There has been a lot of talk during this presidential election cycle about Christian values. Candidates have talked about their faith more in this election than in any other I can remember. Religious leaders speak of the Christian values, and that is the only basis we should use when selecting a candidate to high office. So what are these Christian values that they speak of?
Jesus summed up for his followers what Christian values look like in the twenty-fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew:
“for I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me, I was naked, and you gave me clothing, I was sick, and you took care of me, I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'”
So in summary Christian values are:
Feeding the hungry
Providing water for the thirsty
Clothing the naked
Welcoming the stranger
Visiting those in prison
And why do we do this? Because whatever we do to them, feed or not feed, give water or not give water, clothe or not clothe, welcome or not welcome, visit or not visit, we do to Jesus Himself. Oh and notice it makes no mention of the worthiness of the person that requires help.
