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Every respectable person wants to be known as a person of character. Even those who are wicked, dishonest and immoral want folks to think that they are people of good character. Gangsters, thugs and criminals demand respect, as though they deserved it.
Just What is Character? When used in this context, we speak of ones "moral character." Webster calls it "moral excellence and firmness." "A man's character is the reality of himself. His reputation is the opinion others have formed of him. Character is in him; reputation is from other people. That is the substance, this is the shadow" (H. W. Beecher). "Character includes those habits and personality traits that distinguish us as individuals, especially with regard to personal integrity, courage, moral fiber and individual initiative" (James Kennedy).
In What Does Character Consist? When we think of moral character, we think of honesty, truthfulness, responsibility, a person who cares for others, a person who accepts and meets his social, patriotic, familial and professional duties. We think of a person of high moral standards in his personal and professional life.
Observation tells us that there are multiple degrees of character. Some have strong, muscular character that no temptation can shake. Others have character adequate for most situations in life but not certain to hold in the worst situations. Some are of weak character. They may wish to do the right thing but they cannot find the inward strength to do so. They can be strong only if others are there to shore up their character. Some have no real character, the reality of their life is bad or worthless.
There is a Religious Component of Character. One can have a degree of good moral character without being religious. We see this in those about us. They can be honest, truthful, loyal and dependable to do their duty, but without the spiritual values of Christianity they will always have an incomplete character. "The secular notion that you can have virtue or integrity or strong character without a framework of moral values is a lie" (James Kennedy). "The character of an individual or a group can only be built on a foundation of moral values and there can be no morality without religion" (J. Kennedy). "Character is intimately related to our moral values and our deepest beliefs about who we are as people, but it is visible in the pattern of behavior a person exhibits when only God sees what really happens" (J. Kennedy). "No more fatal error can be cherished than that any character can be complete without the religious element. The essential factors in character building are religion, morality and knowledge" (J. L. Pickard). James Madison wrote, "We have staked the whole future of America's civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future...upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to sustain ourselves, according to the Ten Commandments of God.." "There is no significant example in history, before our time, of a society successfully maintaining moral life without the aid of religion" (Will Durant).
How Character is Built? "Character building begins in our infancy and continues until death" (Eleanor Roosevelt). "A good character arises from the repetition of many small acts and begins early in youth" (James Q. Wilson). "Our character is but the stamp on our souls of the free choices of good and evil we have made through life" ( C. Geikie)."You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge one for yourself" (Froude).
Some unknown sage wrote,
"Sow a thought and you reap an act;
Sow an act and you reap a habit;
Sow a habit and you reap character;
Sow a character and you reap a destiny."
Our character is formed first by parents in the home. It is formed by instruction, examples, reminders and discipline. Next in importance is the child's spiritual training The church plays a major role in shaping character. Spiritual training from a child's earliest days helps to shape character for the rest of his life. This early character training is received both consciously and unconsciously. A child learns certain life values by observation of his parents and the operation of his home environment. If the values are wholesome and commendable they will serve him well. If not, he might be handicapped by them for a lifetime. Some values are instilled by instruction and repetition. In days past children received assistance in character building while in school. In today's environment, schools offer little character training. In fact much of what the school child might learn can prove detrimental to his character.
Being a dedicated Christian will help a person have a strong, commendable character. The teachings of Christ, if followed, instill Christian character. Paul provides a good sketch of Christian character in Philippians 4:8, "Whatsoever things are true... honorable... just... pure... lovely...of good report; if there be any virtue... any praise, think on these things." Peter's list of virtues are important to our character, He tells us to add all diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love to our lives (II Pet. 1:5-7). Christ expects us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:39) and to do that which is good for all men (Gal. 6:10). His moral expectations affect every aspect of life: be they marital, parental, citizenship, employment, etc.
Can Character be Damaged or Destroyed? Character is what we are before God. That others cannot damage, but I can! Several things test our character: power, wealth, physical beauty, great, ambition, worldly success, fame, celebrity, accomplishments. Weak character gives way before these temptations. Reputation is what people think of us. Our reputation can be attacked and tarnished by lies and slanders. Elbert Hubbard opined, "What others say of me matters little, what I myself say and do matters much." "There is a broad distinction between character and reputation, for one may be destroyed by slander, while the other can never be harmed save by its possessor. Reputation is in no man's keeping. You and I cannot determine what other men shall think and say about us. We can only determine what they ought to think of us and say about us" (J. G. Holland). Dwight Moody's view was, "If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care fo itself."
The Value of Good Character. "Not education, but character, is man's greatest need and man's greatest safeguard" (Spencer). "The most important thing for a young man is to establish a credit, a reputation, character" (John D. Rockefeller). "Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character" (Henry Clay). "The noblest contribution which any man can make for the benefit of posterity, is that of a good character" ( R. C. Winthrop)."Character is that which lives and abides, and is admired long after its possessor has left he earth" (John Todd). Strong moral character in one person can inspired and help to strengthen the will and resolve of others. "Men of character are not only the conscience of society, but in every well-governed state they are its best motive power; for it is moral qualities which, in the main rule the world" (S. Smiles). "Character and personal force are the only investments that are worth anything" ( Whitman). The loss of character in our society is an even greater danger for America than the possibility of foreign aggression.
A person's character or lack thereof cannot be long hidden. It will be written on his face. It will be seen in his eyes. It will be heard in his voice. Any person who carefully observes a person's conduct will soon know what kind of character he or she possesses.
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