president of Kidz Blitz
The problem with virtues/values is that they don’t inspire/motivate. Everyone needs strong moral convictions, but it’s just hard to get kids/adults jazzed about: kindness, forgiving others, purity, thankfulness, etc. Don’t agree? Try to find an inspiring figure in the Bible or in history who started a movement based solely on personal values. You will have a difficult time finding a category entitled “great people of kindness.” Even Mother Teresa was revered for the work she did for the poor in India, not simply because she was kind.
Abraham was known for having the faith to move from home and start a nation, not for being thankful. Moses was known for leading God’s people out of Egypt, not for being morally pure.
Joshua was known for defeating Jericho. David was known for killing Goliath. Gideon was known for freeing the people from the Midianites. Samson was known for slaying Philistines. Peter was known for launching the church on the Day of Pentecost. Paul was known for planting churches. And the list goes on and on.
Hebrews 11 lists great people of faith. There is no Bible list for great people of virtue.
Virtues/values are critically important and indispensible. But they are not the main focus of the Bible.
Moving forward with faith in God is the theme of the Bible and the proper response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Moving forward inspires; soaking in values does not. People who move forward in faith find that values are indispensable for the journey but are not the journey itself.
Paul, the apostle, said it best in Philippians 3:13.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
My passion is to instill that “one thing I do” focus into kids/adults. God has something cool for everyone to do. Forget the past. Move forward.
I fully agree that teaching and focusing on virtues as primary creates MANY problems. It puts a huge burden on people to “be good” w/o the focus on the Holy Spirit that enables us to exhibit the “Fruits of the Spirit.”
You are so correct that virtues are NOT the theme of scripture at all. That would be focusing on what man can do. Scripture is clear that man can do nothing of significance without God’s power working in them. God is the only being able to do anything of value. The scripture’s theme is God’s love for us and therefore his grace and mercy given to us despite our brokenness. We are sinners needing Jesus. The gospel message is the theme of scripture.
I’m not sure I’d say the moving forward with faith is the theme either however. Again that puts the weight of being “good” on us when scripture is all about God. I fully agree that moving forward with faith is the response of knowing and loving Jesus.
Virtues are important, but are not primary. They should be a result of one who deeply loves God. Sometimes I think we get it backwards and try to teach kids to “be good” instead “love Jesus.”
My passion is to “love Jesus” and teach others everywhere about what an incredible God we have that loves them and gave himself for them despite their brokenness. I believe that in the long run results in a person who displays the fruit of the Spirit.
Katina
For the ministry at my home church, “Virtues” means finding out what God is like – getting to know His character and begining to trust Him. It’s building life choices around what I believe about God, and experiencing God-honoring outcomes in my life and in the lives of those around me as a result. My pastor would put it this way: “Making a difference in Las Vegas for the Kingdom of God.”
“Virtues” is code for being conformed to the image of His dear Son.
“Virtues” is code for “working out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
“Virtues” is the “Therefore….” of Romans 12-15.
And “Virtues” sum up the many lengthy descriptions by Paul throughout the epistles of what it looks like to crucify the flesh with it’s evil passions and desires and walk in the light.
There’s more!
We do not have to pick whether we live a life of faith or whether we conform to God’s character. They appear to be mutually inclusive. Have you condsidered that this could be the case?
I considered and practiced it in ministry for many years. I just prioritize it differently now.
The Jews practiced virtues before Jesus came. If virtues are the focus, Jesus came for nothing. The Old Testament is about what people did for God. The New Testament is about what God did for people.
Virtues and faith are not the same thing. Virtues are the fruit that comes from faith.
It seems to me that this is an issue of priority and not exclusivity. Jesus and His gospel is, and always should be, at the center of our lives and the center of our teaching. I think that would be hard to dispute. So, everything we teach should be taught through that lens. Are we teaching about purpose? Our purpose comes from God and through what he did on the cross. Are we teaching about sin? We should teach it through lens of the forgiveness of that sin and conquering of that sin on the cross? Are we teaching about love? We should teach it through the example of Christ’s death on the cross – there is no greater love after all. Likewise, if we are teaching virtues we must teach them through the lens of the cross. We love because God first loved us. We follow God because he made us and created us. We respect those in authority because God has put them there. We do all of those things, not because God wags his finger and says “Thou must” but because he loves us and knows what is best for us. Where is that best demonstrated but in his death on the cross.
That all said, I am reminded of verses like Philippians 2:12-16 which says:
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
Based on that, it would appear that we are to work with God – he is the only one who is ultimately able to sanctify us, but he calls us to labor with him – towards our spiritual growth. He points to a lack of grumbling and questioning and attempting to be blameless and innocent in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. I might be wrong, but this sounds like living virtuously. We learn and live virtues not to earn God’s favor but out of love and thankfulness to him for dying on the cross for our sins and everything else he does.
So, while I agree that the cross must be central in our teaching, it seems that teaching Biblical virtues also has a place in the discipleship of children. I think the key is the perspective through which you view in and the lens through which you teach it.
Great article and interesting conversation. I’m looking forward to seeing what others have to say!
Great conversation and even better at how civil it all is! We can have differences of opinion and still love one another.
If current CM practices are being criticized it is quite often due to the focus on virtues, quite often because of a lack of understanding on the criticizers part or an incorrect implementation of curriculum. This discussion seems to be serving a purpose in seeing that we are all pretty much on the same page, maybe just using different vocabulary.
There are people/organizations with whom I respect that might disagree with the position I took in this post. Their views are valid and should be heard. My hope is that this would simply advance the conversation.