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Values are standards, principles, or qualities that are esteemed. Therefore, they are indicative of what is important, both individually and societally.
Personal values are typically formed early in life through the influence of parents, teachers, and other authority figures. Then, reinforced by emotional investment, they gradually become incorporated into thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors. Human lives reflect their values. I once attended a church service where the pastor asked the children among the congregants, “What do your parents value?” As parents sat mortified, many children answered with complete honesty. The answers included TV, work, family, computer, etc. The exercise revealed that human beings do what they value and value what they do. |
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Change
Once values are ingrained, change proves difficult. It is typically sought only after the experience of a significant crisis. The pain and suffering associated with various crises can motivate a serious reconsideration of personal or societal values. However, while crises can influence the desire to change values, they cannot furnish the power necessary. Changing deeply rooted standards, principles, or qualities from worldly to biblical occurs only by the power of God. Both believers and unbelievers experience pain and suffering. Only the believer, however, is equipped to endure with purpose. He is set apart from the unbeliever by the indwelling presence and power of God. When the believer encounters difficulty and suffering, he can rejoice. He understands that by His presence and power God, “… causes all things to work together for good to those who love [Him], to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Consequently, the believer recognizes that God is able to use his pain and suffering for good. In contrast, the unbeliever is left to his own devices to assuage his pain and suffering. Rather than God and His infinite means, he has nothing more than the finite resources of the world with which to alleviate his distress. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Church Values The values of a particular church group are clear to all who are familiar with their practice. Whether associated with the temporal, organized church or the eternal, organic church of the New Testament, values guide mission and activity. As a result, they reflect the direction and fruitfulness of the church. The New Testament church bore spiritual fruit in significant quality and quantity. In stark contrast, the temporal, religious church is limited in the production of spiritual fruit. It does not bear the quality and quantity of spiritual fruit reflected in the pages of the New Testament. The discrepancy is related to the values they embrace. It is clear from the New Testament that the early church valued: |
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The values of the church serve a significant role in determining its spiritual vitality and fruitfulness. The primary factors that shaped the values of the early New Testament church were the leading of the risen Savior, the teaching and tradition of the Apostles, and prayer. As evidenced by church history, whenever and wherever these same values are cherished, they contribute to the bearing of spiritual fruit in New Testament quality and quantity.
© 2023 James Hiatt |
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