The Lenten sermon series at Zion Lutheran Church is focusing
on the seven virtues that make life worth living. Pastor Eric Riesen introduced
the series by using the analogy of music, wherein there are seven notes that
make the song of life beautiful. If life is a song, the point of which is to
make music pleasing to the Lord, then these seven virtues are the notes we
play.
This Wednesday in Lent marks the transition from the four
cardinal virtues – prudence, temperance, courage, and justice –to the three theological
virtues – faith, hope, and love. For that reason, the aim of this post is to
recapitulate where we have been and point forward to where we are going. First
the recap:
Prudence: This is the virtue by which we make wise
decisions. That is to say, prudence is the practical wisdom of choosing that
which is good and lastingly beneficial, sometimes over and against that which
is bad or perhaps just less lastingly beneficial. For instance, it is prudent
to dedicate one’s mornings to prayer and Scripture-study rather than mindless
Facebook scrolling.
Temperance: This virtue entails moderation and self-control in
one’s consumption of things. There is a prevalent (and sinful) tendency in the
human heart to become obsessed with and addicted to created things, which
ultimately leads to bondage. Temperance means moderating one’s relation to
created things, thereby preventing bondage and leaving one free to bond with
another – namely the Lord and, in the Lord, other people.
Courage: The virtue of courage is the golden mean between
cowardice (i.e. shrinking back from difficulty) and foolhardiness (i.e. reckless abandon that pays no heed to rational fear). It is the virtue that
lends its possessor the ability to do what is right, most especially in the
face of much opposition and/or difficulty. Without courage, none of the other
virtues can come to fruition.
Justice: Justice is the constant will to give each one his
due. Note that this virtue (like the other virtues) entails constancy of will.
Acting justly every once in a while does not make one just. Rather, the just
man is resolved and habitually disposed to treat people fairly. He is upright
and honest, keeps his word, and fulfills his various vocations (i.e. spouse,
parent, laborer, etc.) to the best of his abilities, aiming always for personal
excellence.
That is where we have been so far this Lent. In moving to
the theological virtues this week, we come to that which distinguishes Christians
from non-Christians. The cardinal virtues can be cultivated by any and all
people, while the theological virtues are unique to Christians (though God’s
desire is that all would have them).
Without faith, hope, and love, the four cardinal virtues
tend to be lifeless and pointless. Thus, practitioners of the cardinal virtues
grow weary and occasionally resentful. It is the theological virtues that must
lift them up, animating them with the Spirit of God and aiming them at their
true end – fellowship with the Lord.
Zion members, join us
this Wednesday (11AM or 7PM) for faith and next Wednesday for hope. Then come Maundy Thursday for the
greatest of all the virtues, love.
A blessed Lent, full of grace, to all who love the Lord Jesus
Christ with an undying love. (Ephesians 6:24)
