A theological perspective on ethics, sacrifice and unity in a Tongan context

Abstract

This research is an ethical quest - attempting to find a biblical approach to the perennial question of ethics: What ought I to do? This approach concentrates on how sacrifice works towards forming authentic unity. The main Christian ethical claim in this thesis is 'sacrifice initiates and maintains unity', or simply, 'sacrifice unites'. Sacrifice is the means and unity is the end. Sacrifice means 'to make holy', and this work sees sacrifice as a means that can initiate and maintain a holy unity. The roles of belief, love and obedience are fundamental to the act of sacrifice, for they contribute to the genuine performance of the act of sacrifice. Authentic unity is sustained by holmess, which is the goal of Christian ethics. Thus, I propose that 'holy unity is the ultimate end of Christian ethics', and sacrifice is the means through which human beings can work towards that end. Sacrifice is taken here to be obligatory in every relationship, both within the human-God relationship and between human beings themselves. The concept of self-sacrifice highlights the relationship between sacrifice to unity. Matthew 16:24, which reads: 'Whoever wants to follow me, he must deny himself and pick up his cross, and follm me', emphasises the centrality of self-sacrifice to the ethics of unity. Part of this work concentrates on applying this working hypothesis to both the traditional and modern Tongan society - from the era of socio-political rigidity of feudalism to modern Tonga, where change is accelerating at a very fast pace. This approach is not only relevant for religious activities, but as well as for other areas of human activity. The role of the Christian Churches in preaching for the conversion of individuals is crucial to this study. Conversion is a spiritual process through which Christians begin to experience the redeeming power of God in exercising love and justice through self-sacrifice. When self-sacriftce is carried out in its true Christian foundation, forgiveness becomes possible and unity also becomes authentic.