Vol.
XL September 1, 2008
No. 9
Character
by Tom
McLemore
How do you define character?
One definition describes it as collective qualities or characteristics,
especially mental and moral, that distinguish a person
or thing. Also included in the entry
were moral strength and reputation, especially good reputation (Oxford
American Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus, 125).
Several thoughts arise from consideration of such a
definition. What mental or moral
qualities or characteristics make for good character? How does one determine what is good? These are important questions today, because
it is of the nature of the times for everyone to answer them according to their
own opinions. In other words, we live in
a time when many people have come to doubt whether there is such a thing as
absolute truth. If one person says that
a certain quality is good, another might say, “That is your view, but my view
is thus and so. There is no right
view. My view is just as true as your
view.”
Also, we live in a time when people doubt authorities that
once were unquestioned. For instance, a
person might say, “I know that such and such is good, because God’s word, the
Bible, says such and such.” Another
person may say, “The Bible is not any different from any other human writing,
so its statements do not carry any special weight for me.”
Many are deciding what they accept as true and what they
believe has authority on the basis of their desires and feelings. There was a time when it was sufficient to
show someone what the Bible said. The matter
would be settled. While there are still
a large group of people for whom the Bible is the final word, their number has
greatly diminished.
This means that people may have to be convinced, perhaps by
experience, that the Bible way is the best way.
They may have to follow the paths that appeal to them far enough to see
that they do not result in true happiness, well-being, and fulfillment before
they will again be open to listening to God’s instruction.
It seems that one of the reasons that so many became
skeptical regarding the authorities which before had been unquestioned is the
hypocrisy of those who demanded conformity to those authorities. They, like the Pharisees of old, would demand
conformity but did not conform themselves.
This resulted to a great extent in rebellion and rejection of the old
standards. It may be that the only way
that those who reject the Bible as the authority for life will be won back to
it is to see true Christians living consistently by it and manifesting the wonderful
benefits which living by it provides.
What is good character according to the Bible? We cannot cover everything in this brief
article, but we can consider some of the more important things. At the very heart and basis of character
according to the Bible is the character of God and Christ. We are to be holy because God is holy ( 1 Peter 1:15, 16) .
We are to love as followers of God (Ephesians 5:1, 2). We are to be truthful, just as God’s word is
truth (John 17:17). Christ has left us
an example that we should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). We ought to walk (live) even as he
lived. Paul taught his brethren to be
imitators of him insofar as succeeded in imitating Christ (1 Corinthians
11:1). Paul made no secret of his
primary desire of being like Christ (Philippians 3:9-11).
Several lists of virtues that are found in
the Bible. They are all worthy of
constant and careful consideration.
Interestingly, Christian love (agape) seems to predominate in these
lists. Also, one can see immediately
that they are descriptions of the character of Christ. One is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22). This list includes love, joy,
peace, patience, kindness, generosity, and faithfulness. Another list is those qualities that are to
be added to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-7) goodness, knowledge, self-control,
endurance, godliness,
mutual affection, and love.
Paul mentions faith, hope, and love, and states that the
greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Earlier, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, he had
listed several characteristics of love. “Love,”
Paul writes, “is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or
arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or
resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. . .”
Another list is provided in James 3 under the rubric of “wisdom
from above.” James writes that “the
wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full
of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in
peace for those who make peace” (James 3:17, 18).
While it is not a list of virtues as such, Paul’s list of
things we ought to have constantly on our minds will direct our hearts and
lives to virtue. He urges, “whatever is
true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is
pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is
anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).
There may be other lists of qualities in the scriptures that
would go into a good character. The most
important thing to notice about them is, once again, the relationship they bear
to God and Christ. Ultimately, good
character is about relationship to God the creator, and Christ the savior, and
the Holy Spirit who bears his fruit in the life. The most serious flaw in all approaches to
character being attempted today is the attempt to divorce character from the
Creator, the Savior, and the Spirit. To
take such an approach is to fail to realize what Jeremiah was moved to confess,
“I know, O LORD, that the way of human beings is not in their control, that
mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).
Let us pray that more people will realize this truth and turn
back to the true source of character.
Let us train our children to incorporated these
qualities in their character. Let us
make sure that they are continually exposed to the character of Christ and made
to realize the goal of being like our Creator.
Let us live this character before the world as a witness to its truth.
Designed and maintained by Houston Park Church of Christ Copyright © 2000 by Houston Park Church of Christ 2 Crescent Hill Drive Selma, Alabama 36701 334-874-7941. All rights reserved. Revised: 24 Sep 2008.