusting God for daily food, forgiving others, and asking deliverance from hard testing.

Jewish Fasting Customs (Matthew 6:16-18)

Practices surrounding the single compulsory biblical fast on the Day of Atonement, contrasted with Pharisees who fasted publicly on market days (Mondays and Thursdays) for public approval; Jesus instructed believers to fast privately, groom themselves, and go about life as usual.

Light of the World (Matthew 5:14-16)

A metaphor teaching that Christian faith must be seen openly rather than hidden under a bushel measure, serving as a visible guide to direct others toward God and as a warning against danger.

Dropsy (Luke 14:1-6)

A medical condition characterized by swollen limbs and tissues resulting from excess body fluids; healed by Jesus on the Sabbath at the house of a Pharisee to demonstrate that God's desire for mercy and compassion overrides rigid religious rules.

Parable of the Great Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14)

A story where original guests reject an invitation to a king's son's wedding feast and kill his servants, leading the king to destroy their city and invite everyone from the streets; it includes a guest expelled for lacking proper wedding clothes.

Mustard Seed Parable (Matthew 13:31-32)

An illustration showing how the kingdom of God originates from the smallest proverbial seed in the Middle East and grows into a large tree where birds shelter, symbolizing the humble beginnings of Christianity expanding across all nations.

Yeast Parable (Matthew 13:33-35)

A parable contrasting the traditional Jewish association of leaven with evil and putrefaction against the active, transforming power of God's kingdom, which changes the character of the individual just as yeast transforms dough into soft, edible bread.

Beelzebul Controversy (Matthew 12:22-37)

An event where Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul (the ruler of demons); Jesus refuted this by arguing that a house divided against itself cannot stand and that exorcisms through the Holy Spirit signify that the kingdom of God has arrived.

Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37)

A Levite named Joseph whose nickname translates to 'one who encourages'; an early church example of generosity who sold a field he owned and laid the money at the apostles' feet.

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

An early church couple who sold property, kept back part of the money while pretending to donate the entire proceeds for praise, and fell dead at Peter's feet after lying to the Holy Spirit, instilling deep reverence in the church.

The Two Gates (Matthew 7:13-14)

The contrast between the wide gate with an easy road chosen by the majority leading to destruction, and the narrow gate with a difficult, sacrificial road traveled by few that leads to life.

The Second Coming (Matthew 24:36-44)

The sudden return of Jesus, with its exact day and hour known only to God; compared to the days of Noah where people engaged in routine living until swept away by the flood, demanding continuous spiritual readiness.

Elder (Acts 14:23; 20:28)

A church leader also termed bishop, guardian, overseer, or shepherd; appointed by the apostles through prayer and fasting to teach, guard, oversee, counsel, resolve disputes, visit the sick, and manage funds.

Apostolic Succession

The Roman Catholic doctrine that priests trace their spiritual authority through bishops in an unbroken historical chain directly back to the original apostles.

Feeding of the Multitude (Matthew 14:13-21)

A miracle where Jesus took five loaves and two fish, gave thanks, broke them, and had the disciples distribute the food to thousands, leaving twelve baskets of leftover fragments to illustrate faith, sacrifice, and ministerial service.

Conditions of Discipleship (Matthew 16:24)

The three requirements laid out by Jesus following Peter's objection to His crucifixion: deny personal self-wants, take up one's cross in readiness to die, and follow His teachings obediently.

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12)

Nine blessings opening the Sermon on the Mount outlining spiritual rewards for disciples, with 'blessed' denoting enjoying God's favor and inheriting His eternal kingdom.

Turning the Other Cheek (Matthew 5:38-48)

Jesus' command calling Christians beyond the Old Testament law of retaliation, instructing them to love their enemies, pray for persecutors, go the second mile, and lend freely to stop the cycle of revenge.

Two Builders (Matthew 7:24-27)

A parable contrasting a wise man who builds his house upon a rock foundation so it withstands storms with a foolish man who builds upon sand, leading to complete collapse.

Outcasts (Gospels Context)

Jews excluded from religious and social life because of rule-breaking, considered outside God's kingdom due to sin, or individuals suffering from contagious diseases like leprosy viewed as divine punishment.

Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

A wealthy chief tax collector whose name means 'pure one'; he climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus and demonstrated repentance by giving half of his possessions to the poor and restoring fourfold any money stolen.

The Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21)

A productive farmer who planned to tear down his barns to build larger ones to hoard his goods in self-indulgent security, only to have his life taken by God that night because he was not rich toward God.

Examples from Nature (Luke 12:24-28)

Jesus' teachings against anxiety using ravens (unclean birds fed by God), lilies (wildflowers clothed more beautifully than King Solomon without spinning or labor), and grass (which exists today and is burned tomorrow).

Ethikos

The Greek root word for ethics, meaning character; refers to a system of rules that governs human behavior or the conduct of an activity.

Moral, Immoral, and Amoral

The three classifications of human conduct: moral actions are good and ought to be done; immoral actions are bad and ought not to be done; amoral actions are neither good nor bad or fall outside the rule system.

Teleological Ethics

An ethical framework asserting that the moral rightness or wrongness of an action is determined by the consequences or outcomes it produces, where pleasant results are considered good and painful results evil.

Deontological Ethics

An ethical framework holding that actions are intrinsically right or wrong in themselves based on absolute laws or duties, regardless of the consequences.

Eternal Laws (God-Made Laws)

Divine, unchangeable rules given by God governing relations with Him and among humans; they embody concepts of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Temporal Laws (Man-Made Laws)

Secular statutes enacted by governments to protect society and regulate citizen behavior; they change over time and do not incorporate judicial mercy or forgiveness within their statutory text.

Two Senses of Good

The descriptive sense of good as an adjective denoting functional excellence or sharpness (e.g., a 'good knife'), versus the moral sense denoting righteous character, conduct, motives, and lifestyle choices in a person.

Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31)

A parable contrasting an anonymous rich man living in luxury with Lazarus, a sore-covered beggar at his gate; upon death, Lazarus rests with Abraham while the rich man suffers torment in Hades, separated by an uncrossable gulf.

Woman with the Issue of Blood (Luke 8:43-48)

A woman who endured vaginal bleeding for twelve years, rendering her ritually unclean under Leviticus; she touched the hem of Jesus' garment in faith, was immediately healed as power left Him, and was addressed as 'daughter.'

Anointing at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13)

An event at the house of Simon the Leper where a woman poured expensive perfume from an alabaster bottle over Jesus' head to prepare His body for burial before His crucifixion.

Ethical Absolutism

The meta-ethical position that universal moral commands or prohibitions apply objectively to all people in all places and cultures without variation.

Moral Relativism

The meta-ethical view that right and wrong are not universal but depend on the diverse customs, codes, and agreements of individual cultures and societies.

Egoism

The ethical theory holding that individuals should act exclusively in their own self-interest and pursue personal happiness above all else.

Hedonism

A philosophy formulated by Epicurus asserting that the pursuit of pleasure is the supreme good and the avoidance of pain is the avoidance of evil.

Utilitarianism

A consequentialist ethical system formulated by Jeremy Bentham holding that morality is governed by 'utility' and seeking the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people.

Bentham's Four Sanctions

The four types of penalties identified by Jeremy Bentham to enforce moral behavior: physical sanctions, political/legal sanctions, social sanctions, and religious sanctions.

Predestination (Romans 8:28-30)

The theological belief held by some Protestant traditions that God chose and determined from creation who would receive salvation and glory.

Hard Determinism

The philosophical belief that every human action is entirely caused by prior genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, rendering free will and moral responsibility illusions.

Situation Ethics

A Christian ethical model pioneered by Joseph Fletcher asserting that moral decisions are not governed by absolute rules but must be decided based on whatever action is most loving (agape) in a specific context.

Antinomian Ethics

An ethical approach whose name literally means 'against law,' rejecting all set rules, principles, and predetermined guidelines in moral decision-making.

Sources of Catholic Moral Teaching

The four foundational elements guiding Roman Catholic ethics: natural moral law (reason perceiving intrinsic good and evil), informed conscience, virtue (character built on moral habits), and sacred scripture.

Obedient Love

The central concept in Paul Ramsey's Basic Christian Ethics (1950), defining Christian ethics as an 'ethic without rules' centered on Christ where everything permitted or demanded is governed by agape love.

Humanism

A secular worldview that rejects belief in God, divine revelation, and an afterlife, grounding morality in human nature, reason, experience, and mutual responsibility.

Seven Steps for Making Moral Choices

A systematic decision-making process: 1. Stop and think, 2. Clarify goals, 3. Determine facts, 4. Develop options, 5. Consider consequences, 6. Choose, and 7. Monitor and modify.

Aquinas's Three Just War Criteria

The three classical conditions established by Thomas Aquinas for a war to be justified: legitimate state authority, a just cause, and the right intention to promote good or avoid evil.

Modern Just War Additions

The three later principles added to just war doctrine: war as a last resort, proportionality in force without targeting innocent civilians, and ensuring the good achieved outweighs the evil produced.

Holy War

An armed conflict fought for religious reasons, characterized by achieving a religious goal, authorization by a religious leader, and promises of spiritual rewards (such as the Crusades or Jihad).

Francis Bacon's Five Causes for Holy War

The five justifications identified by Francis Bacon: spreading faith, retrieving formerly Christian territories, rescuing oppressed believers, purifying desecrated holy sites, and avenging blasphemy or cruelty against Christians.

Micah 4:1-4

A prophetic Old Testament vision of universal peace where nations visit the Temple to learn God's ways and beat their swords into plowshares and farming tools, abandoning warfare.

Peter's Sword (Matthew 26:51-52)

The incident in Gethsemane where Peter sliced off the ear of the High Priest's servant; Jesus rebuked him with 'All who take the sword will die by the sword,' repudiating retaliatory violence.

Terrorism

The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies for political, religious, or ideological goals.

Pacifism

The belief that war and violence are completely unjustifiable and that all disputes must be resolved through peaceful means.

Historic Pacifist Churches

Christian groups committed to non-violence, specifically the Mennonites (arising in the 1500s Reformation and refusing military service) and the Quakers / Religious Society of Friends (declaring complete non-violence in 1660).

Ahimsa

The ancient Hindu religious principle of 'doing no harm,' adapted by Mahatma Gandhi as an active non-violent tool against British colonial rule and social discrimination.

Bahamas General Strike of 1957

A non-violent protest initiated by black taxi drivers led by Sir Clifford Darling blocking Nassau International Airport against white tour operators, expanded by Sir Randol Fawkes and the Bahamas Federation of Labour into a nationwide strike that led to the formation of the Labour Department and voting rights for all men aged $21$ and over.

Black Tuesday (Bahamas, April 27, 1965)

A protest against the United Bahamian Party's gerrymandered electoral boundaries where opposition leader Sir Lynden Pindling threw the Speaker's mace out of the window of the House of Assembly to symbolize returning power to the people.

United Nations Charter

The founding treaty of the UN, named by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942, drafted by $51$ nations on October 24, 1945, and joined by The Bahamas on September 18, 1973, to maintain global peace and defend human rights.

Amnesty International

A human rights movement launched in 1961 by British lawyer Peter Benenson through the article 'The Forgotten Prisoners,' campaigning for the release of prisoners of conscience and the abolition of torture and the death penalty.

Prisoner of Conscience

Any individual physically restrained or imprisoned for peacefully expressing an honestly held political, religious, or philosophical belief without having advocated or condoned violence.

Centesimus Annus (Section 37)

A 1991 encyclical by Pope John Paul II teaching that environmental degradation stems from humanity setting itself up in place of God and tyrannizing the earth rather than acting as co-operators with God.

Major Pollution Sources

Key contributors to environmental degradation, including industry ($>32\%$), automotive emissions ($\approx 22\%$), aircraft ($\approx 15\%$), megacities ($\approx 12\%$), and nuclear waste ($\approx 7\%$).

World Hunger Toll

Ranked as the world's number one health risk, causing the death of a child every $5$ seconds and killing more people annually than malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS combined.

The Call of Creation (2002)

A teaching document by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales stating that damaging creation and forcing the poor into deprivation violates the Gospel, grounding the duty to feed the hungry in Matthew 25:35.