I took courses in ethics in college and seminary. Both concentrated on two broad approaches to ethics. One approach determines what is right solely on the basis of obligation. You must do your duty regardless of the consequences. The other ethical approach looks only at results. Do what will produce the most good. Although I tend to follow the first approach–acting from duty–both systems have problems.

Years later I discovered there was another, older ethical system–virtue. In this system a person cultivates personal characteristic that will lead them to make good decisions. This is the approach Christians took for centuries. The traditional Christian virtues are of two types. The cardinal virtues are prudence, justice, temperance, and courage. The theological virtues are faith, hope and love.

It’s a shame that until recently Lutheran theologians ignored virtue ethics. For centuries developing virtue was seen as the first step to spiritual growth. I can’t think of a better approach to raising children than trying to instill in them the personal qualities of virtue.
Both George Washington and Benjamin Franklin developed lists of virtues and reviewed their actions regularly to see if they were living virtuous lives. That approach has a lot to commend it. I have long been an advocate of people reviewing their lives. Am I growing in life the way God intends me? It’s a question to ask at any point in life.

Developing virtues is not a matter of doing things right so that God will love us, but acting in a way that shows that God already loves us.

Read 2 Peter 1:1-7 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne