In the contemporary West, we live in a culture where virtue has been replaced by display. In other words, the trumpeting of virtuous attitudes — the endless boasting about our good intentions and motivations — is too often confused with actual virtue. This kind of “peacock” virtue, or “virtue signaling,” is long on talk and short on action. Nor is it new. It has been a hallmark of socialism down through history, where members of the collective were required to repeat and disseminate the wise and virtuous actions and slogans of the state, whether true or not.

The Christian understanding of virtue, by contrast, is anchored in the actual behavior of individuals. It is a personal decision to choose right behavior over wrong. We need look no further than the Gospels to find the antithesis of socialism’s self-serving politicization of virtue. In the sixth chapter of Matthew, Jesus makes the case for a very different approach to virtue: “So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 

By comparison, modern sporting culture is all about virtue signaling, where every success on the field or court becomes an opportunity for individual display. In today’s sporting events, multi-millionaire football players produce choreographed dances to commemorate two-yard touchdown receptions, and even wealthier basketball players celebrate flamboyantly over “gimme” breakaway layups on the basketball court.  

This fantastic article is for subscribers only.

Login

Username/Email Address

Password

Remember Me

Lost Password?

JBS Member or ShopJBS.org Customer?

Sign in with your ShopJBS.org account username and password or use that login to subscribe.

Subscribe Now

Use code SUB25 at check out

• 24 Issues Per Year
• Digital Edition Access
• Exclusive Subscriber Content
• Audio provided for all articles
• Unlimited access to past issues
• Cancel anytime.
• Renews automatically

Subscribe Now

Use code SUB25 at check out

• 24 Issues Per Year
• Print edition delivery (USA)
  *Available Outside USA
• Digital Edition Access
• Exclusive Subscriber Content
• Audio provided for all articles
• Unlimited access to past issues
• Cancel anytime.
• Renews automatically