Vision & Values

Prayer

Question of Values

There’s an old joke that’s been attributed to a number of historical figures - WC Fields, Winston Churchill, in this case, Oscar Wilde. As the story goes, Wilde was seated next to an elegant lady at a dinner party.

The conversation became animated and contesting, and Wilde asked the woman if she would go to bed with him for one million pounds. The woman was flustered, but upon consideration said “Yes,” she probably would.

Wilde then asked if she would go to bed with him for five shillings. The woman exclaimed indignantly, “Of course not! What kind of woman do you think I am?” Wilde replied: “We’ve already established that, madam. Now we’re just haggling over the price.”

Now the joke is effective because it plays off the sense of values we think we have - versus the ones we really hold to. This “elegant woman” considered herself proper, not a woman to be had or sold. Joke reveals that she was not as proper as she considered herself - it was about the price, and if the price was enough, she could be had. What she valued here was money.

This morning, as we take a break from our journey through the Old Testament, and before we jump into our Advent series next week, I want to spend some time taking a look again at our Vision Framework, our guiding document that helps set the direction for the unique Kingdom calling God has for People’s Community Church. Let me start by offering a quick summary

Mission statement, which clarifies what we’re about, “Helping to lead others into the abundant life that comes through Jesus Christ.”

Core Values, which explain the question of why we’re about what we’re about. They are: Kingdom First, Lived Obedience to Jesus, Shared Life Together, and Heart Transformation (more on these later).

Strategy, how we’re going to accomplish our mission. Strategy is four-fold, Worship rooted in Acts 2 (teaching, prayer, fellowship and the breaking of bread), Spiritual Formation (both personal and in groups), Intentional Discipling, and being a Neighborhood Church.

And finally, the measurements, which answers the question of how we know we’re living out God’s unique Kingdom calling for us: Mind captivated by the reality of God and his kingdom, Heart formed toward loving God and others, Authentic loving relationships with one another and lastly, actively leading others into the abundant life of Jesus Christ.

I want to focus today on the question of values in general, and our core values in particular. Really, for two reasons.

First is that we always, always, act out of core values, whether we are aware of them or not. The things we are most deeply convicted by, they drive our behavior (as demonstrated by the Oscar Wilde joke). So it’s essential to keep coming back to these so that the core values we profess truly become for us the things that drive us - more on that in a bit.

Second, it seems to me that this is an opportune time to talk about values because, as a culture, we are really torn over the values that define our nation - and it represents a strong example of why being thoughtful and intentional about your values matters deeply.

I have found myself fascinated by the war between Israel and Hamas - in large part because of how it has exposed the battle of values, in our country and in the broader world. What we’re seeing played out in front of our eyes is a war of values - and it’s happening on three fronts.

When the terrorist attacks took place on 9/11 back in 2001, it was immediately evident to us in the West, that this was an attack on Western values, as one writer put it, “liberty, democracy, equality, freedom of speech, due process.” We were bound and determined to defend - not just our nation, but our values.

These are values that are rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Without the teachings of Scripture, you don’t have Western democracy, you don’t have the idea of fundamental human rights, the value of all men being created equal, of freedom, individual sovereignty. None of this exists without the Judeo-Christian worldview, our understanding of who God is, how he made the world. One clear example of this is the doctrine of Imago Dei, the uniquely biblical teaching that every single person is created in the image of God, and therefore has eternal worth.

These values were fundamentally different - and opposed by - the version of Islam that fueled the attacks - and that version of Islam is held by a significant number of Muslims worldwide today (as evidenced by the mass protests taking place all over the world in support of Palestine - which is effectively support of Hamas).

As much as we want to assume they just want to live peaceful lives - and many of them do - many are committed to destroying not just Israel, but the Jews as a whole. And the United States as well. The West.

They hold their values to be better than ours - and for theirs to hold sway, we should be conquered. They do not hold to Imago Dei. They don’t value individual freedom, they value complete submission to Allah, including a willingness to die for the greater cause - which is why they are willing to put civilians in harm’s way, even as the Israeli Defense Forces does everything it can to avoid killing civilians.

But here’s the dynamic that has changed so dramatically since 2001, there are now three competing sets of values that have been revealed through this war and the reaction to it. This last one that has been pervading the west is known by different names: leftism, progressive, woke ideology. The values of this world view have been driving the protests on college campuses and in various U.S. cities in support of Palestine (really, Hamas).

And this is the most fascinating one, because they have aligned themselves with those who would kill them, given the choice (talk about strange bedfellows). The primary value of this worldview is that of the oppressed versus the oppressor. That all of life - race, gender, sexuality, economic class - is broken down into who has power and privilege (the oppressor) versus those who don’t (the oppressed). And the conviction is that you always, always take the side of the oppressed. In this case, Hamas, no matter the atrocities they committed, which are justified as necessary because they are fighting, in their words, 75 years of colonialist oppression.

And this view of the world, and the values that undergird it, are in direct opposition to traditional values of the West. Their thought is that the west has always been the bad guys because we have always been the ones with power and privilege. So, here in the West, we are at war with ourselves even as we fight against the worldview and values of this version of Islam.

Values matter - they matter deeply. We are seeing the differences in values enacted in very real - and destructive ways. So it behooves us to take a serious look at our values here at PCC. Are they values worth holding? And are we actually holding to them, are they the core convictions that actually drive our behavior?

Our Values

Before we dive into our own values, it would be helpful to see what Jesus valued - after all, we are his followers, and our values should align with his, I think. It doesn’t take long to look through the Gospels and see the things that are at the very core of who Jesus is, his convictions, why he did what he did.

Most simply put, they were the two great commandments - Jesus’ highest value was to love the Father with all of his heart and with all of his mind and with all of his soul and with all of his strength. His other primary value was to his neighbor as himself. And those were Jesus’ core values - he lived them out in every way possible.

Value of Loving the Father

Absolute commitment to obedience to the Father, to doing his will - as an act of love, this willing submission - that can be seen in so many stories - the temptation in the wilderness, willingness to go to the cross (not my will, but thine, O Lord).

One of my favorite examples is Jesus’ response to the crowds when they try to come and make him King, which takes place after the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. Listen to what happens, John 6:14-15 - After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

See what Jesus does here? The people are convinced that he is the Messiah, they are ready to embrace him as the promised Messiah, to recognize him as their King. You would think Jesus would welcome that - Yes, I am the Messiah! But it was not the way or the timing that the Father intended. It was not in his will - and Jesus was committed to abiding by the will of the Father.

We see this value of loving the Father, too, in Jesus’ regularly taking time to get away and spend time alone with Father. It was an absolute priority of his life, a deeply held value because he loved the Father. Consider Mark 1:35-37, Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Jesus is up early, very early - just so he could be in solitude with the Father. But I want you to notice, too, what the disciples say when they find him - everyone is looking for you! It’s the urgency of the moment - all these people need me. I have things to do.

If Jesus valued being productive or successful, or being well-liked by people, he would not have escaped the crowds to go be in solitude. Jesus demonstrates what is important to him, being with the Father in quiet and prayer.

Value of Loving his neighbors

There’s this beautiful story in Luke 7:36-50, where Jesus goes to a dinner party hosted by a Pharisee, and in the midst of it a “sinful woman” washes his feet with her tears and dries them with her hair, kisses his feet and pours perfume on them. It is, to say the least, an awkward social moment. Well, for everyone else, not for Jesus. Expectation is that he would condemn her - or at the very least, avoid her. But he doesn’t, he receives her offering, her gift - receives it graciously, humbly. And then Jesus publicly praises her, in spite of the fact that this would not (and did not) go over well with most of those in attendance there (especially the religious leaders). But Jesus valued loving this woman, this sinful woman, as himself.

We see this same love for neighbor enacted in his relationship with his disciples. Jesus didn’t just lead his disciples, he loved them. He invested in them, traveled with them - they spent a lot of time together. He shared his life with them, and they with him. When necessary, he admonished them. But he was always for them.

Sometimes we get so accustomed to what Jesus says and does that the impact of doesn’t hit us - let me remind of how Jesus handles knowing the disciples were going to deny and abandon him, Luke 22:31-34...“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

He is about the face the greatest challenge and greatest suffering of his life (of anyone’s life), and those closest to him are going to fail him miserably. And yet you never hear a tone of irritation or frustration or condemnation - only love. I’m praying for you, because I don’t want your faith to fail. Even when Peter fails to even acknowledge the possibility that he could do such a thing…no, Peter, you’re going to do it - but you’ll turn back to me, then I want you to strengthen your brothers. Loving his neighbors includes his followers, includes us. Being for our good is at the top of his priority list. That’s what he’s all bout.

So, with Jesus as our guide, what are our core values - and how are we doing with them?

Kingdom First, based on Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:33…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

This value is all about our orientation, really a reorientation, of our life priorities, what we value most. Jesus is teaching us that we need a new focus in life, that which we are seeking after, first and foremost. What would it look like to be people who are Kingdom First, who have continually and gradually reoriented our lives to his Kingdom and his righteousness?

I came across a prayer of Dallas Willard’s (one he would pray for others, prayer I’ve begun to pray regularly), phrase that I think captures the idea of seeking first the Kingdom of God…prayer is for “a constant clear vision of never-ending life in your world before you.”

That phrase helps me to understand what Jesus means to make seeking the Kingdom of God first - that our vision would be clear and constant, we would be able to see the kingdom of God. What is the kingdom? It’s never ending life, it’s full forever life that begins here and now, in this world, in this God-saturated world, we can life live “before you” before God, with an awareness of his presence.

Lived Obedience to Jesus…You can find this value expressed in a number of places, but when we were putting the vision framework together, this verse was at the forefront of our minds, Matthew 7:24, Therefore everyone who hears this words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

As Jesus was obedient to Father, we are obedient to him, we actively put his teachings into practice in our lives. We do so because we need to learn how to live a Kingdom life, way of righteousness - and Jesus is just the one to teach us how!

And we know this is a value for us if we’re attentive to the words of Scripture, to what Jesus teaches, and we are actively and intentionally seeking to live in greater obedience to them. We don’t assumed we’re already there (go my ticket to heaven, I’m good) - lifelong learners, followers. Show me, Jesus. Teach me. Shape me.

Shared Life Together

This is a recognition that we need one another. We were made to live in community, that the idea of solo Christianity, doing it on your own, is foreign to the Scriptures. Jesus lived in community, so should we. Means far more than just quick greetings on Sunday mornings - it means we are taking the time to share our lives, to know each other - and be known.

Heart Transformation

Finally, we have set this as a core value because we recognize that we need to change, to be transformed - and that change takes place from the inside out, from our heart, the center of our will and desire. As our hearts change, so will our attitude, our behavior, who we are. The goal is to become like Jesus (loving), to be truly good, not just socially nice, but genuinely, from the heart, inner goodness.

And we know this is happening as we grow in greater awareness of our own hearts - because Christ, through his Spirit, has revealed them to us. That’s a painful process, as we begin to see more of the judgmentalism or the fear or the pride or resentment that has been ruling our hearts. As we become aware, we confess, and embrace new ways of thinking (Jesus’ ways - obedience, etc.), and a newness emerges in our hearts.

We encourage Spiritual Disciplines because this is how we move toward making these values our core, central convictions. We act with intention to make sure that these are our highest priorities.

I want to encourage you this week to consider these values, and prayerfully reflect on which one God may be calling you to more strongly embrace. And begin to think through how you might solidify this as a core value for you.

At this time, for me - it’s Kingdom First. I sense God nudging me in direction of taking seriously what it would mean for me to seek his kingdom and his righteousness first in my life. My training exercises - one of them is to pray Matthew 6:33 every morning, first thing, often as I’m still lying in bed. As I mentioned, I’m praying the Dallas Willard prayer - constant clear vision...

I think as this value grows for me, I’ll see day to day life differently - as I spend time with people, do that with an awareness of God’s presence - what is God doing in our time together. Less concern about material things, about money - why worry about that when you’re in the Kingdom? See God’s glory permeating his world, his beauty and goodness.

Perhaps for you it will be Lived Obedience to Jesus (value grows for you so that it’s not just avoiding do bad things, but you’re actively looking to Jesus to teach you how to live)…Shared Life Together (relationally, you still feel disconnected - make a commitment to come Sunday evenings and have at least one deeper conversation, or be a part of our Spiritual Formation group)…Heart Transformation (stagnation in Christian life, not much has changed - I felt that way for a long time. Make a commitment to Discipline of Solitude, sit in stillness before Jesus with an open heart - I promise you, he will reveal your heart to you).

Remind us of what I shared at the beginning - that often, we not actually living the values we think we are (Oscar Wilde story). Remember, our deepest convictions will always drive our behavior. Join us in working toward embracing these values for your life: Kingdom First, Lived Obedience to Jesus, Shared Life Together & Heart Transformation.