The Ethics of the Average Atheist

"What do I mean when I express the hope that my ethical code is better than that espoused by the religious? I mean that I hope my ethics have the practical results of causing less harm to life and liberty, and dealing justice as humanely as possible, than any ethical teachings of any church." Weemaryann

The Christian’s eternal salvation (the fact that he has eternal life) has got nothing to do with him being "good," or having an ethical code. If a criminal is shown mercy by a good judge and his case is dismissed, it wasn’t dismissed on the basis of the criminal’s goodness or his standard of ethics. It was entirely on the basis of the goodness of the judge. And the sinner (a criminal in God’s eyes) has his case dismissed (has his sins forgiven) because of God’s goodness, not because of anything he has done.

Then, if the criminal has truly seen the kindness of the judge, he will leave his criminal life behind. This is done entirely out of appreciation for the judge’s goodness in dismissing his case. And that is the gospel in a nutshell. I was guilty of violating God’s Law--which says that He sees lust as adultery, hatred as murder. His ethical standards are so high, lying lips are an "abomination" (extremely detestable) to Him. Yet, His amazing grace (mercy) dismissed the case of a wretch like me.

I now live an ethical life out of an appreciation for mercy. This ethical life may or may not be as ethical as that of an atheist, but that will have no bearing at all on Judgment Day. God will judge the world in perfect righteousness, and only those who have called upon His mercy will be saved from His terrible justice.