NSEC 502
Ethical Scenario Paper: Basic
Jeremy Phillips
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
NSEC 502: Christian Ethics in National Security
Dr. Kenneth Hutchinson
8 June 8, 2025
By submitting this assignment, I attest this submission represents my own work and not that of
another student, scholar, or internet source. I understand that I am responsible for knowing and
correctly utilizing referencing and bibliographical guidelines.
From: Jeremy Phillips (Liberty University Online Student)
To: Dr. Carl Hutchinson, NSEC502 Instructor
Date: 8 June 2025
Re: NSEC 502 Ethical Scenario Paper Assignment: Basic (100 pts)
Background. You (Joe) and your wife (Bev) have three children—all boys. You are a known
Christian and a deacon at your local church. Your eldest son (Tom) is about to enter high school.
The local public high school that your son will have to attend, based on your residence, has a
poor academic reputation and is known to have problems with drug use on campus. Your sister
lives in an adjoining district with a much better school. She is willing to let your child use her
address as your legal residence. You know other parents have done similar things for their kids.
In order for this to work, you would have to instruct your child to say he lives at your sister's
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address even though this is not true. It would be financially difficult to afford private school, and
you do not want to move to another district. You have been a fairly good model of integrity and
have been law-abiding. Your son is having difficulty dealing with some minor ethical issues and
you are concerned about his character.
Examine the Facts. For this scenario, we have several different things to consider. “What do we
know” and “what do we need to know”? (Rae, 2018, p.111). First, we can assess that Joe and
Bev care very much for their children and want the best for them regarding their education and
upbringing. We can also assess that Joe’s sister also cares for them, as based on the fact that
she is willing to let her nephew use her address, so he is able to attend a school in a better
district. We know that Tom is their oldest son, and the first of three boys to attend the high
school in question. We know the high school in question has a reputation for drug use among
the students. Additionally, Tom has been having some minor ethical issues and his family is
concerned about his general character. Regarding Joe, we know that he is a deacon at the local
church, and we can assess that living by a certain standard of Christian ethics is important to
him. Now, we must understand “what do we need to know”. We need to understand the issues
with the school, if they are isolated incidents and how proactive the staff is at handling those
situations. We also need to understand some of the issues Tom is having at the school and if
they are typical teenage issues or something greater. Knowing Joe’s financial situation is also of
some value, because being financially able and not wanting to are also facts that can change the
thought process. The ethical dilemma in this scenario is based on Joe and his family’s Christian
ethics. Do they use the sister’s address and lie, putting their Christian ethics to the wayside, or
do they deal with the issues at hand and try to make things work out?
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Truth Matters—Seek the Truth. Psalm 37:30 says, “The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just”. Joe is a deacon and understands what Psalm 37 is saying.
He also understands what Proverbs 4:11 is saying when it says, “I instruct you in the way of
wisdom and lead you along straight paths”. As a deacon, Joe understands what is ethically right
in the eyes of God and what violates the principles of Christian ethics. Lastly, Proverbs 12:22
says “The Lord detest lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy”.
Help from Others. Joe is a deacon at his local church. One would assume that Joe has access to
counsel from a variety of different sources within his congregation at his local church, such as a
senior deacon or Pastor. Seeking their counsel would be a beneficial way of confirming what Joe
already knows. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”, says
Proverbs 15:22. For this scenario, Joe needs to avoid the rationalization that everyone does it.
This relativist line of thinking destroys a person’s moral code (Colson, 1996, p.7). Joe knows the
world is an unethical place and does not live by the Christian ethics that his family lives by.
Additionally, if everyone were to lie so Tom could attend a different school, would that actually
fix the problem with his minor ethical issues that have been occurring? It is incumbent on Joe to
first understand the root of the problem for his son’s lapse in character. Furthermore, if Tom is
already having issues with his character, how will his father, who is a deacon, asking him to lie
help any of the issues? It seems like asking Tom to lie will only cause him further problems in his
character development.
Identify the Ethical Absolutes, Principles, Precepts, Values and Virtues/Character that Relate
to the Dilemma(s). Joe’s sister, while thinking that she is doing his family a kind gesture, has put
him in an ethical dilemma. She believes in her heart that she is doing the right thing. Saint
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Bernard of Clairvaux was thought to have said “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”
(Oxford, 2015). While on the outside the offer appears to be a genuine act of kindness to help
her family out, it is an offer full of ethical minefields. Leviticus 19:11 says “Do not steal. Do not
lie. Do not deceive one another”. Joe, the deacon, knows this situation could violate his ethical
principles of honesty. We can assume that he understands the dilemma he has been put in.
Hollinger states “In deontological ethics, one tells the truth because truth telling is in itself the
right thing to do and hence a moral obligation (2002, p.37).
Another issue that Joe faces, is this dilemma in conflict with any other perceived or
actual ethical absolutes that he, as a Christian, believes in? For this scenario it appears that the
answer to that question is a resound “no”. While we understand the Joe loves his son and wants
the best for him, being unethical is probably not the best avenue to take. Additionally, while we
know Joe loves his son, his primary duty as a Christian, even more so as a deacon, is to follow
the commands that God has given him. Lying to school officials and getting his son to do the
same does not show love for God, and realistically, does not show love for his son, even if
society sees it differently.
Consider the Consequences, Creative Alternatives and Other Applicable Theories and
Doctrines, etc. The consequences of lying about Tom’s address are multi-faceted. On the
surface, telling an innocent lie does not hurt anyone. No one is being physically harmed, and no
one is being taken advantage of financially. In reality, lying and asking Tom to lie, sets a terrible
precedent and has the potential to be a life changing event for the young man. If his father, the
church deacon, condones this lapse in character, no matter how minor it may seem, what keeps
Tom from making similar decisions when more serious matters involving ethical choices come
up? Additionally, what happens to Joe’s credibility when the members of his church find out
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that he and his family are lying to school officials to get Tom into a better school? Joe does not
just lose his credibility as a man, but in turn damages his credibility with the church and, most
importantly with God.
So, what are the alternatives for Joe and his family if they decide to not lie about his
son’s address? If this is a decision that they must make, they have several different options. It
appears that Joe’s sister cares for her nephew. It could be a possibility that he could live with her
the required amount of time for her address to become his permanent residence. They are
obviously not far apart, and it might not be a big strain on the family depending on the sister’s
immediate family situation. While this may not be ideal, if sending Tom to a different school is
that important, it is a different option that has not been mentioned.
Discussion/Decision/Rationale. Joe knows that lying about his son’s address is unethical. He
understands that asking his son to lie will only cause him further issues with his character, since
he is already starting to show minor character flaws. He knows the right answer is to not use his
sister’s address since it would be wrong to lie about his child's residence and to put his child in a
position where he must lie. We know that Tom is at an age where most young men have a
slightly rebellious streak and are testing the limits of their moral and ethical boundaries. Asking
him to lie will only help Tom in pushing the limits of how he is supposed to act in society.
However, since good schooling is so important to their family, he should make the financial
sacrifice to either send him to private school, let him move in with his sister the required
amount of time, or move to another district. What Joe should not do is lie. This is not a life-or-
death situation, and we cannot not rationalize why lying would be a choice that should be
made. Lying will only cause further disruptions in their life down the road. Lying would also be
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an afront to God because, as we mentioned before in Leviticus, we are commanded by his law
that we are not
to lie.
Stand for God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says we are to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not
on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths
straight.” While we can understand that Joe and his family are concerned with Tom’s behavior
and his education, they must rely on God’s provision to care for Joe, and specifically Tom, in this
situation.
Implementation/Fallback. Joe knows what his options are. He has to send his son to the high
school that is in the district in which they reside, move to the district that his sister lives in so
that he can attend the better high school, or make some difficult financial decisions in order to
be able to afford private school. Initially, since moving is low on the options list, Joe should send
his son to the school in their current district. They could all be pleasantly surprised at how Tom
fits in at the new school.
If it is decided that the school is not a good fit for Tom, then the hard decisions must be
made regarding moving, letting Tom live with his aunt, or choosing private school. At this point,
it is all about priorities and what is most important to Joe and his family.
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Appendix 1
Ethical Scenario: Basic
Background: You (Joe) and your wife (Bev) have three children—all boys. You are a known
Christian and a deacon at your local church. Your eldest son (Tom) is about to enter high school.
The local public high school that your son will have to attend, based on your residence, has a
poor academic reputation and is known to have problems with drug use on campus. Your sister
lives in an adjoining district with a much better school. She is willing to let your child use her
address as your legal residence. You know other parents have done similar things for their kids.
In order for this to work, you would have to instruct your child to say he lives at your sister's
address even though this is not true. It would be financially difficult to afford private school and
you do not want to move to another district. You have been a fairly good model of integrity and
have been law-abiding. Your son is having difficulty dealing with some minor ethical issues and
you are concerned about his character.
Select the best alternative or develop your own alternative. Describe and justify your selected
option and rationale in the template (not here) in “Discussion/Decision/Rationale” section.
For the other options NOT selected, briefly discuss why those options are incorrect (1-2
sentences and the rationale listed is faulty (1-2 sentences).
______(1) Use your sister's address even though you think it is wrong to do. Your child's
schooling is just too important to allow where you live to stop your child's attendance at
a better school.
_____ (2) Use your sister’s address even though you think it is wrong to do so because others
do it and you would be putting your own child at disadvantage. This is justice in action.
_____ (3) Discuss the matter with your child, explaining the importance of schooling but that he
would have to lie about his residence; then, let him decide.
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_____(4) Not use your sister’s address since it would be wrong to lie about your child's
residence and to put your child in a position where he must lie. However, since good
schooling is so important, you would make the financial sacrifice to either send him to
private school or move to another district.
_____(5) Not use your sister’s address since it would be wrong to lie about your child's
residence and to put your child in a position where he must lie. However, since the cost
of private school tuition would require financial sacrifice and moving is such a difficult
process, you would send him to the local public school and make the best of it.
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References
Colson, C. W. (1996). A question of ethics. Airpower Journal.
https://www.christianfighterpilot.com/articles/files/colson.pdf
Geisler, N. L. (2009, April 17). Any absolutes? absolutely! Christian Research Institute.
https://www.equip.org/articles/any-absolutes-absolutely/
Hollinger, D. (2002). Choosing the good: Christian ethics in a complex world. Baker Academic.
NIV (2011) The Holy Bible, New International Version.
Rae, S. (2018). Moral choices: an introduction to ethics. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
The ROAD to hell is paved with good intentions. (2015). In Oxford dictionary of proverbs /.
Oxford University Press,.
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