American values, political values, family values, Christian values and cultural values. Values have a push and pull to them.

A foggy myriad of values make up the mosaic of our common culture. If we were honest with ourselves, we would admit that we regularly fail to live the values we aspire to. How we arrive at our values is an interesting process. For the Christian, we like to believe that our values come from Scripture or the Holy Spirit speaking to us. We would easily raise our hand to salute the idea of living Jesus values in our world. However, we often develop our values by observing the lives of those around us. The humanity we share craves to be accepted, to fit in, and to adapt to the community we choose as our own.

When we ascribe to “impacting culture with the values of Jesus” as our mission states, we ascribe to a troubling concept. The values of Jesus are really very radical and not normal to our chosen way of life. The values of Jesus confront our basic human instincts to fit in, get along, and be accepted.

What are the values of Jesus? We get asked this alot… 

Jesus was asked what was really important in life (the greatest commandment) and he responded with a very simple value system: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”  The core of Jesus’ values are found in this statement. Our reaching out, reaching in, and reaching up to God the Father and his son Jesus Christ is the primary value of Jesus. Reaching out to love the people God brings across our path is the other side of Jesus’ value system.  So clear, so simple and so hard!

As C3 Leaders we know we are a work in progress and recognize we are on a steep learning curve together. Learning and growing is a significant aspect of walking in community. Those who walk in community and know their calling have a greater possibility of living the values of Jesus. Have you been able to align your heart with Jesus values? The next 52 Voices will help you assess where you are on the journey.