Tools for Monday: The Virtuous Life (Part 2)
What does it mean to practice “the virtuous life?” The term virtue seems to be rather nebulously defined these days. The classical view suggests that virtue is the result of moderation. If one is not too extreme but reasoned and even stoic in situations and relationships, then he/she is said to be virtuous. A more modern view posits that virtue is the quality of one’s character which overcomes natural (or evil) impulses and progresses with history towards an ultimate ideal. One is said to be virtuous as he/she lives out his/her truth to the fullest.
Our contemporary American culture seems to have opted more in favor of the modern view. But we have run into trouble, since we are told that there is no such thing as truth. Thus, we cannot define logically or realistically what the ultimate ideal really is. How then are we going to be virtuous if we are simply chasing after the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14)?
Christian virtue begins where the classical and modern views come up short. In fact, we may define virtue as a habit or disposition of the will that connects one’s duty to follow Christ with the goal of walking as Jesus walked. Virtue is therefore not a reasoned and moderate viewpoint, nor is it a simple journey to live one’s best life based on “their truth.” Virtue is the produce of death to the self in repentance and faith in Jesus and the subsequent empowerment of the Holy Spirit to bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control in daily life (Galatians 5).
But how? The first step of practicing the virtuous life involves counting the cost of following Jesus (Luke 14:27-28). Some people view the Christian life as too easy, too simplistic, or even lazy. Karl Marx famously called religion “the opiate of the people.” He followed in the footsteps of Frederich Nietzsche who said Christianity and Judaism were only for weaklings. On the contrary, following Christ is downright challenging. Jesus consistently referred to it as the “narrow way.” He said that we had to die to ourselves in order to follow him. He also said that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a person of means to enter the Kingdom of God. This definitely doesn’t sound like something for the faint of heart.
Yet, Marx and Nietzsche were half-correct in their assessment. It takes strength to live a virtuous life. Yet, that strength is found when we realize that we are too weak on our own to meet the demands of a holy God. We only find the strength we’re looking for in following the risen Savior.
But we do have a free choice. We can try to live virtuously by our own inner strength, or truth, however we personally define it. Or we can repent of our sin and be saved by God’s grace through faith. It’s up to us to calculate whether we want to take that risk. But calculate it we must.
In our next article, we will share some more strategies for living the virtuous Christian life.