Expanding the Beginning

I said I would begin at the beginning, and I offered my perspective on what I believe values are (“…guiding principles that enable us to demonstrate a level of integrity (a value in and of itself) so that those with whom we interact can have some idea of what they can expect of us”). I now offer other definitions of values and suggest that we build perceptions of values that help us determine what values may offer us in the 21st Century.

Values as defined by worldnetweb.princeton.,edu/perl/webwn as,“beliefs of a person or social group in which they have an emotional investment (either for or against something); "he has very conservatives values"”.

Values as defined by en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Values - “A personal and cultural value is a relative ethic value, an assumption upon which implementation can be extrapolated. A value system is a set of consistent values and measures. A principle value is a foundation upon which other values and measures of integrity are based. ...”

Over the last several months I have found it disturbing that we openly lie on television commercials. We indiscriminately mix sex, drugs, violence, and destructive behavior into media shows and advertisements and display it for all to see at anytime, at any place. We do all this, while not only continuing to confess ourselves to be people with Christian values, but some even do these things ‘in the name of God’, as if invoking His blessing. We do this despite the fact that the Christian’s “values guidebook”, the Bible, clearly tells us NOT to do them. In upcoming entries, we will take a look at some of those Biblical sayings and what God promises in relation to them. We will also take a look at some of those sayings and what God promises if we continue to disobey or rebel against Him. Some see the Bible as a purely ‘spiritual’ book. Some see it as a ‘story’ book, with little or no empirical value in today’s society. I see the Bible as a ‘spiritual’ book that provides empirical guidance, enabling its believers to experience the realities it professes when they faithfully comply with its teachings - positively or negatively.

Suffice it to say that, if my children, who go by my name, continually do those things that I tell them NOT to do, they run the risk of my revoking my support or ‘blessing’ for them and their lifestyles/behaviors. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (The Holy Bible, KJV). This scripture sounds a lot like what I said from a practical parenting point of view. If we profess ourselves to be God’s children, but we continue to believe, think, and do those things that God has told us NOT to do, we run the risk that, sooner or later, God will withdraw His blessing from us. In fact, the Bible is replete with examples of this very fact. For some the question is, is this a fact? My experience tells me that it is indeed a fact. What do your experiences tell you?

Lord, help us to read your Word, so we can get to know you better; help us to study your Word so we can see who we are in Your eyes; and help us to LIVE your Word, so that others may see you in us and give YOU the glory, the honor, and the praise. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.