Traditional Values Declining. Although there is “nothing new under the sun,” cultural values tend to undergo shifts over time. There is a growing trend towards individualism, self-centeredness, and the pursuit of wealth, reminiscent of historical civilizations like Sodom & Gomorrah and the Israelites of the Old Testament. According to a New York Post poll, traditional values such as patriotism, religion, and community have experienced a sharp decline among Americans.

Love of Money: The importance placed on money, however, has increased. This is the only value polled that has actually grown. Meanwhile, the importance placed on starting a family has drastically diminished. The article cites the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, political polarization, and economic uncertainties as reasons for the shift in values. I believe that these trends, paired with the love of money, are a result of our culture’s collective drift away from God. So, what can us traditionalists do about it?

Drifting Away from God. Humans inherently seek something to worship. When we disconnect from our Creator, we inevitably find new idols to fill the void. In America, the love of money has emerged as one such idol, alongside self-gratification and material pursuits. The words of 2 Timothy 3 come to mind, warning of a time when “…men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy.” I encourage you to read 2 Timothy 3, which delves deeper into the full context of what these difficult times will be like. There’s an uncanny resemblance to the times we’re living in.

What Can We Do? Although values may be shifting in our modern world, we can remain steadfast in our faith and its fruits. The church does not conform to culture. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬).

• Read: Start with the Bible, it is the inerrant word of God, given to us for instruction. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV).
• Pray: The Bible has so much to say about prayer. Of notable importance is the fact that “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
• Practice Values: This is not a works-based solution. Our works could never save us; only Jesus does that. But as a result of our faith, we produce works. A list of values is comprehensive, encapsulating more than this short article can expand on. But it can be summed up in two commands. Love God. Love Others. “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-38 ESV). When you love God like this, the result is an overflow of love that seeks to do what is right.

Vintage Virtues. My commitment to traditional values led to the fruition of Vintage Virtues, a website and community. It is here that I advocate for a change in the tide, back to times when faith, community, and raising families were the norm, not a declining vintage ideal. In an era where material pursuits often overshadow matters of the heart, such as faith, family, and fostering connections with our community, embracing traditional values feels almost revolutionary. Investing in endeavors like gardening, raising chickens, and curating our children’s education may be undervalued by society, but these endeavors are invaluable work in preserving our heritage. I leave you with this question:

As culture shifts, how are you maintaining traditional values?