Counterfeit Virtue

[Listen on AUDIO page] I’ve been told that a fake 20 dollar bill can be hard to detect. If it’s a really good one, catching the phony money takes an expert. That is why the Bureau of Engraving and Printing uses special paper, ink, and designs to make our money. According to an article I read on this recently, the goal of all this effort is to prevent counterfeiting, to convey dignity, to represent the power of the U.S. economy, and to provide familiar markings that distinguish these pieces of paper as American currency.

Would you recognize fake money if you saw it? If you knew there were counterfeit bills being used in your area, you’d want to be careful not to get stuck with any. You may have noticed other fake things circulating these days, and it’s just as important to beware of those. There are the fake news stories, of course, and fake social media posts. Hollywood and Washington produce some pretty convincing fakes, and as for food – have you tasted non-dairy cheese?

There’s one kind of counterfeit that’s running amok in America today, and it’s even more unpalatable than fake dairy products. I’m talking about fake virtue. In fact, there is so much counterfeit virtue being passed around, it’s no wonder our moral economy is on the skids.

“Virtue” is, by definition, behavior that shows high moral standards. The cynics among us say that our nation has abandoned any pretense of holding moral standards, but that’s not accurate. It is possible to have standards and consider them “moral”, but at the same time to separate yourself from any Judeo-Christian belief system. We’ll talk about world view at another time, but suffice it to say, there is a set of standards that many people hold today, that don’t look anything like Leave it to Beaver.

I speak unashamedly from a Judeo-Christian world view when I define these atheistic standards as “counterfeit”. Here’s a short list of counterfeit virtues:

• Empathy/Sympathy – You must be a good person if you feel sorry for people – or animals – who have been through something. Politicians love to use this on the campaign trail.

• Conservation – wring your hands and mention climate change and you’re in the club.

• Activism – Make a sign and march somewhere. Better yet, grab a bullhorn and a brick. It’s not necessary to examine the issue you’re supporting.

• Fame – Being a star should be enough, right?

• Conservatism/Liberalism/Progressivism – Whatever flavor of politics you choose, it can become a virtue unto itself.

• Offense – Nothing to do with the NFL. Put the emphasis on the second syllable and you’ve got it. Being offended about something puts you right at the top of the counterfeit virtue ladder. This one is closely related to:

• Victimhood – You have been wronged. Righteousness is yours, in addition to government handouts.

Those are a few of my favorites, and I’d be happy to hear your ideas, too (leave a comment below).

Experts in detecting counterfeit money say you have to know the real ones by heart in order to spot the fakes. In the same way, calling out counterfeit virtues doesn’t work unless you know – by heart – what “real” virtues look like.

The best place to find real virtues described is in the Bible. Galatians 5:22 says that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. Those are qualities that emerge in us when we submit to God’s will in our lives, trusting Jesus as our Savior, and following Him as Lord. Without God, though, even these good things become meaningless. For example, you’ve probably seen t-shirts that exhort people to “Be Kind”, but who can really do that without God’s help? These are heart issues, and we just aren’t capable of maintaining true virtue on our own. (I mean, be honest: how long did your New Year’s Resolution last?) This is why man-made, “fake” virtues fail. Every time.

Virtue and twenty dollar bills have this in common - If they’re real, they have real value and you can use them to make life better for yourself and others. When they’re fake, they are about as useful as the gum on the bottom of your shoe, which will make you sick if you swallow it.

So next time someone tries to shame you for not following the crowd or buying into the cause of the day, stop and remember what constitutes real virtue. Stand firm on the truth of God’s Word. Pray for the Lord to fill you with His Spirit so you can love others His way. When you know Christ, God’s Spirit will produce real fruit in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, and these virtues can not only sustain you, but nourish those around you as well.

Standing with you,

Carolyn

Thanks for reading my latest post. Do you ever feel pressured to accept worldly values? Can you come up with some more “counterfeit virtues? Leave a comment below!