Justin Bieber’s list of values has struck a chord with millions after being posted online. But impressive as they are, Phil Anderson says Christianity has always insisted that intentions only become transformative when they are translated into Spirit-led daily practices
There is no escaping Justin Bieber at the moment. With the Christmas season in full swing, his 2011 hit ‘Mistletoe’ is being played on repeat by every radio station from London to Louisiana. And now the internet has lit up after he posted a list of 10 values hanging on the wall in the Bieber family home on Instagram.
The list starts with “We value Rest as Worship”, follows up with “We value Longevity and a sustainable pace of life”, and ends on “We value HUMAN beings and believe in their dignity and eternal worth”.
Values gone viral
It appears someone in the Bieber household has been reading Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30. Perhaps they were drawing from The Message translation which puts it like this: “Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.”
A number of commentators have referred to these values as ‘rules for marriage’, some going as far as to call them a ‘rule of life’. Maybe the reason that they have caused a stir is that celebrities are not generally known for following rules.
The essence of the rock’n’roll lifestyle has always been quite the opposite — to defy every rule you can find, alongside smashing your guitar on stage and throwing the TV out of the hotel window. But as someone who is deeply interested in rules of life as a tool for spiritual growth, I think that Justin and Hailey Bieber may be onto something.
Rules of life are one of the oldest spiritual practises in the Christian faith. Starting with the Desert Fathers and Mothers, running through the monastic traditions, and right up to the present day, Christian heroes from Benedict to Billy Graham have created and lived by them.
If Creeds are what we believe and Christ is why we believe, a Rule is how we seek to live out that faith, day to day as disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Despite the name they have never really been about ‘following the rules’. The Latin word regula from which the idea comes is also used for a trellis, the wooden structure that gardeners use to help plants to grow up towards the light so that they become strong and fruitful. A rule of life isn’t there to constrain your freedom, it exists to liberate you to grow and fulfil your God-given potential.
The Order of the Mustard Seed (OMS) is a modern-day religious order for Christians living out their faith in the chaos and kingdom-opportunities of everyday life. Its members commit themselves to be true to Christ, kind to people, and take the Gospel to the Nations through a personal rule of life based on prayer, mission, justice, hospitality, creativity, and learning.
Like many rules of life, the origins are much older; in our case we draw inspiration from the original 18th century OMS founded by leaders of the Moravian revival which ignited 100 years of day-and-night prayer and the first modern global missions movement. In the 20 years since the Order was (re)founded, we have learnt a lot about how this ancient practice can bring life in a 21st century context.
The action behind intention
One of the things we have discovered is that good intentions are not enough.
Just like the Biebers’ statement of values, some of the things we say we are committed to as believers can be inspiring but a bit ethereal.
Values of servanthood and generosity are good and biblical, but unless we do the hard work of translating them into practises of servanthood and generosity, they remain just vague ideals.
The world is full of insta-warriors who say they believe in caring for the environment yet struggle to separate their recycling or turn down the heating. As Pete Greig, founder of the 24-7 Prayer movement — of which the OMS forms a part — puts it: “If Creeds are what we believe and Christ is why we believe, a Rule is how we seek to live out that faith, day to day as disciples in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In setting out their values for life, faith, and marriage, the Biebers have made a great start on the journey of practical discipleship. In sharing it with their 293 million followers, they may have accidentally preached one of the most widely heard reflections on Matthew 11 ever.
They join a growing number of celebrities and influencers who seem to be losing their fear of talking openly about their Christian faith. This Christmas, take a moment to pray for Justin and Hailey Bieber, that they would not only be willing to confess their faith, but would commit themselves to living it out through developing spiritual practises that work in their admittedly rather unusual version of everyday life.
