Values

Recently a gorilla in the Cincinnati Zoo was killed. It had apparently not yet injured a boy who went past 3 barriers to invade its habitat. A decision was made quickly by Zoo officials that attempting to tranquilize the animal, and by doing so save its life, was too risky to the child because they could not be sure what the gorilla would do in response to the pain of being shot before the tranquilizer took effect. It might cost the child’s life.

In a situation where a very valuable and well-loved animal’s life was weighed against the value of a small, immature and relatively unknown human, the animal lost. Two values systems collided and one had to lose.

In the cultures we live in, both in and out of our relationships with other believers, values systems collide constantly. From unrestrained gangsters to unrestrained law enforcement, from replacing carpet to investing in missions, from traditional music to contemporary (you can easily stretch the list), we fight over how to make decisions.

Most of the arguments could be settled simply by understanding the Kingdom of Heaven and the values things and actions have based on the culture of Heaven. We can’t even agree on that, though.

Internally, you make decisions that are along the same lines, and you can make those without having to surrender to others’ non-Kingdom or misunderstood Kingdom values . The question at that point is simply, “Are you weighing things’ and actions’ values from the perspective of Heaven and eternity?”.

You can. You should.