Whose Values?

Politicians of various stripes use the word "values" or "American values" to describe what they think should be common practice in America. And, progressive values, many of which are unbiblical, seem to have taken hold in our nation. But, Biblical principles have served our nation well; values such as those found in Luke chapter 6:
27 "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

These are some bedrock principles of loving even those who oppose you, being generous, and treating people the way you wish to be treated. These values come straight from the mouth of Jesus - if we are holding to these principles, it serves a citizenry well.  But, when selfishness creeps in and becomes a driving force, then people become more calloused, less generous, and less respectful of one another. Christians should ideally be setting the example of how to live a humble, kind, and encouraging life. 

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When we consider the values that are important in our nation, we can recognize that a country can be strong when it is devoted to God and when people are humbled before one another in service to each other and to a cause greater than themselves. The Bible teaches in Philippians 2:
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus...

That mind involves Jesus humbling Himself, laying down His life so that people may have a right relationship with Him.

We are experiencing a shift in values across our nation, as more progressive views of life and sexuality, a redefining of what's important and a questioning of foundational principles have become trademarks of younger generations.

The Christian Post recently ran an article about a Rasmussen Reports survey which reflected on how well Americans thought schools are doing regarding our time-tested values in Western civilization. The article notes:

According to the results, 78% of respondents say it's at least "somewhat important" for schools to teach "traditional values of Western civilization." Fifty-seven percent of all respondents believe it's "very important," an increase of about 15 percentage points from a similar survey conducted in May 2022.

OK, so three-fourths of Americans regard these values as important, over half think they're "very important."  But are these values being taught well?  Back to the article:

36% said that public schools do a "good job" — up from 25% in May 2022 — while 42% don't think schools do an adequate job teaching this topic. Twenty-two percent of participants said that they weren't sure how schools are doing in teaching traditional Western values.

And, the degree to which people think these values are being taught well varies by generation. The article says: "...only 22% of adults 65 and older and 26% of those ages 40 to 64 think that schools do a good job teaching the subject. Among participants aged 40 and under, 53% said that public schools do a good job teaching traditional Western values."

I went to the Rasmussen website to see if there was a definition of these values.  There was not.  So, you could say that values are in the eye of the beholder.  There are those that would say so-called "reproductive choice," i.e. the right to terminate the life of an unborn baby, or permissive sexuality or gender identity are American values - but, those certainly aren't the values or principles that this nation has practiced.  I think that the vernacular of "traditional American values" is still related to our founding principles; not the product of some enlightenment but out of respect for what has made us great as a nation: values or beliefs that are compatible with Scripture. 

The threat of progressivism is actually a regressive trend that would lead us away from those "values" that have served us well.  For Christians, our lives should be reflective of the values that are consistent with the teachings of the Bible.  Shared values shun personal selfishness and contribute to the common good, a concept that the Scriptures embrace, that even Jesus taught, when He told us that we should love our neighbor as ourselves.  

We are directed to place the needs of others above our own.  The Christian ethic is to build one another up; the Marxist viewpoint is devoted to tearing others down.  We are called to walk in the love of Christ, not to compete with one another and to embrace the Darwinian concept of "survival of the fittest."  The values that have reinforced our country lead to a common sense of belonging to each other as citizens, but you have so many that don't appreciate our country and are seemingly dedicated to its destruction.  Ideally, we should seek to return to a love for God and a love for our fellow citizens.