Philippians 2: 14 - 16 NKJV
I ran across something this past week from Wayne Jacobsen which sounded more like a current events commentary than a discussion of Christ. It seems ol' Wayne was seeking the answer to the question of if there were indeed any men of character remaining in our society. First off, character is google defined as "The mental and moral qualities distinctive to a individual." Now, knowing this, are there any men of character remaining in this great nation? I would say that there definately is but that many people are looking in the wrong places to find them. So many people look at character as a virtue of christian origin, which is simply not true. I would suggest that character can also be seen as one who does the right thing despite that influence of all that surrounds him. He doesn't follow the crowd but his own heart and beliefs. How many of us, when in a situation where someone around us has been bullied or ridiculed for no apparent reason have had that fortitude to stand up and say ENOUGH? That, more than anything, is character. I have known my share of men, both christian and not, who have shown similar qualities in their own lives. So, how is it that we can claim that good character is a christian based trait? Well, because it involves doing the right thing, and the bible is all about doing the right thing...right? Christians are supposed to turn the other cheek, stand up for what is right and despise what is wrong. Abraham, Moses and Joshua, these were all patriarchs of old who are lifted up as examples of Godly character. Yet each of these "Godly" men had their own moments where their own character could be called into question if one so desired to do so. In fact, I would say that the very man at the center of the crucifiction of Christ showed more character than those around him. Indeed, the Roman governor Pontious Pilate refused to follow the urgings of that crowd of zealots but chose instead to follow what he believed in his own heart to be true. That is, that despite the shouts from the crowd of his guilt, that he could find no wrongdoing in the man Jesus. Was Pilate a christian? That I am not sure of. However, we are told that he found no fault in Jesus and let the Jews assembled before him know it {Matthew 27:24}.
4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.5They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
1 John 4: 4 - 6 NKJV
It is not my belief that good, sound character is a trait strictly found in christians. For I have seen many a christian who has showed a complete lack of character. I believe that in any conversation concerning character we need to first look to Him whose image we share, that being Christ Jesus {Galations 2:20}. If we can agree that Jesus Himself always displayed good character, we must also realize that the Son only did what the Father showed Him {John 5:19}. So, whatever it is that the Father was doing, this is what Jesus did. Jesus displayed the traits of our heavenly Father in a way that man could see. He was, in fact, the very image of the Father {Colossions 1:15}. Many have used Jesus as the prime example of good character, for good reason. Yet Jesus was only doing what He saw His own Father doing. Likewise, if we share the image of Christ Jesus within us, we are capable of seeing what our Father in heaven is doing...and we in turn can do it as well. This is the character of Christ who is in us. To do the right thing despite those voices around us. To value others over ourselves. A good friend shared with me not too long ago that there are indeed two types of people. Those who share a heart for self and those with a heart for others. I would choose to strive for a heart for others, for this is the character of Christ Jesus.
20“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;21“that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22“And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23“I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world."
John 17: 20 - 24 NKJV
~Scott~
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