From time to time, I used to take a day away from home, work, and all distractions. I set aside time for meditation. In Brazil, that meant setting up a hammock under the shady trees in the city park. In Turkey, I went by ferry to one of the Princes Islands, a beautiful set of pearls sprinkled across the Sea of Marmara close to Istanbul.  For a few hours, I watched clouds float by, pondering the enduring significance of traditional virtues in a society that often seemed to be sliding downhill. These virtues, deeply rooted in our history and culture, continue to hold immense value. 

Swinging slowly from side to side in the hammock, I pondered, thinking about current conversations. Outwardly, everyone, even nominal Christians, agreed these would make for a better society: humility, kindness, temperance, chastity, patience, charity, and diligence. Then, in the Middle East, the same thing happened. Everyone wanted other people to be better. 

Theory is one thing, and everyday life is another. South American and Middle Eastern communities are not committed to these virtues. Humanistic frailties are all too visible. Seven cardinal sins predominated everywhere we worked as missionaries. Pride, envy, gluttony, lust, wrath, greed, and sloth are individual sins, the exact opposite of the virtues we aspire to. Virtues matter.

In the Western tradition, virtues are defined as high moral standards, doing what’s right and avoiding what is wrong, even when that may be unpleasant. In the Christian tradition, the fundamental virtues are faith, hope, and love. Yes, everyone agrees that virtues matter. What is only sometimes noticed is that virtues originate outside us. Christian virtues are revealed; the New Covenant shows what God deems best. At the Lord’s Supper, multiplicity is brought into unity. It is the center of the Church. Salvation is rooted in sacrifice, forgiveness, redemption, and faith.

Interestingly, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism also teach that a virtuous life is built on a foundation more significant than our own lives. All teach that virtues come from beyond us. Philosophy and much educational theory are built upon this concept.

Today, to be “acceptable,” people speak less about virtues.  Everything stems from societal values. We are witnessing a significant shift away from a society shaped by Christian virtues as humanistic values take precedence. This shift, while bring about many positive changes, also raises concerns about the erosion of faith, hope, and love in our societal fabric. Today, humanistic values reign. Freedom, autonomy, and progress have replaced faith, hope, and love. Many helpful changes have come from focusing on men’s and women’s health and educational needs, especially in developing nations.

Humanity must organize itself to improve social conditions for the masses. Individuals are responsible for personal growth, often defined as “fulfilling your dream.” As a result, values are non-religious, and improvements come from measurable scientific data rather than religious revelation. Values focus on democracy, free speech, progressive policies, and rights. In addition to fundamental rights in the Constitution, new rights are espoused all the time: children’s rights, air traveler’s rights, seniors’ rights, transgender rights, etc. Openness, inclusion, diversity, and transformation are values springing from these roots, reaching the fringes and margins. 

Further segmentation appears after each new social crisis. Religion is pushed to the corner and then out the door as multiplicity enters the room, calling out, “Hello, Transformation! You’ve got power! Unity, we will reconstitute you as a new identity!” The new identity is post-human, a concept that challenges traditional human values and norms. Mockery undoes the unity that has held Western nations together for 2,000 years. Salvation is rooted in new morals. 

In this tension between virtues and values, all too common in North, Central, and South America, we, as Christian believers, will continue to preach the Word of God. We will boldly speak for Jesus Christ. He is the one who inspires both our virtues and values. Through faith in our Lord, we will use our spiritual gifts, care for the poor, receive the stranger in our midst, speak out against injustice, strengthen new churches, admonish the weak, comfort the lonely, and praise God. During societal changes, we find reassurance and hope in the enduring importance of faith, hope, and love. 

   By David Phillips