All religions, if studied objectively, would appear to have the same underlying spiritual truths. Hence the virtues espoused in the fundamental religious teachings do not change over time. The principles laid down by each virtue dictate the unchallenged standards for virtuous and acceptable behavior.
Christian values and Christian morals can both undergo change-change that might be attributed to cultural influences. Christian morals tend to proclaim the rightness or wrongness of particular behavior. Valued behavior is proclaimed "right"; disliked behavior is declared " wrong."
Christian morals long emphasized the need for humility. Children were taught not to boast about their accomplishments; they received praise if they chose to be humble about their successes. Eventually psychologists discovered that young people need to develop self-confidence. Christianity then saw the need for the teaching of moderation. Our present-day society does not place as much emphasis on humility. It is no longer a central theme within the list of Christian morals.
By the same token, Christian morals do not advocate some sort of self-aggrandizement. Arrogance has no place on the list of valued traits that represent Christian morals. Young Christians today get a more two-sided guidance. Young Christians today are encouraged to be self-confident without being arrogant.
Christian teachers must help their students to understand the virtue of assertiveness. Assertiveness means speaking-up without trying to be controlling. Christian teachers might want to help their students to role-play acts of assertiveness.
For example, a Christian teacher could ask her students to role-play being assertive in these situations:
-When a teacher at school asks the class for opinions about a story she has read;
-When a friend asks you to go somewhere you do not feel like going.
-When you have others in your group suggesting that everyone participate in a dangerous activity;
-When you meet-up with an aggressive bully.
As the children demonstrate a possible scene, the teacher could make various observations. She could point-out the need for Christian morals in that particular setting. In that way the students would have a fun and active lesson about Christian morality and Christian behavior. They would not realize how much learning had occurred during that role-playing experience.
Such role-playing sessions could help children to learn that assertive Christians should shy away from behavior that might foster passive violence. Backbiting, selfishness and destructive actions all generate feelings of passive violence. Assertive Christians know how to avoid such harmful behaviors. Assertive Christians keep Christian morals uppermost in their thoughts.