KEY CONCEPTS OF CHARACTER

1 Corinthians chapter 15




Today we are walking in: Key Concepts of Character






Habakkuk 2:2




And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, ​ and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
















VISION
















Today we look to the word​ VISION- H2377 chazown- vision(in ecstatic state)​, vision​s​ (in night)​, oracle, prophecy (divine communication)​, vision (as title of book of prophecy)​ ​from H2372; a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle:—vision. to see, perceive, look, behold, prophesy, provide​, ​to see, behold​, to see as a seer in the ecstatic state​, to see, perceive with the intelligence​, to see (by experience)​, to provide



















The Torah testifies........




Numbers 24:4




He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw ​ the vision H2377 of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:




Numbers 24:16




He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Most High, which saw ​the vision H2377 of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:



















The prophets proclaim.........

1​ ​Samuel 3:1




And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days;there was no open vision H2377. ​







Jeremiah 14:14




Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision H2377 ​ and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
















The writings bear witness.........




1​ ​Chronicles 17:15




According to all these words, and according to all this vision H2377, ​so did Nathan speak unto David.







Psalm 89:19




Then thou spakest in vision ​H2377 to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.



Chapter 9

Key Concepts of Character




“We manifest character when self-sacrifice for the sake of our principles becomes more important to us than compromise for the sake of popularity.”

—Dr. Myles Munroe




This section of the series focuses on how we can actively engage in personal character development. Let’s set the stage by talking about storytelling. In novels, screenplays, and other forms of fictional narratives, there is an element called the “character arc.” Usually, the hero starts out in one situation, having a particular mind-set about his life.




After progressing through a series of events and challenges while attempting to reach a personal goal, he ends up in a new place in his life, with a changed perspective. The “arc” refers to the protagonist’s personal transformation as he journeys from where he was at the beginning of the story to where he arrives at its conclusion.




Following the Character Arc




For example, in the classic film On the Waterfront, the main character, Terry, played by Marlin Brando, begins his character arc as a washed-up boxer who is intimidated by the corrupt union boss he works for. The boss, who has ties to the mob, exploits the longshoremen, and Terry is told to put pressure on one of the men who is trying to expose his corruption. Terry is shocked when the encounter leads to the man’s death. Although the incident deepens his low opinion of himself, Terry finds himself falling in love with the sister of the dead man.




The union boss orders the murder of Terry’s brother, who refused to kill Terry at the boss’s order. At this point, the demoralized former boxer summons the courage to stand up to the boss in defense of the oppressed longshoremen. He proves his willingness to sacrifice for his newfound convictions when he is severely beaten up and almost killed. By the end of the story, completing the character arc, Terry has discovered a strength and resilience within himself that he never would have thought possible in his “old life.” In the process of his trials, he becomes a leader among his peers and someone who has demonstrated true character.




Like the protagonist in a story, you, too, will experience a “character arc” as you develop and refine your moral standards and principles, so that you can be transformed personally and professionally. In fact, you will progress through many “character arcs,” since the process of character development is ongoing. A novel or screenplay may cover only a small portion of a protagonist’s life. The story may take place over a matter of days or weeks, and that period of the character’s life is all we learn about him. However, in “real life,” the hero would encounter a number of other challenges that would take place after the events of the story have ended.




In this teaching, we will look at several practical illustrations and key concepts of character that we have examined throughout this series. This will lead us to teaching 10, in which we will explore in greater depth the secret to successful character development.




Illustrations of Character




The English word character comes from a Latin word meaning “mark,” or “distinctive quality.” As we have seen, our character is what marks, defines, and identifies us. And we’ve been asking ourselves, “What distinctive qualities identify me? Are they positive or negative?” Genuine character includes the following features: It is (1) fixed, or set, (2) predictable, and (3) stable.




1. Character Is Fixed, or Set




Most people are familiar with the saying, “Every man has his price.” This idea implies that every person has a point at which he will compromise his moral standards to gain something else that is a higher priority to him. Some of the usual candidates are money, fame, and power. But if we want to be leaders of character, we have to stop accepting this notion—right now. There’s no “price” for a leader of character that will cause him to compromise his standards, because his principles are his life. All leaders of character are therefore “set in their ways,” ethically speaking.




There’s no “price” for a leader of character that will cause him to compromise his standards.




The fixed quality of character may be illustrated by elements whose intrinsic quality is to be unchanging, or absolute. For example, the letters of the alphabet within a particular language are fixed. (Each letter is also called a “character,” in reference to being a “mark.”) For instance, A is always A. It will never turn into C. The same property is true for all of the letters of the alphabet. The meanings of the individual letters do not change. If they were not set, the system of using them to communicate meaning among people who share a common language would fail. It would lead to mass confusion.




Moreover, a number of languages in the world share some or all of the basic Latin alphabet. For example, the French and Portuguese languages use the identical twenty-six letters of the alphabet that the English language does. The Spanish language adds only one letter. The pronunciation of the letters differs, but the fact that the alphabets are fundamentally equivalent simplifies the process of learning these related languages. Similarly, moral absolutes give people solid parameters that enable them to understand the world they live in and to interact with others in a meaningful way.




Numerals are another example of the fixed nature of character. The number 1 is always 1. It will never change to become 2. And so on, up to infinity. In nations across the globe, the properties and functions of numbers are used in exactly the same way.




An additional example of the set nature of character is that of physical laws. As we discussed in a previous teaching, the Creator’s moral principles function in a parallel way to His physical laws, such as gravity—they are unchanging, and they apply to all of us.




Let’s conclude this section by looking at a final illustration taken from the properties of a commonly used building material—cement. If cement is wet, it is malleable, enabling you to form a specific shape—often adding other materials to it first—using a mold. For instance, you might use it to make sections of a concrete sidewalk or concrete building blocks.




However, once cement hardens, or sets, you can’t reshape it. If you want to make something different, you need to start with fresh cement. I heard a story about some cement workers who forgot to keep the drum of their large cement mixer rotating. By the time they realized their error, the cement in the drum had completely dried, and they knew there was nothing they could do to salvage it. The cement was now set and unchangeable. Those workers had to spend hours using sledgehammers to remove all the dried cement from the drum so it could be used again.




When cement is set—hopefully, as intended—you know that the sidewalk, concrete blocks, or whatever else you have formed will be solid and secure. Likewise, a person with character is “set” in the sense that he cannot be changed from holding to his established convictions and standards. Suppose someone offered you cash under the table to look the other way in an illegal business transaction, and said, “Just pretend you didn’t see this. Let it go.” If you agree to look the other way, your character is not “set.” Your values are still malleable. But if you refuse, your character is solid and secure. That is why we must learn to exercise the kind of personal discipline that will say, “I cannot do this. It’s against my convictions.”




2. Character Is Predictable




In teaching 7, we discussed several attributes of the Creator, one of which is that He is always “predictable.” To be predictable is to be consistently responsible and trustworthy. We can rely on Yah because He is not one thing one day and another thing the next.




Would you say that your conduct is predictable or unpredictable? For example, is your temperament consistent? Do your family members and coworkers have to walk around on tiptoe when they see you because they don’t know how you will react to them on a given day? Do they have to warn others, “Watch out—he’s in a bad mood today!” One biblical writer described Yahusha of Nazareth as “the same yesterday and today and forever.”1 That is the way our character should be. Moreover, when we demonstrate that we are reliable, we give other people a sense of security and well-being.




A principled leader is predictable to the point that his character speaks for him in his absence. That is to say, people know him so well that they could vouch for what he would or would not do in a given situation—and be totally accurate. Consequently, as one gauge of how strong your character is, you might ask several people you trust to give you an honest assessment of what they think your conduct would be under various scenarios. Use that information to help you form and strengthen your character.




A principled leader is predictable to the point that his character speaks for him in his absence.




3. Character Is Stable




As we noted earlier, one consequence of humanity’s loss of true character was instability. The first-century writer James said that a double-minded man is unstable in everything that he does.2 I think James was saying that if a person has a character defect in one area, he will inevitably have character flaws in other areas, as well. And it’s hard to trust a person who keeps vacillating.




Instead, when we walk with integrity, our good character can flow evenly in all areas of our life. Yahusha of Nazareth told a concise parable describing how the nature of the Creator is meant to fill us. He said that the kingdom of Yah is “like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”3 Character must “work its way” through every part of us, so that we can consistently manifest it to others.




Another excellent illustration of the stability of character is that of a statue. Perhaps you have a favorite statue—the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor; the “Christ the Redeemer” statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Michelangelo’s David in Florence, Italy; or a statue in your community. One of my favorite statues is of Queen Victoria, located in Parliament Square in downtown Nassau, Bahamas. The statue is carved completely of marble, and the famous queen is depicted as a young woman, sitting with a royal scepter and a sword, wearing a crown and flowing robes, and smiling serenely.




The statue was placed in the square in 1905, so I’ve never known a time when it wasn’t there. Because it has remained unchanged for decades, it always reminds me of the stability and resilience of character. I see this statue frequently in my comings and goings, and no matter what the weather conditions, the statue does not appear altered. It could be a day when the temperature reaches 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and everyone in town is wilting from the heat, but “Victoria” continues to smile. During the rainy season, the downpours are so heavy at times that you can hardly see in front of you. The rain comes down like lead, and it beats on the statue, but she smiles through it all. That statue has also been through every hurricane in the Bahamas since the early twentieth century, including Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It has endured 140-mph winds, staying strong in the midst of the storms.




Moreover, someone might go up to “Queen Victoria” and insult her, but she would just keep smiling at the person and never retort. You could go to her in the middle of the day, and she would still be sitting and smiling. You could “sneak up” on her at two in the morning, and she’d be smiling. When no one is in Parliament Square looking up at her, she is still smiling. One time, I saw a bird land on her head and “relieve” itself on her—even then, she kept her serenity! I can guarantee what she is doing right now without being in her presence, because I know she is unchanging—she has “character.”




Similarly, a principled leader does not change his values and principles, no matter the external circumstances. He is able to weather all kinds of personal and professional storms, even those that are “hurricane strength,” while remaining calm and steadfast. We need to ask ourselves the following: “Am I consistent, no matter where I am, what I am doing, and what time of day it is?” “What do I do when people ‘relieve themselves’ on me—in other words, gossip about me, criticize me, attack my motivations, insult me, or even swear at me? Do I become a different person, losing my temper and lashing back?” “What would I be like if my business collapsed and I lost everything? Regardless of how devastated I felt, would my character remain the same?” “Am I the really the person that I project to others?” “Do I behave in an unethical or inappropriate way when no one else is around?”




A true leader is able to take criticism and mistreatment and still retain his character. Genuine character will outlast all disagreements, disapproval, opposition, and attacks. If you believe in your ideas and your standards, you should stay with them—be stable. Even your enemies may eventually acknowledge your integrity. Yahusha of Nazareth was cursed at and mocked. He was spat upon, had His beard plucked out, was severely whipped, and had nails driven into His wrists and feet; He endured the worst form of capital punishment ever invented. Yet what did He say when He was dying on the cross? “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”4 Even after all He went through, Yahusha perfectly reflected the Creator’s nature —always consistent, predictable, trustworthy, just, and loving. That’s character!




A true leader is able to take criticism and mistreatment and still retain his character.




Character Means...




Based on the above, let’s look at some statements that summarize what it means to have character.




1. Character Means Having a Commitment to a Set of Values Without Compromise




Leaders of principle do not relinquish their values in the face of pressure to disregard their beliefs. Because their values are based on their convictions, they are willing to lose money, promotion, and other advantages for the sake of their values. Unfortunately, many leaders today are experts in compromise. They change their values based on what they think other people want them to do, not what they genuinely believe is right.




Moral compromise is different from the natural give-and-take that occurs, for instance, when a group of people is discussing options for how to implement procedures or what methods to use to attain a certain goal. There is an important distinction between compromising one’s beliefs and making a concession on an opinion, so that a group can come to a consensus. In those circumstances, we are not to be uncompromising for its own sake, or for the purpose of making life hard for another individual. However, when moral issues are clearly at stake, we must steadfastly hold on to our values and ethical code.




In an earlier teaching, we discussed the account in which Moses sent twelve leaders to scope out the Promised Land before the nation of Israel entered it. Ten of the leaders expressed their fear of the inhabitants of the land, but two of them insisted the Israelites would be victorious over their enemies. These two leaders had a strong conviction about, and commitment to, what Yah had already assured them they could do. They had “a different spirit” from the other leaders.5 They had the spirit of character.




Today, many leaders are afraid to be criticized and opposed, so they don’t take a public stand on important moral issues that affect the well-being of their community and nation. They cannot handle disagreement, criticism, or opposition because they just want to be accepted. You could say they have accepted popularity as their “price” for moral compromise. When people try to pressure us to back off from our values, we have to be able to say, “I can’t be ‘bought,’” or “I’m not going to compromise,” or “I must publicly express my principles regarding this issue.” When you look back on your life, you may not remember the things that you fell for. But you will remember what you stood for.




2. Character Means Being Dedicated to a Set of Standards Without Wavering




Earlier, we examined the process through which our moral standards are derived from our values. We should compromise neither our values nor our standards. When a principled leader establishes moral parameters for his life, he doesn’t waver in his dedication to them. He does not violate them for anyone or anything. As someone who has lived under the constant pressure of public scrutiny, let me tell you that no one else will set moral standards for you. You must set your own. And then you must be fixed and stable in relation to them.




Let me suggest a few additional examples of specific moral standards that a leader might set: “I will not lie in order to get a promotion or increase my profits”; “I will treat my employees justly by giving them fair wages and ensuring the safety of their work environment”; “I will uphold the value of every human life.”




The first book of Moses gives the account of a young man named Joseph who lived in Canaan.6 While he made some mistakes, he exhibited strong character dedicated to a set of moral standards that brought him through severe trials.




Joseph came from a large family. He was one of twelve sons—and his father’s favorite. Consequently, his father gave him special treatment, including the gift of an elaborate robe. It’s not surprising that his brothers became intensely jealous of him. After plotting to get rid of him for good, they sold him as a slave to a passing caravan that was on its way to Egypt. Then, they smeared the blood of a goat on his special robe to make their father think that Joseph had been attacked and killed by a wild animal.




How would you react if your own siblings sold you as a slave? Might not that have been an excuse to waver in regard to your standards? But Joseph relied on the reserves of his moral character, kept his wits about him, and trusted in Yah. He was purchased by a man named Potiphar, who was the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. Even though he was a slave, Joseph apparently made a decision to perform his work with excellence, because Potiphar put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. Joseph established himself as a trusted and valued servant, and the estate prospered under his management.




So, life was improving for Joseph, and those are the times when some people will let their guard down and ride along where life is taking them, often becoming lax in their standards. If Joseph hadn’t been unwavering in his convictions, that might have happened to him, too, because the opportunity soon presented itself. Joseph was good-looking, and he caught the eye of Potiphar’s wife, who soon asked him to sleep with her! He refused, saying, “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against Yah?”7




Even though she persisted daily in trying to convince him, he would not succumb to her offer. Again, how many people under such circumstances would have done the same? This young man was abruptly torn from his family and the home he’d always known and taken to a foreign land as a slave. He might have accepted whatever opportunities for pleasure and advantages were offered to him. Yet Joseph knew he had a noble purpose in life, and he had a reverence for his Creator, so he remained faithful to his ethical code.




His commitment cost him greatly. Furious at being refused, Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph of attempting to molest her, and Potiphar had him thrown into prison. Remarkably, even in that circumstance, he must have remained steadfast, because the prison warden soon put him in charge of all the other prisoners. Every time he kept to his convictions, it strengthened his character even further.




So, Joseph remained dedicated to his principles, even though he was all but forgotten in prison. Yet all these trials were the prelude to his emergence as a powerful leader in Egypt when, through a series of Yah-orchestrated events, he went from imprisoned slave to Pharaoh’s first-in-command. Keep Joseph’s “character arc” in mind in the next teaching when we discuss how trials and difficulties lead to personal growth and steadfast integrity.




Every time Joseph kept to his convictions, it strengthened his character even further.




3. Character Means Making a Continual Effort to Integrate Your Thoughts, Words, and Actions




Integrated Means “Whole” and “Entire”




The words integrate and integrity are both derived from the Latin word integer, meaning “whole” and “entire.” Thus, one definition of integrate is “to form, coordinate, or blend into a functioning or unified whole.” Having character means making a continual effort to integrate your thoughts, words, and actions, so that you are “one.” A leader should be able to declare, “What I say, what I do, and who I am are the same.” Achieving such consistency takes daily discipline.




An important principle to remember is that there’s no “break” in life from character. There is no point at which we will have “arrived,” so that we no longer have to concern ourselves with values and principles. We must therefore keep vigil over our character. For instance, it is very easy to be tempted to lie. Suppose you were laid off from your job, and you found some short-term work through a temporary agency. Then, at a social function, you meet a wealthy business executive who asks you, “So, what do you do for a living?” You don’t want to seem inferior, so you inflate your job description. Character requires daily maintenance, because every day—and often many times throughout the day—our character will be tested.




Integrity Means Having One Face—Not Two or More




If we are to be principled leaders, our private life and our public life must be ethically “one.” This means we must be honest when no one else is watching us. When we say something in public, we must still mean what we said when we are in private. A person with integrity is the same person all the time, night or day, hot or cold, in good times and in bad. He believes what he says, and he says what he believes. He says what he does, and he does what he says. There is no dichotomy.




When we lack integrity, we are disingenuous, or “two-faced.” Let’s look at an illustration of this concept from the origins of the acting profession. The Greeks were the first to develop drama. While they started out using only a chorus of people to narrate a story, they later incorporated into that format an individual who could play five different parts, or characters, by wearing different masks, changing them according to the particular role he was playing.




Interestingly, the word the Greeks used for this person was hypokrites, from which we get the English word hypocrite. Similarly, the word hypocrisy comes from the Greek word hypokrisis, meaning “acting on the stage, pretense,” from hypokrinesthai, meaning “play a part, pretend.”8 In its original form, “hypocrite” was not a negative term; it merely referred to the actors who wore masks on the stage while playing multiple parts. However, the term evolved into the idea of a person of “many faces”—someone whose real identity was not what it appeared to be.




Yahusha of Nazareth referred to a number of the religious leaders and practitioners of His day as “hypocrites.” For example, He said, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full”9; and “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.”10 In other words, He was saying, “You are actors! You wear a mask to hide who you really are. You keep changing your ‘face.’” They were not “integrated” because they lacked true character.




We must ask ourselves, “Am I manifesting who I really am in my interactions with others?” That can be a tough question to ask yourself—and to answer—but it is a necessary one. We have to start taking off our masks, so that who we really are can be seen. Then, we must work to develop our character, so that other people will be able to fully trust what we say and do.




It is wearying to pretend to be someone you’re not. It’s as if you have more than one person living inside of you, working at cross-purposes. It’s similar to what we talked about in an earlier teaching regarding character versus reputation. Character is who you are—reputation is the mask.




The problem with having a conversation with a hypocrite is that you’re not sure exactly who you’re speaking with at any given time. Today, many people—especially younger people—say, “Everybody is a hypocrite.” They have observed too many leaders say one thing but do another. Or, they have seen leaders act in ways contrary to what they’ve been told constitutes good character. They don’t believe that what the leaders tell them has any real value. As a result, many of them think, I’ll behave any way I want to, because standards don’t seem to matter. Look at how that politician lied. Look at what that businessman stole. They start pointing at people who have violated values and moral standards.




In contrast, when a leader’s private life and his public life are consistent, he will demonstrate integrity to those around him. True character does not change with the tides; it is not altered according to the latest opinion poll. It is consistently “one.”




The problem with having a conversation with a hypocrite is that you’re not sure exactly who you’re speaking with at any given time.




4. Character Means Making Sacrifices in Support of Your Principles




A principled leader possesses beliefs so strong that he is willing to sacrifice for them—to experience the loss of popularity, friendships, colleagues, financial gain, and success for their sake. Such a quality must be reintroduced to society by leaders of genuine principle.




Mahatma Gandhi made some major sacrifices for his vision. For instance, he went on several hunger strikes, one of which drew attention to the unjust treatment of India’s poorest classes in the caste system, the “untouchables.” People will continue to remember Gandhi for generations because of his willingness to sacrifice for what he believed in.




5. Character Means Imposing Self-Discipline in Keeping with Your Values and Moral Standards




In conjunction with making sacrifices, a leader must impose daily discipline upon himself, so that he will remain aligned with his convictions and continue to adhere to his principles. In teaching 5, we discussed specific ways to exercise self-discipline.




Perhaps, before you picked up this series, you felt like giving up your values and standards because you found yourself in the midst of a difficult circumstance. It could be that, because you had made a commitment to your principles, you disciplined yourself to stick with them, and affirmed, “I will continue to cultivate myself as a person and as a leader.” If that has been your situation, I commend you for your discipline and urge you to keep holding on to your convictions. Your leadership is needed in our world!




The Manifestation of Character




As we have seen in this teaching, and as we will explore in more depth in teaching 10, character is manifested in our lives...




When our values, principles, morals, and standards are tested.




When we persevere under the pressures of life.




When self-sacrifice for the sake of our principles becomes more important to us than compromise for the sake of popularity.




Is your character fixed, set, predictable, and stable? Where will you be in five, ten, twenty, or thirty years? Will you continue to follow moral standards, or will you have sacrificed them on the altar of compromise? Will you still hold to the same convictions, or will you have abandoned them for temporary pleasure?




Some years ago, I visited another country to speak at a conference held at the ministry of a famous preacher in that nation. The ministry was packed with people, and it was a good experience. The preacher introduced me to his spouse, whom he called “my darling, beautiful wife, to whom I’ve been married all these years.” The next year, when I went back, he had a different wife. He had divorced his first wife to marry someone else.




I never went back to that ministry, because I couldn’t trust the man. If he couldn’t keep his word to his own spouse, how do I know he would keep his word to me? (He is now on his third wife.) Instead of having true character, this man was a character. He was wearing a mask. There are many people like that in the world. We don’t want to be a character; we want to have character.




Each of us must take some responsibility for the crisis of character in our world today. We are all part of the problem. But we can all be part of the solution by committing to follow sound principles and moral standards —to becoming “one” in our thoughts, words, and actions. To quote Winston ministryill’s famous declaration: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.”