The term “Christian values” is a term often used in sermons, speeches, and even in casual conversations. We tend to use the expression when attempting to contrast “what we believe in and feel strongly about” with the loose morals or questionable ethics of an unbelieving world.

For example, television broadcasting (via both the antenna and cable or satellite) offers hours of programming that is largely void of Christian values. TV producers want to appeal to as wide an audience as possible (so they say) and so they try to provide content that is entertaining to people of every age group, taste and social background. So they say.

Money and social standing and generational preferences, all taken into account, still do not justify the tasteless content often offered, in everything from cartoons to soaps to science fiction and mystery programming. And then there is the educational or preoperational side of TV entertainment.

No, I don’t mean the “educational” content that is identified as such on public television during the hours when small children are viewing. I mean the attempts on the part of TV producers to educate the masses via so-called comedy and other family-centered programming. Such shows tell us in subtle and not-so-subtle ways what kind of people we should be, which values to hold dear, and so on. And most often, propaganda mixes with the content in ways as sickening as attempts by doctors in the old days to sweeten horrible tasting medicine with sugar and flavorings.

What disturbs me every bit as much as the TV broadcasts controlled by people who reject and actively oppose Christian faith and practice are the bad habits we Christians slip into on our own. There are things that devils do to oppose God, and things that human beings do to try and counter the influence of the church in society, but what about the things we Christians do to our own selves? When we speak of “Christian values” do we mean the values of home and family and faith in God, or do we mean the values of a materialistic world?

What are the values we hold dearest of all? Do we agree with Jesus that the things of this world are not of lasting worth, or do we struggle with all our might to gather up as much treasure in this life as possible? What do we really value? Faith? God says that our faith is more precious than gold. Do we value prayer — the privilege to enter God’s Presence and speak one-on-one with Him? Do we value giving? How many people can we help by giving of the resources (however few they may be) we have?

Or do we value cash and credit cards and clever business deals and political power and popularity and sexual gratification and leisure and all the things that any unbeliever might also value? What are real Christian values? Obviously, common sense tells us that “Christian” values are the real and constant concerns that occupy Christian hearts and minds most of the time.

I have no doubt that real Christians do care about faith in God and that we do place a high value on prayer, obedience to God, wisdom, generosity, family life, our children’s future, and a stable home. We do want our community to be safe and nourishing and morally secure. We do want a nation that believes in decency and justice and liberty. We do want leaders to tell the truth and to do what they are elected to do.

But we must be careful to guard our hearts and to weed out the corrupt values of a world in darkness. We cannot care about our family and home if we value sexual pleasures at any cost, if we value clever lies more than honesty with our spouse and children. We cannot really care about a healthy church if we are never get involved beyond mere attendance and occasional giving. We cannot truly care about our nation or a world in confusion if we never give time or attention or money to help make things better for others, for everyone.

What we really value is what we treasure. If we gather up treasures of trinkets, those things will occupy our hearts and minds. If we care about human beings and the difficulties they face, then we will think and care and act to help them. We cannot rescue every person from the consequences of their own bad choices. We can, however, help to enable them, empower them, and assist them in figuring things out. And we can do our very best to make sure that innocent children are not suffering horribly for the choices of foolish adults who lived long before their time.

We can embrace the values of life usually associated with Christian faith and practice, and bring those values, those beliefs into our hearts and act on them in our daily choices. If the world can see true Christian values at work, they will give glory to God. Scripture says so. Jesus says so.

True Christian values are based on God’s own teaching through Moses, the prophets, the biblical psalms and proverbs, and especially on the words and actions of Jesus Christ our Lord. If we live by such values as these, we will win many more hearts than if we simple value the same things as everyone else, and fight to get — and keep — our share.

Jim