Ethical dilemmas

[savedbygrace05]

We are living in a time in our culture where the lines of ethics and morality appear to becoming more and more blurred. Gone are the days when there were clear distinctions between right and wrong. Now it seems that twisted and blind loyalties take priority!

How would you respond to the following?

You are good friends with a couple whom you have known for many years. One day whilst in a neigbouring town you see one of the couple in a very compromising embrace with their next door neighbour. You know that the marriage of the couple has been rocky for some years, and that knowledge of this would be enough to lead to a divorce (they have 3 school age children). What would you do and why?

I will add my response in due time.

 

[Paradoxum]

We are living in a time in our culture where the lines of ethics and morality appear to becoming more and more blurred. Gone are the days when there were clear distinctions between right and wrong. Now it seems that twisted and blind loyalties take priority!

Is it any different from the past? Back then peoples morals were more controlled by their blind trust in their priest, and blind loyalty to their denomination. If it is grey then it is good. It means people have to think, rather than just doing what they were socially programmed to do since childhood.

It shouldn't be scary to have to reason right and wrong. It is the only way to be safe from needless suffering and oppression.

How would you respond to the following?

You are good friends with a couple whom you have known for many years. One day whilst in a neigbouring town you see one of the couple in a very compromising embrace with their next door neighbour. You know that the marriage of the couple has been rocky for some years, and that knowledge of this would be enough to lead to a divorce (they have 3 school age children). What would you do and why?

I will add my response in due time.

I don't know what I would do. It would seem that the other person has a right to know the truth.

 

[jehoiakim]

I would confront the neighbor who you saw ask what was going on and if you could help. Hear the neighbor out first and then move in from there

 

[theFijian]

Do nothing. Judge not, that ye be not judged.

 

[Genersis]

I would confront the neighbor who you saw ask what was going on and if you could help. Hear the neighbor out first and then move in from there

This.
It's best to try and gain as much info as possible in a respectful, unobtrusive manner, before risking nuking someone's relationship.

If it is a case of cheating, then I'd have to tell the other partner in the relationship, well, if the partner cheating doesn't.
I'd also suggest they try and fix the relationship. If that's possible, the cheating could be way too extreme to just "get over".

 

[Hexa]

Shout over to him and ask if he wants a pint?

If his marrage are on the rocks, the last thing needed would be for me to stick my nose in where its not needed, and missunderstand what could be an inocent moment that could worsen things in his marrage.

 

[welshman]

In love...talk to both parties and find out what was going on. If they admit that there is something going on, tell them that as a friend of both the guilty and innocent party; you want the truth to be told to the person who is being cheated on and that you suggest they seek counselling over what will be a very difficult period. If the guilty party refuse after giving them a defined period of time; tell the innocent party.

Jesus said "...the truth shalt set you free." If you keep this to yourself, then in my opinion you are guilty of keeping a secret about their affair. When/if that other person ever finds out, you will almost certainly lose a friend over it.

It is not your problem that one of your friends has decided to cheat. What will be your fault is when you know a brother/sister is overtaken in a fault and you do not confront them in love over it like it says in the NT.

 

[King Mob]

[/B]

I will add my response in due time.

Nothing, can't wait for your response.

 

[The-Doctor]

Personally I would think it was none of my business and say nothing about it.

 

[johan77]

First of all there is no coincidence but only providence. If God placed you in a situation to see something like that, you have a duty to do sth. There is a marriage to be saved, and there are children involved. You can't leave them alone. You can't go away like the priest and Levite from Luke 10:31,32. It's not God's will to behave that way.
Now what you do and how you do it is something very personal and you need God's leading. When we deal with similar cases we need to remember that we are weak and we can fall into the same trap like them. We need to pray and fast, for us first and for them, before we go and speak with them. We need to understand also why they have those problems. Maybe you don't need to mention what you saw (the compromising embrace). You can say very well that God made you aware that they need some help. Tell them that you decided to pray seriously for them. Sometimes it can help a lot to organize a trip together when they can focus more on their family. You can share how you overcome difficulties in your own family/relationship etc. Because you say that you are good friends, you can do more than others. Even to dare to pay and "send" them for a weekend in a nice place, without children, and you can take care of the children. To save a family, it's worthy to sacrifice as much as possible. May our Lord bless you with wisdom to do the right things in the right time.

 

[savedbygrace05]

My first proirity would be to speak asap (and privately) with the the neighbour who was seen in the compromising embrace. I would want to establish the facts and remind the individual of their obligations to spouse and children as well as their marriage vows. Beyond that it would depend on the circumstances, but I would seek to be a support to both parties.