In a recent interview, our president was asked about the limits to his presidential powers. He answered that the only real limitation was his “personal morality.” As is often the case, underlying this chilling response lay a fundamental ignorance. By definition, there is no such thing as a “personal” or “individual” morality. Mores (pronounced mahr-ays) are the “folkways of central importance accepted without question and embodying the fundamental moral views of a group.” Morals are the agreed upon rules and boundaries of conduct that guide and define a community, culture, or society. I can never tell you I am a moral person; only you can judge that based on the alignment of my behavior with our shared covenantal agreement. A “personal morality” that does not fit the communal moral views is the definition of immorality.

But this begs the question about morality in our country at the moment. There is always a gap between our articulated and our lived values, but at least for those calling themselves Christian, our faith walk is a lifelong journey to bring integrity to the two paths. Integrity is achieved when how we live is in perfect alignment with what we say we value.

In my lifetime, the core values of the United States of America that defined our morality were such things as rule of law, personal freedom and liberty exercised to honor justice, make peace, and recognize the rights and dignity of all people, a work ethic predicated on giving and doing my best in every situation, respect of difference, and equal opportunity under democratic law. In the pursuit of these governing principles, we the people opposed sexism, racism, classism, felonious criminal acts, arrogance, labeling, poverty, domestic abuse, and a host of other acts that undermine and destroy strong communal, cultural, and societal relationships.

However, we are seeing an era of exceptional tolerance of the very worst thoughts, behaviors, actions, attitudes, and aggressions nationwide. What is the current governing morality of the United States of America? One easy response is that we are not all in the same place, not all happy with the way things are, not supportive of the toxic waste being dumped by many persons in prominent positions. Granted. No argument from me, except…

Morality without accountability plumbs the depths of immorality and amorality. When values cease to govern the cultural and societal behaviors of a people, the people are essentially valueless. And where is the Christian witness to call for a values-based morality? We have the Ten Commandments, the Great Commission, the Great Commandment, the delineation of things done to “the least of these” that prove what we really think of Jesus the Christ. We have guidance from the Apostle Paul about the core values of the Body of Christ. What is our excuse?

I received a heartbreaking note from a former colleague of mine, a proud lifelong Republican. She gave me permission to share this section of her email:

“From the first time I voted for Gerald Ford I have voted Republican in every national, state, and local election. I have been proud of the focus on personal liberty, small government, personal responsibility and achievement, strong family values, patriotism and our military leadership around the world. For the first time in my life I am ashamed of my party. I have always considered myself a good Republican Christian, but your recent post made me realize that I have never viewed myself as a good Christian Republican. Truth be told, my politics have had a much greater impact on my faith than my faith on my politics. And now we have an administration that makes it impossible to be either. There is simply no way you can be a Republican and a Christian any more. If you are a Republican, it is at the cost of your relationship with God; if you have an authentic relationship with God, it is impossible to support the current Republican party. I have never felt so lost or betrayed.”

Undoubtedly, many people will disagree with my friends assessment, but that in no way makes it less true for her. And I have spoken with a growing number of people who resonate deeply with her pain. Americans shooting Americans, Americans deporting American citizens, threats of military action against allies, regularly proven lies and misinformation intended to obfuscate and mislead, violence enacted against first amendment rights — these and other realities are defining an amoral morality that is being widely accepted, promoted, and spread across our country.

This is now who we are, though it has never before been allowed to define us in our 250 years as a nation. The unexamined life is not worth living; the unexamined national ethos is not worth supporting. At 250 years, the United States of America is still in its early adolescence. The time has come to seriously ask, “Who do we want to be when we grow up?” and to begin taking action to reclaim a morality that is ethically sound, practically fair, essentially sustainable, and that reflects the best aspects of our nature rather than the worst.