Allow me to reflect upon recent words and wisdom of Bishop George Browning, the former Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn (1993–2008) who writes a weekly blog entitled In Service of the Common Good.
What I liked about Bishop Browning’s reflections was his distinction between values and virtues. His setting was the current political discourse, now in something of upheaval with the rise of One Nation as the new conservative voice. It is this voice that now calls for ‘monoculturalism.’ The polls showing a trend towards One Nation tell us that monoculturalism is gaining popularity.
Values, Bishop Browning wrote, are the principles that individuals or groups consider important in life, such as family, freedom, keeping people safe, and democracy. Values typically reflect what is politically prioritised at any given time.
Virtues, in contrast, speak to who we are. They are enduring qualities such as kindness, mercy, generosity, hospitality, and courage. A civilisation does not endure because of its values (which tend to change with the political winds) but because of its virtues.
Values tend to become increasingly self-serving, especially in times of uncertainty. For example, one can place monoculturalism as a value at the heart of One Nation.
Bishop Browning says that if we want to formulate a code for living, it must emanate from the treasuring of virtues, not simply espousing transitory values.
“It is the case that Christian virtues are increasingly mocked by the rich and powerful as seen by the treatment of Pope Leo by the White House. Disdain was also clear for all to see at the inauguration of Donald Trump’s second term when the Bishop of Washington, Mariann Budde, held before the incoming president the virtue of mercy. He was both incredulous and affronted.”
Bishop Browning then went on to reflect upon the virtue of mercy and discussed the need for mercy in the repatriation in May of the ISIS war brides and children. “We are not people who abandon any of our citizens, no matter how unlovely their actions may have been.” I am reminded of some of the accused persons I represented as a legal practitioner. I practised the virtue of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’
One does not need to go very far to find virtues in what the prophet Micah says (6:8). He states: "[God] has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God".
The virtue of acting justly encourages us, as rightminded people, to do what is right, fair, and impartial in our daily lives. It is a foundational guideline for integrity and social justice advocacy.
Bishop Browning then repeated the theme that values provide little assurance for a fair and equitable life. Virtues on the other hand give us the characterisation of what it means to be truly human.
I am convinced that Bishop George Browning speaks accurately when he says that there are challenges before us about what it means to be truly human. And that is where our duty as Christians must come to the fore. We must support all efforts to reinforce the virtues that we espouse, not the values associated with political expediency.
Let me repeat the words of Micah. "[God] has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God".
I trust that we can uphold these virtues. And do so with zeal.
Rick Sarre