We hear so much about the “moral decay” in our world today, but I think we often miss the fact that values are not just certain socially accepted or rejected behaviors. By values I mean the things that are important to us. I just read a book that opened my eyes to see how I may have been looking at our collective values incorrectly. Most discussions about values tend to focus on language, clothing, art, entertainment, sex, and other issues regarding our society accepting certain bad behaviors as “normal”. But what about the degradation of values like: compassion, religious freedom, sharing, justice, and equality. Which set of values was our country based on? Isn’t it interesting that the people complaining the most about decaying values are usually talking about things that directly benefit or sustain their lifestyle but refuse to talk about supporting collective values if that support would mean an inconvenience to their lifestyle?

It is nice to read the views of a person who has a solid theological viewpoint that is backed up with sincere social and political objectives. I remember when Jimmy Carter was elected because I was only 8 and it was my first exposure to our nation’s political system. We followed his election in school and at home and I was taken in by his sincerity. Unfortunately, he took office at a time of the worst economic depression in 50 years and left office in the turmoil of difficult foreign relations with the Middle East. It is interesting that the horrible events of hostages in Iran during his presidency pale in comparison to the casualties we now choose to accept as just part of dealing with that difficult region.

Anyway, the book is “Our Endangered Values – America’s Moral Crisis” by Jimmy Carter. It is a great book and I think every Christian in America should read it. This book further showed me that he is our best role model for using your faith to lead your politics while still being an advocate for the critical value of the separation of church and state which has made our country so successful.