Why How We Live Together Matters
If you’ve ever wondered why people care so much about rules, right and wrong, or how to treat each other—especially in religious communities—you’re not alone. Morality and ethics are big words that often sound complicated, but at their heart, they’re really about how we choose to live with one another. For faith communities, like churches or synagogues, these ideas are even more meaningful. They aren’t just about following a set of rules, but about building a life together that honors God and brings hope to the world.
Let’s break down what this means in everyday language and see how it’s not just about “me and my choices,” but about “us and our shared life.”
Morality: It’s About Us, Not Just Me
We often think of morality as a personal thing—like a code you keep to yourself, a list of rights and wrongs you try to follow. While personal choices matter, the Bible paints a much bigger picture. In the ancient world, especially for Israel (the people in the Old Testament), morals were not just about what one person did alone. Instead, they were about how a whole group of people—families, neighbors, even whole towns—lived together.
Imagine a neighborhood where everyone only looks out for themselves. There would be jealousy, arguments, and people ignoring each other’s needs. Now picture a place where people share what they have, forgive each other easily, and welcome strangers. That’s what biblical morality is about: creating a community where people can thrive together. The rules God gave Israel weren’t just for individuals, but to help the whole community live well and show the world what God is like.
Community First: How We Treat Each Other Matters
So, what does it look like for morality to be “communal”? It means asking questions like:
· How do we handle disagreements?
· Do we share and help those in need?
· Are we generous with forgiveness?
· Do we welcome people who are different from us?
These are everyday things that happen in every family, group of friends, or neighborhood. In faith communities, these questions are even more important because they show the world what it means to follow God.
Take, for example, the early Christian communities. When the first followers of Jesus met together, they didn’t just talk about what they believed—they lived it out. They cared for the sick, shared their food, and welcomed people from all kinds of backgrounds. How they treated each other was part of their message. To be a community of faith meant living in ways that made God’s love and hope visible.
Faithfulness: The Bigger Picture
But there’s something deeper going on. Living morally isn’t just about getting along or keeping the peace. For people of faith, it’s about being faithful to God together. Faithfulness means sticking with God and with each other, even when things are tough. It’s about showing trust, being willing to obey, and not giving up on one another.
Why does this matter? Because, in the Bible, God’s people are called not just to be “good” for the sake of being good, but to be a light to others—a way that God’s hope and love shine in the world. Their moral life (how they lived) was a response to God’s love and a way of showing that love to others. Things like justice (making things fair), mercy (showing kindness), and love were not just ideals—they were things you could see in the way they lived.
Paul and the Thessalonians: A Real-Life Example
Let’s look at a real example. Paul, a leader in the early church, wrote letters to different Christian communities to encourage them and help them live out their faith. His first letter to the Thessalonians (a group of believers in an ancient city) is actually the oldest letter we have from the New Testament!
In that letter, Paul doesn’t start by giving rules. Instead, he thanks God for the Thessalonians’ “faith in action,” their hard work for love, and their endurance through hope. For Paul, faith, hope, and love aren’t just fancy words—they’re the daily reality of how people live together. When he does give advice or correction, it’s always with the aim of helping the community grow stronger and more united.
For example, Paul tells them to encourage each other, to live in peace, to avoid harmful behaviors, and to support the weak. He doesn’t just say, “Be good.” He says, “Be good to each other.” The goal isn’t just personal morality—but a community that reflects God’s grace and power.
What Does This Mean for Us Today?
In our world, it’s easy to think that moral decisions are private matters. We hear messages like, “Do what’s best for you,” or “Follow your heart.” While those things have their place, biblical morality reminds us that our choices always affect others—our families, our friends, our neighborhoods.
When we think about what’s right or wrong, we should also ask:
· How will this impact those around me?
· Does this choice build up my community or tear it down?
· Am I helping others see God’s love through my actions?
Being a “people of God” means being known for faithfulness—not just showing up for religious events, but living in ways that make our values clear. It means making kindness, honesty, forgiveness, and hospitality a normal part of everyday life.
Morality as a Gift, Not a Burden
Some people see morality and ethics as a bunch of rules or restrictions. But in the Bible, living morally is seen as a gift—a way that leads to deeper relationships with God and with others. It’s less about what you can’t do and more about what you can become: a community where hope, love, and joy are real.
Paul’s words to the Thessalonians—encouraging them to show faith in action, work for love, and persevere through hope—are still true today. When we live faithfully together, our communities become signs of hope in a world that often feels divided or lonely.
In Summary: Living Together in Faith and Hope
To wrap it up, morality and ethics in the biblical sense aren’t just about personal habits. They’re about how we, together, answer God’s call and live out hope in the world. Whether we’re talking about ancient Israel or a small group of friends today, the real question is, “How do we live together in a way that honors God and brings life to our community?”
When we make choices that care for others, forgive easily, share freely, and welcome those who need a place to belong, we’re living out what it means to be God’s people. Our moral life becomes a message in itself—a sign that God’s love is real, and that hope is possible.
So next time you wonder what morality and ethics are really about, remember: it’s not just about you. It’s about all of us, living in hope and faithfulness, together.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 