Christian skills are closely associated with virtue. But Christians have skills that aren’t necessarily Christian skills. For example, Jesus was a carpenter, and while that may serve as a useful metaphor, there is no call for Christians to become better carpenters. However, there might be a call for Christians to acquire skills of reasoning, interpersonal skills, and skills of focus or self-control. It’s difficult to parse these out from virtues because, in some understandings of virtue, they are understood as a skill to be developed. If we understand loving others as a skill, then we might understand the virtue of charity as a skill. I don’t think this is the case. Skills can promote virtues in the way habituation can develop virtues and skills can enable greater virtues. Conceptually, it is easier to think of skills as a neutral device that is necessary for some virtues.

Memorization can be a skill that enables virtue. For instance, memorizing scripture and being able to comprehend it to apply it to relevant circumstances enhances virtues. The ancients used memory as the primary way to relay information and stories. The mind palace or Temple of Loci is an ancient technique to visualize multiple, complicated elements to memorize. Memory is what makes us, and they are so precious. It makes sense why it’s such a valuable skill.

General comprehension can be a skill for apologetics or teaching others. The gift of teaching is the gift of changing people and the way they think. You can radically alter the way they see the world. You give back a little bit of the precious truth you received. It’s important to develop this skill by identifying weaknesses one has and constantly seeking knowledge through the right questions. We have a web of memories, know-how, and experiences. Teaching can also demonstrate mastery; good teaching is mastery of knowledge to the point that it can be broken down and manipulated to be served on a plate to a beginner.

Oration is a skill in itself. Communication is so difficult, especially when it comes to complicated ideas. Oration involves the unique combination of being able to speak on the spot, synthesizing the right words, and translating abstract thought into the correct concrete words. Even more, there is the task of going through this process to end with something persuasive, adding gestures, intonations, and having the right rhythm.

Appreciation of aesthetic experience can be a skill. To enjoy the creation that God has given. I cannot appreciate fine wine and I’m a novice when it comes to appreciating classical music. But I know from my love of food and literature that more experience leads to greater appreciation.

Self-control is a skill. Tolerating discomfort is difficult in an environment where we are spoiled and have our every comfort met. Being calm and composed is easy in a tame and quiet environment. Exercising some semblance of discipline can be easy when we don’t need a lot of discipline to be successful in modern life. Self-mastery is a bit of a lost skill or virtue. Self-control is often understood as a virtue, but it’s such a wide umbrella of skills. Should we let this skill atrophy because we don’t have much adversity? Never. We have to remain sharp and continue to grow in virtue.

Wisdom is a compilation of skills. Philosophy is a love of wisdom. Human wisdom is lost. It claims to be precise, thoughtful, and polished, but we can never attain it. We strive to dig deeply in the wrong spot. However, philosophy can be useful if we are directed by God. Philosophy can help us think about God. Meditating on God and trying to figure out what God is trying to say. We can enjoy what little we know and what wisdom the Lord has given us. We can enjoy a piece of the joy of art and godly happiness. We can develop virtues of patience, diligence, and trust. We can think deeply, read rigorously, and do our best to play with our thoughts. But we need a balance of rigorous structure and creativity. We must consume but also create.

Excellence is context-dependent. For the Christian, it doesn’t necessarily mean beating out the competition in the rat race for our jobs, school, or other life goals. Excellence is a virtue. Excellence and reflecting God’s glory. Excellence is having a proper relationship with God.

God is perfect, but we are far from that. But we can strive for that by striving to be closer to God. We cannot be fooled into thinking that we must be excellent for our own sake or promoting ourselves; all of our excellence is with the aim of serving God. We cannot be drunk with power or self-centeredness once we start to get closer to excellence.

God’s grace is all we can rely on. We can take comfort in the fact that his power is made perfect in our weakness, and we don’t need to strive for perfection other than as an aspiration target. Yet we must still strive for this perfection, especially in the moral domain. But more generally we can strive to be a light in our culture, local community, and personal intellect.

We have to redirect our focus whenever it stops being about Christ. The perspective from which we act must always be focused on the service of the Lord. Not ourselves, not for the approval of anybody else. The excellence we strive for is secondary and prior to our relationship with God, but it flows naturally as well. It is not aimed at for its own sake.

Rigor takes a great deal of discipline. There’s a particular standard and it takes a particular level of conscientiousness to meet it. It takes effort, dedication, and patience. We must strive for rigor in the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the aspirational virtues that we work towards. Yet all is at the mercy of God.

We can apply this to our work, virtue, and devotion to others. The efforts we put in and the product of our hands must reflect an earnest work that pleases God. It’s taxing and difficult, but we work hard for God. It’s all we can do.

We have to be careful not to take the standard of rigor to be earthly. We need to focus on the perspective of God. It’s so easy to be swept up by the earth, make comparisons to others, and be influenced by what amounts to earthly failure. Remember, earthly failure can be a godly victory. We must be true to our loyalty.