Character is a
dying commodity in our country, our churches, our schools, and our
homes. In fact, our society teaches that character is evil. How dare
you stand up for what you believe! How dare you have convictions and
live by them! How dare you take responsibility for your actions and not
be a "victim" instead!
We have replaced character with such ideals as image, tolerance, and acceptance. Jesus would have flunked in all three of those areas. He spent His time reaching out to those people that everyone else who was "spiritual" avoided. They called Him a "party animal--implied that He was a drunkard. In addition, He never backed off from the truth when speaking with friend or foe. He called His enemies blind leaders of the blind, open graves, hypocrites--to their face. He called out to His friend, "Get behind me Satan." And He never tried to gain the applause of men. In fact, He deliberately said and did things that He knew would drive them away. Jesus would not be any more accepted if He came today instead of 2000 years ago--probably even in our churches. And yet, His character and the character of those who followed Him changed the world forever--changed it for the better, even for those who refused to believe the message. Yes, men and women of character are desperately needed by the world in which we live, even if they resent those who demonstrate it.
We must not be afraid to express what we believe and to be unashamed when some attack us for telling the truth. We must not be afraid to live by those truths that God has said are the real source of freedom. We must not be afraid to defend the truth and to call those who teach falsehood liars. We must not be afraid to love unconditionally, to grow deeper and deeper into acts of love for others--Christian and non-Christian alike. We must be men and women of conviction, praying with all our hearts that we will enabled by His grace to live what we claim to be true and share what we know to be true with all humility and gentleness of spirit. And when we are still condemned for being otherwise, we must persevere in truth and love even more deeply those who call us the worst names.
Character will make a difference even in a society that tolerates everything but character/
We have replaced character with such ideals as image, tolerance, and acceptance. Jesus would have flunked in all three of those areas. He spent His time reaching out to those people that everyone else who was "spiritual" avoided. They called Him a "party animal--implied that He was a drunkard. In addition, He never backed off from the truth when speaking with friend or foe. He called His enemies blind leaders of the blind, open graves, hypocrites--to their face. He called out to His friend, "Get behind me Satan." And He never tried to gain the applause of men. In fact, He deliberately said and did things that He knew would drive them away. Jesus would not be any more accepted if He came today instead of 2000 years ago--probably even in our churches. And yet, His character and the character of those who followed Him changed the world forever--changed it for the better, even for those who refused to believe the message. Yes, men and women of character are desperately needed by the world in which we live, even if they resent those who demonstrate it.
We must not be afraid to express what we believe and to be unashamed when some attack us for telling the truth. We must not be afraid to live by those truths that God has said are the real source of freedom. We must not be afraid to defend the truth and to call those who teach falsehood liars. We must not be afraid to love unconditionally, to grow deeper and deeper into acts of love for others--Christian and non-Christian alike. We must be men and women of conviction, praying with all our hearts that we will enabled by His grace to live what we claim to be true and share what we know to be true with all humility and gentleness of spirit. And when we are still condemned for being otherwise, we must persevere in truth and love even more deeply those who call us the worst names.
Character will make a difference even in a society that tolerates everything but character/
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