I believe that Christian ethics is in no way opposed to moral philosophy. I cannot see how man can understand and properly explain the issue of morals in his life without him referring to the creative power behind his moral personality. Christian ethics accepts and uses the results of moral philosophy in so far as they throw light upon the fundamental facts of human nature, so how can anyone say that Christian ethics is opposed to moral philosophy? As a matter of fact, although Christian ethics presupposes the Christian view of life as revealed by Christ, and its definitions must be in harmony with Christian ideals, it takes cognizance of all the data of consciousness, and assumes all ascertained truth as its own. It completes what is lacking in other systems in so far as their conclusions are based on an incomplete survey of facts.
The twofold assumption that makes Christian ethics differ from that of philosophical ethics reveals how man without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit in his life can be able to understand the things of God. Christian ethics make known that the ideal of humanity has been revealed in Jesus Christ, and that in Him is supplied a power by which man may become his true self. How then can anyone understand such a revelation if he himself is not inspired by a divine encounter? I am not wondering why adherents of this philosophical ethics will have a lot of difficulties into understanding how man can be restored and transformed by the power of the Word of God. Speculative systems can only prescribed what ought ideally to be done and avoided but not to re-create man according to the image of his Creator, as Christian ethics presupposes.
I can see no problem if philosophy and Christian morals share with the same method known as the rational method. Every ideal has to be examined, analyzed and appropriated whether it is Christian or not. While philosophy finds his facts in the constitution of the moral world at large, Christian morals discover his in the Scripture, more particularly in the teachings of Christ. To this, I am also in agreement that every data supplied must be interpreted, unified and applied so as to form a system of ethics. Both have the influence embodied in intelligible forms and are appealing to the reasoning faculties of man. Every thought has to be contemplated, and through man’s inner conviction and personal appropriation can he decide what course of thought and action to consider.