Character

"

Character is what you are in the dark." D.L. Moody

                  Do you really know what Christian Character is all about? Do you want to know?

 Real, authentic Christian character is formed by our commitment to Christ. When we surrender to Christ and allow His piercing work to grow and enrich us, so that the Spirit flows. Our spiritual discipline, motives, obedience, and persevering faith will be the keys! All it takes is to be in love with Christ. Seek His presence, grow in your discipleship and be persistent in your prayers and in so doing you will be building your Character too.

                When we say we follow Christ, do our actions show that we do; are we in fact being Christ-like? Or is something else happening in our life and relationships? Perhaps, what we think we are like is not how we come across. Maybe, other Christians see us as being reprehensible before our Lord and to others around us! Or worse we are producing the "works of the flesh" to all those around us, family, friends, Christians and non-Christians alike (Gal. 5). Being pretenders of the faith, giving a show, but having no real substance behind us is extremely destructive to the Body of Christ and the reputation of our Lord!

It is imperative that when we say we are a follower of Christ, our character and behaviors reflect Him and His call to us to the best of our abilities which includes our temperament. If we are in leadership, this is even more imperative! We demonstrate Character and integrity when we do what we say and act out what we believe; if not, we are hypocrites, and woe to us for being one (Matt. 23)!

Our call is to do as we teach, to do as we say, and to act as we teach others to act. Integrity is of the utmost importance for the Christian leader (1 Thess. 2: 10-12; 2 Peter 1-11)! Why? Because, hypocrisy gives people a false impression of God! Insincerity gives people a false impression of who we are called to be; it nullifies integrity and character! Because, God is holy, righteous and just; God exercises grace. We do not what to be like the Pharisees, who were worshipping, not the God of the Jews and the Law, but a made-up god which suited their own thoughts and pride (Psalm 103:1-14; 1 Pet. 5:10)! The willingness to model Christ's character is far more vital for us today than the willingness to just say it. God want us to be authentic-not pretentious (2 Cor. 8:9)!

Pr Anand Kumar