Recently, a dear friend gave me a button that says, “Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly.” It’s from Micah 6:8. When I wear it, I’m instantly pegged as a Democrat.

I find that interesting. 

The ways of Jesus and values like justice, mercy, humility, honesty, truthfulness, integrity, reliability, compassion, courage, generosity, honor, discipline, forgiveness, and perseverance have taken on new meaning. Affiliation even. They’re certainly consistent with what I want to see in the world.

I’m clear. I don’t have to squirm. I don’t have to defend perpetrators of injustice, the prideful, the dishonest, the cruel. I don’t have to make excuses, look the other way, or fashion a new narrative that makes injustice and dishonesty look like the way to go. They are not the way to go. They are not Christian values. 

I think it’s important to put our values and principles front and center, THEN decide what label we want.
To spend our time seeking alignment, rather than defending our misalignment. To even decide if we want a label at all, at least a political one.  

I want to be defined as a Christ-follower. I want people to understand that small “e” evangelical means “in keeping with the teachings of Jesus.” Dishonesty and the practice of injustice are not in keeping with the teachings of Jesus.  And I think, when it really comes down to it, most people understand that. Maybe something has blurred our vision. Maybe it’s time to revisit our values and return them to their rightful place, refusing to let other voices drown them out.

“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” Roy Disney