Article by Cameron Spink

 

There is something really epic watching two individuals battling it out, fighting for survival. Yesterday I was lucky enough to see Svetlana Kuznetsova and Francesca Schiavone tussle for over four and a half hours. I couldn't help but admire the stamina and the fortitude of these two women as they pushed passed their pain barriers again and again.

 

I could imagine commentators as describing these combatants as having great character. Indeed, I was inclined to agree that these players had tremendous resolve. However, this made me wonder whether they fit the definition of the Jacob's Creek advertisement slogan, that is "true character".

 

It is no secret that we place celebrities upon pedestals even when they constantly fail our expectations in they way they live and the personal choices they make. For instance, I am a huge fan of Chris Judd, however, I was disappointed when it was revealed that his wife had been pregnant before they married.

 

Still we tend to overlook these character flaws and merely concentrate on what they do best, whether it is acting, singing or playing sport. And then we think they have great character because they exemplify something within their field.

 

As Christians, we intuitively know that true character comes in the form of being righteous and being pure. We also can find out how this works practically from our reading of scripture.

 

Jesus gives us the beatitudes that encourages people to be meek, thirst for righteousness, be merciful, be pure in heart, be peacemakers and be prepared to be persecuted (Matthew 5). He also places emphasis on generosity, humbleness (Matt 18) and shining for Him (Mark 4:21).

 

Paul expands upon Jesus' teachings on righteousness. He states that righteousness is found through faith (Romans 3:21) in God and not by works (Ephesians 2:9). Paul also wrote the well-known verses that expound what love really is (1 Cor 13:4-8) and encourages his readers to have the endurance of an athlete (Philippians 3:12).

 

Perhaps the most practical book in the Bible is Titus. Paul describes those in Church leadership as being blameless and in charge of his house (Titus 1:6). A person must be "not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain" (Titus 1:7) but instead be "hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined" (Titus 1:8). While this is meant for Church elders it does give great indication as to what righteousness really means.

 

In Titus Paul's main emphasis is on those in the Church being self-controlled (Titus 1:8; Titus 2:2; Titus 2:5; Titus 2:6 and Titus 2:12). There are just as many challenges that present us as Christians now as back in the first century. We have alcohol, drugs, gambling, smoking, sex, porn, food, caffeine and image addictions that try and tear down our self-control. All of these things do not lead to righteousness or to a stronger faith in God.

 

Incidentally the list of addictions above is usually what many celebrities make the news for. This is not unexpected as, after all, these individuals are just people who struggle with the same things that we do. They might be more glamorous in the process but, without God, it is inevitable that a person cannot live a life of "true character"!