“There are at bottom only three alternative routes or approaches to follow in making moral decisions. They are: (1) the legalistic; (2) the antinomian, the opposite extreme--i.e... a lawless or unprincipled approach; and (3) the situational. All three have played their part in the history of Western morals, legalism being by far the most common and persistent. Just as legalism triumphed among the Jews after the exile, so, in spite of Jesus’ and Paul’s revolt against it, it has managed to dominate Christianity constantly from very early days.” (Situation Ethics, The New Morality, by Joseph Fletcher, page 17).

Joseph Fletcher promotes the situational (Situation Ethics) as the most desirable approach to making moral decisions. There are probably more people using some form of his Situational Ethics than we imagine. This simply means that the situation dictates how one should approach and resolve issues in his life. The highest authority for this decision is the individual himself. Whatever he chooses for the situation that is best for him is the right one, according to Joseph Fletcher.

Situation Ethics may be illustrated in this manner: The place where I work for a living is making money. I am in desperate need for money for necessities for myself and my family, and I work hard, therefore, it is right for me to take what I need from the business and say nothing about it. They owe it to me. This is not stealing, it is dealing with a situation at hand. This is accepted as right regardless of what the law says.

Another example of Situation Ethics: A young man and young woman are dating. When they are alone and “petting” the situation excites the sex drive. They reason that they are planning to marry because they love one another, and the situation is such that fornication is the most desirable thing at the moment. The sexual relationship at the moment will not “hurt” anyone and it will “confirm” their love for each other. Situation Ethics makes it right for them to engage in the act of fornication at that time. They have not sinned.

One more example of Situation Ethics: A woman, married or unmarried, becomes pregnant with child. She decides, for whatever reason, that she should not have that child. She decides to “abort’ the child for whatever reason she may have, because it is the most desirable thing for her at the moment. This is not murder; this is not immoral, because she thinks it is best for her in the situation. She has not sinned; she simply made the best decision for herself at the moment.

There are many situations almost daily that Christians face that are “solved” by the Situation Ethics approach to moral decisions. Some know they are wrong, but continue anyway; others try to salve their consciences with a “situational” remedy for their moral problems. Both groups are in violation of the divine law of Almighty God, and will answer to Him in the day of judgment.

This is despicable to me. It is a clear violation of God’s law, both in the Old and New Testaments. Killing is always wrong, and abortion is killing. When one deliberately takes the life of another, he is guilty of murder. Situation Ethics says this is all right. No situation dictates the behavior of anyone; God’s directs the thinking and behavior in all walks of life of those who want to live godly in Christ Jesus.

“Legalism” is the term given to those who believe all matters must be resolved by the law of Christ. J. P. Sanders said in Voices Of Concern, page 41: Since legalism holds sin to be a legal violation, it holds salvation to be a legal payment. Man as a sinner must do certain things required of him for forgiveness.

This bespeaks one thing: Obedience to law is unnecessary to obtain the grace of God for remission of sins. It is even evil and the cause of division in the both’ of Christ, and a barrier against the grace of God. On the other hand, they say, love will answer the prayer of Christ for unity and make us acceptable to God without obedience to law. That is the point made by the charge against Legalism.

If there is no law, there is no sin. Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4). “for where no law is, there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). Sin is not imputed when there is no law” (Romans 5:13). There is the divine law of Christ and it cannot be denied (Gal. 6:2). That is the sum of the matter. All who transgress that law commit sin, which separates one from God.