Have you ever noticed that when you apply for a job, you are asked to give the names of those who are your character references? The personnel managers do not ask for “personality” references. There is a major difference between character and personality. In our quest to mature into the full stature of Jesus Christ, we must understand exactly what area of our nature this development will take place in.
Most people try to get through life on their personality, without ever really developing a good character. When thinking about being a new creature in Christ and being transformed into His image, some people mistakenly think that they are going to be transformed in their personalities. That actually is very likely not the case. What is going to be changed is fundamentally in the area of our character.
The first time I was introduced to the concept of the difference between character and personality was when one of my Bible college students gave a chapel program stressing the need to develop our character – not our personality. This student was a sharp young man, a neat dresser, and a good-looking guy with a lot of charisma. He was a very winning sort of person, and everybody liked him as soon as they met him. However, it wasn’t long after that chapel that I began to find out that what everyone liked about this particular person was only his “outward personality.” When I got to know him, I found that he was really lacking in the area of character. In fact, very shortly after that chapel, he left school because of this deficiency. He was trying to win his way through life on his very extroverted personality, his good looks, and his ability to make a good impression. But there was really nothing of substance behind the facade. Perhaps the whole reason that he was analyzing the difference between character and personality was because it was a real struggle in his own life.
What is the difference between personality and character? The personality consists of characteristics that determine the impression one makes upon others. A person who is lively, talkative, and congenial makes a strong impression on those around him. Those who are rather shy, withdrawn, or timid also make impressions. Our character, on the other hand, is what we are behind closed doors. It is our moral constitution. Though the people around us get a good look at our personalities, it is God who sees directly into our character. (I Samuel 16:7)
Four Personalities
There are four basic personality groups; when we understand them, we can better understand those around us and – even ourselves. My wife and I have found that this teaching is one of the most profitable topics we can share in family and marriage seminars because it helps people to learn how to celebrate the characteristics that are built into each unique member of the family. To celebrate – rather than tolerate or aggravate – our differences brings harmony.
If we were to take the human race and divide it like a pie, we would find that there are two basic categories of people. One is the very outgoing person – such as my wife. She is a much more outgoing person than I am. In a room of people I don’t know, I find myself more likely to gravitate to one person and carry on a fairly long conversation with that individual, rather than sweeping through the room introducing myself to everyone there. My wife, however, doesn’t hesitate to break the ice and meet new people by making her way around the room, introducing herself to everyone.
Opposite the outgoing personality is the more reserved person. For people like this, life is not actually an ongoing party. I, for instance, like parties and being around groups of people, but my real preference is to have a quiet time when I can sit down, read a book, study, or write. I am actually happier at my desk than at a party.
These two groups – the outgoing personalities and the reserved personalities – can be broken down into four categories: the outgoing who are people-oriented, the outgoing who are task-oriented, the reserved who are people-oriented, and the reserved who are task-oriented.
Imagine this little scenario. On an autumn day, your yard is full of leaves and you are raking to get ready for winter. While you are hard at work, your neighbor stops by and starts chatting away. Before long, you leave the work, set the rake up against the house, and ask the neighbor inside the house for a cup of tea. This depicts my wife. She is a very people-oriented individual. With me, on the other hand, if someone comes up and begins chatting while I am raking my leaves, I begin a little internal conversation, “Can’t this guy see that I have to rake these leaves? Doesn’t he understand how much work I have to do and how many trees are here and how much the leaves have piled up?” Before long I would be offering the guy my extra rake and inviting him to help with the job if he wants to talk to me. The difference is that my wife is very people-oriented while I am very task-oriented.
The person who is both outgoing and task-oriented can be labeled as a “D” personality because many terms that characterize him are spelled with the letter “D.” D is a Doer, Dynamic, Dominating, Decisive, and Demanding. Dr. Lester Sumrall, with whom I worked many years, was a doer. He said, “We’re going to feed the hungry of the world!” Within months, he had built a worldwide relief organization to do just that. The “doer” type of personality can also become a dictator or dogmatic. They must keep these negative qualities in check; this is where character comes into play.
The person who is outgoing and people-oriented can be labeled as being part of the “I” personality group. These people are Inspirational, Influencing, Impressive, Interesting, and Interested. These people are the ones who easily become entertainers. My wife is an “I” personality. If she stops to go to the ladies’ room when we are out shopping, I will be left standing outside the door for half an hour. When she finally comes out, she tells me about what an interesting lady she met in the restroom. This total stranger will have told her about her children’s births – about how one was breech and one was a C-section – and about her gall bladder and hysterectomy operations. My wife just crossed this person’s path, yet she wound up with the lady’s whole life history. This openness is because the people my wife meets feel that she is genuinely interested in them, and they can trust her with intimate details.
People who are reserved yet people-oriented make up a category called the “S” type of personality. They are Submissive, Shy, Specialists, and Servants. They are not really comfortable on the stage; they would rather be in the background. At the same time, they are very people-oriented and are the type who would do anything in the world to help others. They will do it, not because it is a job that has to be done, but because they want to bless people. My wife and I have a good friend who is a classic textbook-type “S” personality. We could ask her to go to the moon, and she would immediately get started trying to do it – not because going to the moon is important to her, but because she wants to help, bless, and serve. The thing that motivates her is that she is helping people. She isn’t activated by the job; doing something for others motivates her.
The last category, the reserved individuals who are task-oriented, is known as the “C” personality. They are Cautious, Calculating, Competent, and Concerned. This is the kind of person who makes a good scholar and a good teacher. Most people usually enjoy an “I” kind of teacher who is entertaining and inspiring; but to really learn, study under a “C” personality because he will teach in such a way that you can easily grasp the material. The “C” personality is usually not on the front lines; he is in the background working on the project very carefully and decidedly.
Each person’s personality is something that is instilled in him at birth. Personality is something that is not likely to change, though we may be able to bridle the negative aspects. For example, Hitler was a “D.” He became a dictator, but if he had had good character along with his personality, he could have been a very constructive person leading people into rebuilding the devastated German economy instead of committing all the atrocities of the Nazi regime.
Since our issue here is to mature into the full stature of Christ, we need to ask ourselves whether Jesus was a “D,” an “I,” an “S,” or possibly a “C” personality. If we are able to pinpoint Him, then we’ll have a target to aim for. Well, I immediately think of a day when Jesus showed up at the temple in Jerusalem and took a strand of rope to use as a whip to chase the moneychangers and salesmen out of His Father’s house. This was definitely the work of a “D” personality. But then my mind flashes to a hillside in Galilee where He gathered a crowd of thousands to hear Him teach. His message was so enthralling that the people stayed with him for three days before they realized that they hadn’t even stopped to eat! In my estimation, only a very high “I” personality could have kept those thousands so involved in the message that they didn’t even think about their stomachs! Of course, we can’t overlook the last night He spent with His followers when He wrapped a towel around His waist and knelt down before each of them to wash their feet. This work of a servant was an “S” personality at its zenith. And then there was the day that the Herodians and the Pharisees teamed up in an attempt to trap Him by asking if the Jewish people should pay taxes to the Romans. If Jesus answered that they should pay the tax, the Pharisees (who hated the Romans), would immediately raise a mob to lynch this traitor who had sided with the occupation forces. However, if He suggested that the Jews resist the tax imposed by the Empire, the Herodians (who were loyal to King Herod who had been placed in power by the Romans) would accuse Him of being treasonous. Between a rock and a hard place, Jesus found Himself damned if He did and damned if He didn’t. Just when anyone else would have thrown in the towel, Jesus asked for a coin and began to discuss the fact that if we use coins with Caesar’s image we should give him back his coins, while giving back to God anything that bears His image. Wow! A perfect “C” if I ever saw one! In truth, Jesus was the sum total of all that is best in each of the human personalities. So, it doesn’t matter what our personalities are; what does matter is whether we allow the character of God to be developed in us.
Developing Character
We cannot change our basic personality, but we can develop our character. Whether a person is born again or not, he is going to have some changes in his character depending on what input he allows into his life. After being born again, there should be a renewing of the mind to establish a strong, moral character. It has been said that if a person takes care of his character, his destiny will take care of itself.
In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul says, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Salvation comes into our lives the moment we receive Jesus, but Paul tells us that we are to work it out. We do not automatically become entirely new creatures the moment we are born again. We have to “put on” that new man (Colossians 3:10, 12). There is some effort, struggle, and force that we have to exert in order to be able to really come to that new character. The moment we are born again, salvation comes into our spirit man. But what God has placed within the spirit needs to be worked out into the outward man. The process of working out our salvation is the working out of the moral constitution, so that the new man that Christ has put into us comes to the surface and manifests as our good character.
Just because a person is born again does not mean that his eye will not see and lust. But he can work out his salvation until the new creation qualities flow from his heart to his eye so that his eye no longer sees and lusts. Just because an individual is born again does not mean that his lips are going to quit lying. He must work out the salvation that is inside his heart until it reaches his lips. Just because a person is born again does not mean that his ear is not going to hear any more evil or gossip, but when he works out the salvation that is in his heart to the point where it reaches his ear, he will experience the character in which “love thinketh no evil.” (I Corinthians 13:5) When somebody says something negative, his ear will not even pick it up because the character of his salvation, which has been worked out, protects him.
Sometimes we get a misconception about working out our salvation, thinking that our works actually attribute to our salvation. Perhaps a good analogy would be the way we use this exact phrase in terms of physical exercise. In the same way that working out in the gym does not create new muscles that we don’t already have, working out our salvation does not create new salvation that we don’t already have. It simply strengthens and enhances what is already there.
Several years ago, I received a college application from a prison inmate. He had come to know the Lord while incarcerated, and he now had a desire to serve God and lead others to Christ. It seemed to be a real risk to approve him for school, but I felt directed of the Holy Spirit to take the chance. His application was accepted and the corrections department approved his release under the college’s authority. He moved directly from the prison cell into the college dorm. That same college term, a police officer applied and was accepted into the college. It seemed to be more than a coincidence that a “cop” and a “con” were moving into the dormitory at the same time. I assigned them to rooms directly across the hall from each other, and I told each one about the other’s past. It gave me a much more secure feeling knowing that each time my former offender opened his door, he would be staring the enforcer in the face. As the months passed by, we experienced absolutely no trouble from the former inmate. However, it was a totally different story with my former police officer. He began to fall behind on his tuition and dorm payments. Then the school began to receive calls from local businesses that had extended him credit but could not collect their payments. Finally, he became involved with a young lady from the church, even though her family was adamantly opposed to their courtship. Suddenly, this young man and lady disappeared from town leaving thousands of dollars of bad debts, a list of angry creditors, and the girl’s heart-broken family behind. The young man from the corrections system, on the other hand, completed his studies with honors, went on to a major university for graduate studies, and eventually became a family and marriage counselor ministering to lives as broken as his once was. From these two young men, I learned a lot about character and being a new creature in Christ. The one who was least likely to succeed was the one who came through with flying colors. The one upon whom anyone would be willing to bet, not only lost the race – he ran in the opposite direction! In prison, one man seriously pressed into the new creation realities until he developed a character that was unshakable. The other man never worked out his salvation.
The Alpha-Omega Man
When we really work out our salvation with fear and trembling and allow the new man of the heart to be manifested in the outward personality, we have developed a Christian character. Jesus said that He is the “alpha and omega” (Revelation 1:8, 11; 21:6; 22:13). He is the “beginning and the end” (Revelation 21:6, 22:13). He is the initiator and completer of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). When we really mature into the full stature of Jesus Christ and receive His character worked out from our inside to our outside, we will have a character that is like Jesus from A to Z.
Attentive to God’s voice – To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:3-4)
Blameless in heart – That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:15)
Contrite, humble, and broken in heart – For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)
Devout – And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. (Acts 8:2; 10:2)
Excited toward God – Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (I Corinthians 14:12)
Faithful – These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)
Godly – But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. (Psalm 4:3)
Humble – My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. (Psalm 34:2)
Involved – And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13)
Just – These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)
Keeping himself – We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (I John 5:18)
Liberal in generosity – Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men. (II Corinthians 9:13)
Meek – The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 29:19)
New creatures – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17)
Obedient – For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19)
Prudent – The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. (Proverbs 16:21)
Quiet – And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you. (I Thessalonians 4:11)
Righteous – Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. (Isaiah 60:21)
Sincere – For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. (II Corinthians 1:12)
True – By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true. (II Corinthians 6:8)
Upright – And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. (I Kings 3:6)
Virtuous – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge. (II Peter 1:5)
Watchful – Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:37)
Xenos (a stranger to this world) – These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:13)
Youthful in regard to malice – Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. (I Corinthians 14:20)
Zealous for good works – Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:14)
In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave an illustration of the type of character that we would expect to find in an individual who is fairly well along the path of maturing into the full stature of Christ.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)
Henry Ward Beecher once said, “Many men are mere warehouses full of merchandise. The head, the heart are stuffed with goods. There are apartments in their souls that were once tenanted by taste and love and joy and worship. But they are all deserted now and the rooms are filled with earthly and material things. They have not built their character.” He goes on to say, “Many men build as cathedrals are built. The part nearest the ground finished, but that part which soars toward heaven, the torrents and the spire forever incomplete.” The part of our lives that reaches out to God is the part that needs to have the most attention. Quite often, we spend a lot of time on the part that other people see – our personality – but the part that reaches high toward God – our character – is left incomplete.
The issue isn’t if we have a D, I, S, or C personality, but whether our character is developing into the full stature of Christ – from A to Z.
When Paul was nearing the transition point in his life when his freedom to travel and minister was to give way to a life behind bars, he requested the leaders from Ephesus to meet him in Miletus for one last time of fellowship. Interestingly enough, his focus at that meeting was on his track record as an honest and upright minister. He was not defending his reputation (how men saw him), but defining his character (how God saw him). Paul knew that his credentials were not about his degrees but about his lifestyle. At the end of our lives, we will also need to look back and be able to say the same – that our character has validated our lives and ministries.