Christian Virtues are Under Construction.
This morning, our lead pastor (Bob Marvel) at Cornwall Community Church preached a message on acquiring virtues. I was inspired, and encouraged, by what I heard.
2 Peter 1:5-8 – For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The message I received was ADDING to your faith. This is ongoing.
Pastor Bob asked if we still had the same values and virtues that we had 5 or 10 years ago. Do we respond to questions and issues in the same manner that we always have? Or have our virtues altered or changed in any way? And if so, in what way?
He read this quote by Rick Singer, who was the main player in the college admissions scandal in 2019:
“I have been reflecting on my very poor judgment and criminal activities that increasingly had become my way of life. I have woken up every day feeling shame, remorse, and regret,” Singer wrote recent court submission ahead of his sentencing. “I acknowledge that I am fully responsible for my crimes.”
“By ignoring what was morally, ethically, and legally right in favor of winning what I perceived was the college admissions ‘game,’ I have lost everything.,” he continued.
William “Rick” Singer – after his sentencing for his role in the college bribery scandal
But … before we “go to people like Rick Singer,” look in the mirror. Stop condemning others. It is for this reason he doesn’t like the popular bumper sticker “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” Our walk will be effective if our virtues are always a growth process based on our life experiences. It does not begin at the moment we become a Christ-follower. Nor is it something that has to be earned. It is the beginning of our journey to become more like Christ.
2 Peter 5:9 – For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control;and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Oh how this resonates.
There is a gap between our virtues and those of Jesus. Our goal is to address the gap and narrow it. We are not alone in this journey of acquiring virtues.
Philippians 3:12-14 – Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Living a Progressive Verb life is becoming more and more like Him. A lot more like Jesus and less like me. People will notice. (And they do. I have always seen this in Lynn’s aunts on his mother’s side). Are you more a Christian than you were before? The older you are, the more grace you should have.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
- Process: What we do.
- Outcome: The results.
- Identity: What we become.
True behavior change occurs with identity change.
James Clear from his book “Atomic Habits”
The Pharisees were all about the outcomes, doing all things right but with no change within.
Colossians 3:11-12 – Here there is no Gentile or Jew,circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Holy means set apart for God’s purposes. God loves us with an unconditional love. I am becoming the person God says I am.
Philippians 3:16: Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
With God’s help, I will “become myself.”
Why This Matters to Me
I’ve felt my values shifting over the last 3-4 years. Confusion and unhelpful feelings bring me away from Christ and away from what could be going on within me. Mostly, these feelings are completely of my doing, by letting outside forces interfere. My feelings are bent on frustration and the need to communicate to others WHY they are important … and WHY my values have changed …. to influence others and validate me to THEM. This is not my purpose as a Christ-follower. My only validation is through Christ …. so …. as was recommended by Pastor Bob, I will remember to tell myself each day that I am chosen, I am holy, and I am dearly loved. So I will strive to become the person that God says I am. Others will see the change in me as my identity evolves.
And I will continue to grow in Christ through my renewed commitment to search out His will and be more like Him …. by making my identity a constant work in progress. And loving and accepting others as Jesus would do.
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