Virtue

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge." [2 Peter 1:15]

    "It's character stupid, it's character," to paraphrase the rhetoric of Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign.  Everywhere I turn, people are talking about values.  Yes, values are important, but not the most important issue of life.  We all possess a set of values.  Those values determine both the choices we make and the way we treat others.
    What is it that determines our values?  Virtue.  Virtue has to do we who we are.  Virtue is a reference to character.  Our values are merely an expression of our character.  God's word defines and shapes character in terms of moral absolutes that are both unchanging and equally applicable for every person.  The ministry of Jesus was not about externally changing society.  He addressed the issue of man's character.  His ministry was about an internal transformation.
    Study the Sermon on the Mount and you will see His emphasis upon character.  Jesus was more concerned with whom you are than with what you do, because He knew who you are determines what you do.  It was only after Jesus addressed the issue of a person's character that he talked about His followers being the "salt of the earth" and "the light unto the world."  Jesus knew the influence of godly character.  Light's greatest influence is when it is pure and salt's purpose is to prevent putrefaction.  Only those with good character will have a positive influence in an evil world.
    When studying the rest of scripture, you find this same concept being taught.  The Ten Commandments focus on the moral absolutes upon which godly character is built.  Paul's description of the fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5 is a definitive description of how one's godly character is displayed toward others.  "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22, 23)
    Values are changing because of our failure to focus on virtue.  Virtue is the recognition of God's moral authority in shaping our character.  Values are an expression of God's moral authority.  The rhetoric of today is to focus upon laws designed to preserve our values.  Laws do not build character.  Character development begins with the recognition of personal sinfulness that turns a person to God for salvation.  Out of this new relationship comes the acceptance of God's moral authority that shapes character. From the heart, willingly, comes the implementation of values.
    Let me illustrate this for you.  When a person's character is shaped by God's moral absolutes, that person will love.  How does love express itself through values?  Society's values prohibit child abuse.  It is impossible to stop child abuse through legislation.  We can only punish the child abuser.  To stop child abuse, we must place an emphasis upon virtue.  A virtuous person will love.  Parents who love their child will treat that child with love.  Kindness, gentleness, patience and self-control come from the heart.  This cannot be legislated.  It is this sacrificial love that prevents child abuse.  "It's character stupid, it's character."