Living the Values of the Bible

Is there really a culture war occurring in America?

I am uncertain about the appropriateness of the word “war”, but otherwise, yes, there is a very real cultural divide. A lot of the divide relates to money and education or liberal versus conservative. But the fundamental basis for the divide is worldview. It is between those who believe in the existence of a transcendent-personal God and the truth of the Bible and those who do not. This basic difference has repercussions, affecting values, work ethic and family structure. In short, those who believe in the values revealed in the Bible tend to develop a stronger moral and economic society (culture) than those who reject the Bible.

The United States of America is, as far as I can determine, the first nation in history to have established itself on the Judeo-Christian ethic. Of course, the cultural divide is between those who appreciate this unique heritage and those who do not. The secular government combined with the underpinning religious values has made America – and those countries that have copied her – so powerful. The culture war is between those who wish to retain this heritage and those who wish to redefine America.

One of the arguments against America’s cultural heritage is that one culture is just as good as another, otherwise known as cultural relativism. So, the argument goes, let’s just become multi-cultural, with all the implications. As one who has traveled overseas and visited other cultures, I can tell you this idea is at best naïve and at worst inane.

Come on now, do you honestly believe one culture is as good as the next in the real world? Daniel Etounga-Manguelle, a leader in Cameroon, has said sarcastically, “We Africans really enjoy living in shantytowns where there isn’t enough food, health care, or education for our children. Furthermore, our corrupt chieftaincy political systems are really marvelous and have permitted countries like Mobutu’s Zaire to earn us international prestige and respect. Moreover, surely it would be terribly boring if free, democratic elections were organized all over Africa. Were that to happen, we would no longer be real Africans, and by losing our identity – and our authoritarianism, our bloody civil wars, our illiteracy, our forty-five-year life expectancy – we would be letting down not only ourselves but also those Western anthropologists who study us so sympathetically…” (quote cited in Kairos Journal).

The values revealed in the scripture make a very real difference in the culture. In the early 1960’s, Ghana and South Korea were on equal economic footing. It was in the mid-sixties that an evangelical movement began sweeping through South Korea. Not only did the churches witness their numbers increase dramatically, but Biblical values and morals began affecting the society. People showed up for work on time. They worked diligently and hard. They did not use the office time to flirt or browse the internet. By the 1990’s South Korea had become an economic powerhouse - having the world’s 14th largest economy, even though the country itself was rather small. Ghana had an economy only 1/15th that of South Korea. And in only thirty years!

Can a Biblical value system make that much difference? According to Harvard professor Samuel Huntington, the answer is “Yes.” What made the difference between South Korea and Ghana? Huntington writes, “South Koreans valued thrift, investment, hard work, education, organization and discipline. Ghanaians had different values. In short, cultures count” (Harrison and Huntington, Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress, Basic Books, New York, copyright 2000, quote taken from the foreward, page xiii).

Professor Lawrence Harrison, who coauthored the above cited book, has a list of values that elevate a culture. Nepotism, elitism, tribalism, cronyism and tyranny are not the values that work. What does work is: futuristic planning, dignifying work, frugality, emphasizing education, merit based advancement, community spirit, a rigorous ethical code, impersonal justice and fair play, dispersed authority and freedom for dissent.

Religion plays a big part in the culture. Religion addresses issues like justice, fair play, education, compassion, dignity of the individual and his or her work, the importance of family and fidelity in marriage, and providing honest work for fair compensation. It should come as no surprise that the cultures embracing Biblical values are the cultures where prosperity, liberty, education and optimism exist. The culture is most enhanced when Biblical virtues are infusing it, especially evangelical Christianity with its retention and teaching of the Protestant work ethic. South Korea is 50% Christian and the percentage is increasing. In Ghana, Muslims and animists outnumber Christians three to one. The moral and economic disparity is appallingly real. Values do make a difference –culturally and personally.

The culture war is not fought best with debates or arguments. It is best fought by…

living the values of the Bible.