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Have you heard the phrase “perception is reality”? Sometimes it enters political conversations. Pundits prognosticate about elections. They know that people vote based on what they think is true about a candidate. Their perception doesn’t always conform to reality. How many times have you voted for a candidate thinking they would act a certain way or support certain positions, and then were disappointed when they failed to live up to expectations? Happens all the time, right?

That’s why politicians lie about one another so much. They want to change people’s perceptions. And perceptions don’t need to match anything true. Whether you vote Republican or Democrat, I’m sure you can point out lies or distortions the opposite side has declared. And the media practices this as well, whether you call it misinformation, disinformation or simply fake news.

Knowledge is not the same as perception. We need knowledge as followers of Jesus. 2 Peter 1:5 says, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.” (NIV 1984) Notice we can’t simply trust God and develop virtue. We also need to develop knowledge. Rather than operating on what we think we know about God, we must learn the reality. We must study and learn the truth about who he is and what is right. We must live by what we have learned is true.

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American-style football looks like a simple sport. In fact, a cliché has developed describing athletes as “dumb jocks.” It is often leveled at football players. But this is not the case. The excellent athletes who compete in the NFL are gifted physically. They are usually big and strong. Some are fast and skilled at throwing or catching the ball. But professional football also requires knowledge and intelligence. Players have to memorize books of plays. They must understand the game at a deep level to recognize what their opponents are attempting to do. This is especially true of quarterbacks and receivers, who have to adjust their routes and timing. But even linemen need to understand the game far beyond memorizing a set of steps or actions.

The same is true about our faith in Jesus. We can’t simply trust Jesus. He wants us to develop a deeper understanding. Listen to 2 Peter 1:5, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.” (NIV 1984) The word knowledge in this passage refers to intellectual understanding, of using the mind to comprehend something. It goes beyond memorizing a list of dos and don’ts.

How do we add knowledge to our faith? Read the bible and study it. That enables us to comprehend our faith and develop the wisdom to discern good choices from bad. Spend some time in God’s word today.

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When the Kansas City Chiefs won the Superbowl this year, the city celebrated with a victory parade. Trucks and busses hauled politicians, coaches, staff and players down a long route to a stage at the city’s Union Station. The parade was followed by speeches. One of the main celebrities was the Chief’s quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. Patrick wore a huge belt for the event. It was provided by a WWE champion wrestler. The buckle was big enough to serve as a breastplate.

Big belt buckles have always been a way to brag in parts of the United States. Rodeo champions are often awarded with a huge, western style belt buckle, though they are not as big as what wrestlers sport. But cowboy culture emphasizes boots, belt buckles and hats. But sometimes these only brag without any substance. Just because you wear a belt buckle doesn’t mean you’re really a champion. Or, as they say in Texas, some people are “all hat and no cattle.”

That describes people who virtue signal. Whether with a yard sign, bumper sticker, t-shirt or a social media post, if you only display these items and spout words to convince others you are good, you’re just a modern-day Pharisee. A hypocrite. Live by 2 Peter 1:5, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.” (NIV 1984) Don’t signal virtue. Walk the walk.

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Listen to these words written by Victor Davis Hansen, “In an affluent postmodern society of nearly unlimited freedom and opportunity, elite celebrities, pampered athletes, comfortable academics, conniving politicians, and careerist journalists find it hard to prove that they are still relevant in a revolutionary or rather cool sense.”*

Hansen continues to explain that medieval society sought penance for their sins. The church prescribed sacrificial acts, fasting and donations that allowed people a cheap way to be absolved, but continue in sin. Then Hansen wrote, “In our atheistic and agnostic society, inexpensive, loud, and public virtue-mongering has replaced church penance . . .”*

Hansen wrote those words in 2016. Things have only gotten worse. Our culture pursues a cheap substitute for virtue. Rather than develop the character that makes the right choice even in tough situations, so many only seek the approval of others by spouting opinions others find acceptable. We virtue signal, rather than develop virtue.

As followers of Jesus, we must avoid this trap. As the King James Version of 2 Peter 1:5 says, “giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue.” Don’t try to signal to others how good you are, like some modern Pharisee. Develop a character marked by true goodness.

*Victor Davis Hanson, “The Virtue-Mongers,” National Review, September 6, 2016, https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/09/virtue-signaling-liberals-condemn-privilege-while-enjoying-privilege/

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The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a lot of things. One thing it exposed was the character of college students, or should I say, the lack of character. Reports of cheating tripled at Virginia Commonwealth University in the 2020-21 school year. They doubled at the University of Georgia. They rose 50% at Ohio State. One assistant professor at Columbia University described the problem she experienced. Students were given one week to complete an open-book exam. They signed an honor code as a part of the class. Yet, many still cheated.¹ A Princeton professor recently gave a lecture on the need for virtue in society. He explained that in the past, students who cheated on a test would usually feel bad. But now they have no sense of shame and boast about their cheating.²

We really shouldn’t think the problem just lies in college students. They are a reflection of the culture in which we all live. A culture that looks for the easy way. One that focuses on satisfying self in the most convenient manner possible in order to achieve success as quickly and cheaply as possible.

2 Peter 1:5 challenges us, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.” (NIV 1984) Are you striving to live the easy way or to develop true goodness and virtue in your life?

1. Sneha Dey, “Reports Of Cheating At Colleges Soar During The Pandemic,” National Public Radio, August 27, 2021, https://www.npr.org/2021/08/27/1031255390/reports-of-cheating-at-colleges-soar-during-the-pandemic.
2. Kathryn Lopez, “The necessity of virtue,” Southeast Missourian, February 8, 2023, https://www.semissourian.com/story/2982946.html.

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Have you heard about ChatGPT? It is an artificial intelligence application programmed to emulate a conversation. When you ask it for something, it can ask you clarifying questions. As you ask further questions or give it a command, it responds in the context of the conversation. The application also searches through relevant material to provide information and create things. People have used it to debug computer code, write poems, draft job applications, even write books.

Although it appears to think, it does not think in the same way people do. It can write something that sounds good, but is totally wrong. At times, it also exposes the biases of those who programmed it. It is an interesting application, but it can’t answer every question. If you ask it a question about ethics, it might search through information and craft an answer. Tweak the language and ask the same question in a slightly different way and it may give a totally different answer. Although the AI can process language and combine information in novel ways, it has no moral nature. It possesses no character.

2 Peter 1:5 tells us to “make every effort to add to your faith goodness.” (NIV 1984) Our nature is different than any AI. We can place faith in God. We can add to our faith goodness or moral excellence. We do this with the help God provides through his word and his Spirit.

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How would you define the color black? Would you call it dark? Would you describe it as what you see deep in a cave without lights? Or you might describe it as the color of outer space without any stars. If you know color theory, you might say black is the absence of all color. Your phone screen combines red, green and blue light to make thousands of colors. But if none of these colors of light are combined in a screen pixel, it displays black. Ok, that may be a bit complicated. Maybe you would just define black as the opposite of white.

Looking at the opposite often helps us understand something. Black is the opposite of white. Day is the opposite of night. Good is the opposite of evil. To understand goodness, we can look at God and his opposite. I Peter 2:9 tells us we are to declare God’s praises. The word is actually virtue or goodness. It refers to the moral excellence of God. We extol the virtue of God. What is the opposite of him? Deception, selfishness, lying, malice. Just think of the devil. He is the opposite of virtue.

This contrast can help us grow in our faith. We must avoid the corruption that seeps through this world. Instead, we must focus on God. He commands us to be holy as he is holy. We must add virtue like his to our faith in Jesus.

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Major team sports often give awards to outstanding players. The National Football League honors their best athletes by naming them to an All-Pro team. Major League Baseball does the same, calling the team All-Stars. In cricket, players are selected to a “team of the year.” These sports and others also provide an individual award for the best player. In United States sports, it is usually called the MVP or Most Valuable Player award. For example, Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, was named to the All-Pro team, as well as the MVP of the regular season and of Super Bowl LVII. (57)

Most of us understand excellence in sports. Many of us also work to improve our individual sport, whether practicing golf, getting tennis lessons or receiving coaching for pickleball. Many of us also invest in helping our children improve their athletic abilities.

Now, let’s shift our thinking to our character. 2 Peter 1:5 says, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.” (NIV 1984) The word goodness can also be translated “virtue” or “excellence.” It is the All-Pro level of character. Our virtue must shine as moral excellence, just at sport All-Stars display the epitome of their game’s skills. Do you put as much effort into developing goodness as you do a sport? Have you reached all-star level in your character? Add virtue, or goodness, to your faith.

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Have you ever played with Lego® brand building blocks? Snapping the little plastic blocks together can be fun. You can make model cars, dinosaurs and space craft. If you have enough, you can even build large sculptures. Lego retail stores often display giant objects made from tiny blocks.  It all starts with adding one block to another.

Picture the process of adding one block to another when you hear Peter’s challenges to Christian growth in 2 Peter 1:5-7, “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” (NIV 1984) Can’t you see the picture of snapping on a block to the first, then another snapped to the second and so on?

The word add used in this passage can also be translated “give, furnish, provide or support.” In the ancient Greek language, the word was used to indicate what one side furnished in a marriage contract. When we choose to follow Jesus, it begins with faith in him. But it doesn’t stop there. Other things are added until we develop a loving, mature character. We must make every effort to develop these things. This week, we’ll focus on the first, goodness. Listen tomorrow to understand the next thing to add to your faith.

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