In our country, each person, perhaps, one way or another came across the concept of "values of the Christian life" in a variety of situations. Someone shares them, someone categorically rejects them, but rarely can one come across an unambiguous understanding of the subject that is being discussed. In this article, we will examine what the term “Christian values” means, what they are, and how this concept is changing in the modern dynamic world.
What are values?
Let's start with the general concept. These are representations that are shared and approved by the majority of people in a particular society, notions of good, nobleness, justice, and similar categories. Such values are an ideal and a standard for the majority, they strive for them, they try to follow them. Society itself establishes and changes them, and each culture has its own set of significant values.
Accordingly, if values are ideal for people, then the main Christian values are a standard and example for everyone who considers himself to be one of many Christian movements. Of course, first we should talk about eternal ideas, one way or another inherent in any kind of Christianity.
There are some points in which the human value and the Christian value are different. Christianity defines the value concept as a kind of absolute good, which is important for all people, regardless of what denomination a person relates to, if at all.
Values of the Christian Life
From the speeches of modern Christian authoritative representatives (which, of course, are based on a long tradition), it follows first of all that all important ideas come from God. He sends people moral laws, knowledge about how to avoid fears, evil, illnesses, how to live in harmony with his environment and - most importantly - with his family. Thus, it is from him that information about the only true, in the opinion of Christians, way of life comes.
For every Christian, the most important value, of course, is God in his Triune form. This implies the perception of God as the perfect Spirit. The second is the Bible - the Word of God, which in Christianity is the most authoritative source. In fact, a person must verify every action with this indisputable source. The third value is the Holy Church, for each course of Christianity it has its own. In this case, the church is not understood as a temple or a special place for prayer, but as a community of people united together to support each other's faith in Jesus Christ. In particular, the sacraments of the Church are also important here, such as baptism, weddings, communions, and some others.
If you do not understand the intricacies of the different directions in Christianity - Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism in its various forms, various sects - then in general we can say that each of them has its own understanding of the Triune God. Of course, it coincides at least partially, and is fundamentally integral, which does not prevent one denomination from believing another to be a heretical error, which is very difficult to save and set on the right path. Therefore, it will be easier to consider Christian moral values in the context of the most familiar trend - Orthodoxy.
Concept history
It would seem that the origin of ideas should have long-standing roots. In fact, the concept of “Christian values” appeared only in the 20th century. At this time, the West formed axiology - a science that explores important value ideas. It was then that there was a need for an attempt to more or less clearly formulate the basic values of Christian life.
Family life
They are of particular importance in the process of forming a Christian family. Now they like to talk about the destruction of traditional family axiological ideas, which, of course, are understood as Orthodox and unconditional values.
The Christian family and its values are an extremely important element in Orthodoxy. An important role here is played by tradition, which is understood as the basis of a family lifestyle. These are well-established and established forms of behavior, customs that are transmitted from the older generation to the younger. In the framework of this understanding, the head of the Christian family must be the husband, the wife becomes the guardian of the home, and the children must obediently obey their parents and honor them. The values of upbringing in a Christian family are primarily focused on the spiritual life of the child, therefore, in parallel with secular upbringing, children are taught in Sunday schools and accustomed to regular church attendance and observance of church rites.
However, raising children does not begin with this, but with how the relationship between parents looks. The child perceives all the subtleties very well and is accustomed to them from childhood. In the future, it is the relationship between mother and father that he will consider the norm. First of all, we are talking about spiritual relationships and parental relationships. Therefore, it is important to treat each other with respect, love and understanding - however, this extends far beyond just the Christian family.
In family life, the child masters not only the norms of behavior, but also other forms of spiritual culture, which is why it is especially important in Christianity to cultivate appropriate ideas in children.
Eight Eternal Values
Relatively recently, the Russian Orthodox Church, after numerous discussions on this subject in the political and social environment, compiled a list of eight axiological representations. They are not directly related to the above Christian values. Let's consider this list in more detail.
Justice
In the list of the Russian Orthodox Church, this item implies equality in the first place, political. For justice to be realized, it is necessary that the courts are fair, there is no corruption and poverty, and everyone is guaranteed social and political freedoms. Thus, a person should occupy a worthy place in society.
Such an understanding of justice is not directly correlated with its Christian perception, which clearly does not imply legal aspects. In a sense, embodied worldly justice is evil for a Christian.
Liberty
Again, this concept is more legal. Freedom is freedom of speech, business, freedom of choice of religion or, for example, residence. Thus, freedom implies the right to independence, self-determination and independence of Russians.
Such freedom is good for a Christian if it is closely connected with church dogmas and promotes adherence to Christian values. Indeed, at the very beginning of biblical history, at the time of the fall, the unfortunate freedom of choice played a decisive role in the fate of people. Since then, people have not become smarter, and such freedom is often used not at all for their own good - at least from a Christian point of view. In this understanding, freedom in the absence of God in society is the same evil.
Solidarity
Here, solidarity is understood as the ability to unite with other people in difficult situations, to share difficulties with them. Such a strength of unity ensures the integrity and unity of the nation.
Of course, this value in the Christian understanding can exist only when there is a union with fellow believers, and not with non-believers who are present in the Russian people. This is contrary to the words of the Bible.
Collegiality
By collegiality is meant the unity of the people and power in labor for the good of the country and its citizens. This is the unity of the most diverse cultural communities, combining spiritual and material values.
For Christians, unity can exist only when the authorities share the basic Christian values, otherwise there can be no conciliarism, since Christians are not obliged to fulfill the requirements of the authorities, which are incompatible with their religion.
Self limitation
That is sacrifice. It is clear that this is a rejection of selfish behavior, the ability to sacrifice oneself for the good of the motherland and one’s inner circle, a rejection of the use of people and the world for their own purposes.
It would seem that the value closest to Christianity, however, there are some nuances here. In everything it is necessary to maintain measure, and judiciousness is most applicable to sacrifice. Moreover, from the point of view of Christianity, it is not at all necessary to sacrifice oneself for the sake of heretics or Gentiles.
Thus, self-restraint extends to fellow Christians, who make up the body of the Church.
Patriotism
Belief in one’s country, one’s homeland, one’s willingness to work tirelessly for the sake of its good, is also weakly correlated with Christian values that do not imply attachment to a specific nation. This item from the list can also be called into question.
Good for man
Here the priority is set for the development of man, the steady observance of his rights, both spiritual and material well-being - all in the aggregate.
It is clear that in the perception of Christianity no material values of a person can be made happy, rather, on the contrary, they will bring him much harm. Therefore, the striving for any benefits, except Christian, spiritual, does not bring a person anything good and is strongly condemned by the church.
Family values
And finally, the last item on the list is Christian values in the life of a modern family - this is love, care for the elderly and young family members, loyalty.
If this is a marriage with an Orthodox person, then, of course, these ideas work. Therefore, like all others, family values in Christianity are perceived through a religious prism.
Thus, all eight of these ideas, the list of which was compiled by the ROC, fit into the Christian value system with some, sometimes very significant, limitations. The universal axiological representations from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are combined with Christian insights, since, unfortunately,. One more conclusion can be drawn from this: any value can become Christian if it is called by an authoritative organization such as the Russian Orthodox Church.
Christian denial
The denial of Christian values is associated with the name of many philosophers and scientists. Perhaps the most striking example is Friedrich Nietzsche, who denied morality as such, arguing that all the moral values of the world are relative. Especially vividly his ideas are revealed in the book Ecce Homo.
The denial of Christian values was also promoted by the Communists, in particular, the ideologist of communism Karl Marx, who believed that selfishness is a form of affirmation of the individual, and it is absolutely necessary.
This is not to say that the followers of their ideas - the Communists and, unfortunately, the Nazis - brought to life something positive, rather, exactly the opposite. Therefore, the idea of value relativism, apparently, is good only in theory, but to put it into practice, as history shows, is rather difficult. However, with Christian values the situation is no better: in the history of the spread of Christianity there are many sad and not at all peaceful pages.