Blog » PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER

  • Mar 5th, 2013 at 3:08 PM (CST)
  • By PD
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As one observes the impact of faith in Jesus Christ upon people over many years the following observation, I believe, can be noted; a person's personality is not much changed by belief in Jesus, but their character can be - radically.

Personality seems to be hard wired in us by God. A shy person will likely always be shy, and a funny person gets laughs almost without trying. These, shall we call them quirks of our personality, morph little through life. However, our character can change vastly.

What is the difference between personality and character? Character is outcome, the actions from a worldview, a pattern of action based upon belief. As one comes into contact with Jesus through reading or hearing about the Kingdom of God, one's mind is changed, and along with it the decisions we make which are perceived as our character.

We are certainly not immutable in regards to our ways of acting, as attested to by persons who fall into addiction while others are escaping it, individuals who were never religious becoming worshipers, and out of shape people commiting to an excercise regimen and becoming fit. God wants us to likewise, repent of (abandon) sinful ways and slowly become conformed to the nature of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is what Paul the apostle of Jesus called, becoming a "new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

To become a Christian one does not have to give up who they are, but one does have to revise their character, that is, their decision making and actions. We cannot enter Heaven by operating according to worldly principles, but we need a new "operating system," one given by God such that we, "... keep in step with the Spirit," of God, so to speak (see Galatians 5:16-26).

One of the great joys of life is learning how to integrate our personality with our expression of our faith via our character. God can "tune" your individuality to your Christian lifestyle such that each day is a new opportunity to live to God's glory and "be ourself," at the same time.