Menu Close

“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott

“You are going to feel like hell if you never write the stuff that is tugging on the sleeves of your heart — your stories, visions, memories, visions and songs. Your truth, your version of things, your own voice. That is really all you have to offer us. And that’s also why you were born.”
Anne Lamott

Category: Christian Values

Christian Values (?)

George 1 Comment

This post is the second in a series on Christian Values. You can read the first post HERE.

Experiencing cognitive dissonance after reading articles such as those cited in my earlier post, my first inclination was to provide proper definition of Christian Values and relieve my, and your dissonance. Fortunately, it occurred to me, those authors were doing the same in their respective articles.
What makes me think I have better understanding of Christian Values than people obviously more qualified than me?
In all likelihood, I, like them, am certain my understanding is correct and therefore have an implicit responsibility to defend those (my) values and challenge any deviation. Ergo, our divisive culture.
Feeling foolish, I have abandoned the idea of defining Christian Values, at least for now.
Instead, I want to probe some thoughts and ideas about values to stimulate our thinking and hopefully move toward greater clarity about Christian Values.

Your values are the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. They (should) determine your priorities, and, deep down, they’re probably the measures you use to tell if your life is turning out the way you want it to. When the things that you do and the way you behave match your values, life is usually good – you’re satisfied and content. But when these don’t align with your personal values, that’s when things feel… wrong. This can be a real source of unhappiness.
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_85.htm

I propose the first step (of course there is a plan) in moving toward greater clarity comes at a personal level. Step (1) Conduct a complete and thorough self-examination to determine my real values . Since all of us are irrationally wedded to our beliefs and derived values, any reasoned attempts to come to a truthful understanding of our values will be futile; unless there is some transcendent existential intervention. i.e. Moses and the burning bush…David and Nathan…Isaiah in the temple…Saul on the Road to Damascus… Peter again and again. et al.

Some think the Coronavirus pandemic is divine existential intervention, regardless, it is a significant transcendent existential experience which provides an opportunity for an examination of our values.
Admittedly, the depth and breath of the pandemic varies widely. But, even for those of us in our privileged confines are being forced to think about what we value.
This pandemic may not be a Damascus road, but we shouldn’t let a crisis go waste.
To that end, I am making an intentional effort to gain better clarity about what my true values are.
That is a daunting task but it pales with the thought that I might discover my values are misplaced and need to be changed. Sorry, that’s premature, one step at a time .

In case you’re having trouble getting started, here is a thought starter:
Did you rush out to buy toilet paper, a lot of toilet paper??

In the next post we’ll look at Step (2). How do my values align with “Christian Values”?

Christian Values

George 0 Comments

I anticipate this post to be the first of several on the subject of Christian values. The subject, Christian values, has been on my “to blog subjects” for the last few months. My interest has been tweaked as of late by the Coronavirus pandemic and the varied responses of Christian churches and individual Christians. It appears to me, based on the wide range of responses, there is a significant diversity with regard to Christian values. The continuum of responses to orders to discontinue worship service meetings and practice social distancing, range from outright defiance to agreement and cooperation; all of which I presume to be based on Christian values. It seems there is some cognitive dissonance, on Christian values among Christians. when it comes to pandemics.

Understanding and applying Christian values is not just a current problem, I would suggest it has been a struggle for every serious Christian for the past two thousand years. However, the character of the struggle has evolved over the centuries, particularly for western Christianity. The advent of a secular age, led by the enlightenment produced profound cultural shifts; not the least of which included, relativism, rationalism, individualism which dismantled our ancestors values, direction, purpose, significance and meaning. It is my premise that, cut loose from those anchors of an enchanted world, we have found new anchors upon which establish we our (Christian) values. As a result, I have lost confidence in the mantra “Christian Values”.
My personal objective is to better understand spiritual values grounded in a relationship with God through faith in Christ. I do not see this as a discrete project, but an opportunity for continued self-examination, repentance and realignment, extending through the course of my journey. Facing the prospect of values I hold dear and guide my life and decisions being misguided, is not a pleasant idea.
In the short run, I plan to share some questions and insights I have and will encounter in future posts. Once again, this subject is above my pay grade. I know there are readers with better understanding and knowledge. Feel free to help. I’d be glad to provide for guest posts.

The challenge of Christian Values

The good ole days. I sometimes long for the those days when Christian values were clear concise and unequivocal.
“Don’t Smoke, Drink, Dance, and Chew or Date Girls Who Do.”
Well, at least I didn’t chew and never dated a girl who did.  
I was very struck by a list values I came across. It might be good exercise to eliminate any non-Christian values and then print a out a card to carry with you and remind you of the values you should hold firmly.

These make “Don’t Smoke, Drink, Dance, and Chew or Date Girls Who Do.” an attractive option.

Back in December, two articles prompted me to think more about Christian Values:
The first was in Christianity Today written by editor Mark Galli entitled “Trump Should Be Removed from Office” His argument was based on Trump’s “grossly immoral behavior”. “That he should be removed, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalties but loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments.”

The second article written by Jentenze Franklin entitled “Why I still stand by 45” was also an argument based on Christian Values.
“If you have the courage, you stand with the leader who stands for the very things you would hope a president would stand for—the sanctity of life, religious freedom for private citizens and business owners, conservative federal judges, standing with the nation of Israel, and a better tomorrow for those living in poverty, especially in our largest cities—the very values and policies you pray to God your president will push forward and stand on. And he has stood up for every single one. Those ARE Christian values. …
Is your disdain for the man greater than the policies and values that matter most to our faith? “
See what I mean by cognitive dissonance? At a minimum those articles illustrate a need for clarity regarding Christian values. Of course, the problem is, both wrote from unambiguous understandings. Similarly, each of us believe our political, moral positions and religious are anchored in Christian values. For that reason, we all need to examine our “Christian Values”.

Imagine how the cultural landscape would change if Christians were clear and united in their values. Sadly, the world is confused about “Christian Values” because we are.

…given the view Christians have of culture–it’s about godless ideas and values–the way to change the culture is to 1) create a populist revolution focused on values, or 2) get Christians into positions of political power so that Christian values can become the law of the land.
But all this, according to Hunter, is based upon a flawed view of culture and, as a consequence, these Christian efforts “to change the world” have had both ironic and tragic consequences.

James Davison Hunter http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0199730806/deyorestandre-20

Generous Listening

George 0 Comments

Curious things start to happen to people when they listen generously. At the most superficial level, one hears things that he or she might not like. But one also hears the sincerity of people’s convictions, the authenticity of their experiences, and the nuance of their narratives. Being open is transformative because, almost inevitably, one finds that the stories they’ve been told about what people believe oversimplify reality.

What Teaching Ethics in Appalachia Taught Me About Bridging America’s Partisan Divide. There’s a language for talking about hot-button issues. And we’re not learning it. John F. Harris

I continue to be intrigued and troubled by the political, ideological And theological divisions that prevail in our culture. The referenced article presents some challenging thoughts about how we can move toward a a more civil and productive society.

Finding the idea of “Generous Listening” attractive, I initially thought I would just share the quote. Then I realized that would be nothing more than a meme, a cute, but pithy fleeting glimpse. The idea deserves more than a glimpse. The subject of division is too important to be dealt with memes and 140/280 character tweets. It is the character of our media saturated society to inform ourselves, shape our beliefs and influence others with annotations.

I perceive that condition is a product, at least in part, of our desire for utility and efficiency; driven by ever increasing demands on our lives. The issues that face us as a society and the church, et al , are far too deep and complex to be addressed so casually. Compromise, reconciliation and peace do not come cheap.

The attendant article provides opportunity gain insight into the challenges, as well as, possibilities for progress.