By U.S. Army Chaplain (Col.) Scott McChrystal
Battle Ready Ministries Board Advisor
Are you a person of godly character? Would others agree?
In today’s culture, there’s a lot said about people’s accomplishments, but little attention directed to character. Instead, focus usually centers around personality, position, appearance, wealth, and popularity. Strangely, integrity and morality are treated almost like afterthoughts.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines character as the group of qualities that make a person, group, or thing different from others. This begs the question, “What kinds of qualities are we talking about?”
God’s Word has much to say about character—Christian character. In an overall sense, God predestined us to be conformed to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). The Apostle John breaks this down for us in 1 John 2:6: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. In other words, we must walk the talk.
Developing Christian character won’t happen without all-out commitment. Why? It’s a life-long pursuit on a spiritual battlefield. You’ll face fierce opposition from the flesh, the world, and the devil. There are no shortcuts.
The Bible leaves no doubt. It’s clearly God’s will that we become like Jesus. The Lord wants us to run this race and run it well. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:1,2a).
From my reading of Scripture along with personal experience, there’s no formula for developing or describing Christian character. Think of godly men and women you know. As you examine the character of each of these people, there’s no one description that fits all. The character transformation each experienced was unique to their personality, and background. For certain, each of these individuals remained teachable and moldable in the Potter’s hands.
Rather than handing you are paradigm, what follows are examples of what “right” looks like. I encourage you to take the time to read each of these scriptures and consider how each reflects a dimension of godly character. All Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (ESV).
Treat Others Like You Want Them to Treat You. Luke 6:31 says: And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Show Patient Endurance During Suffering. Romans 5:3-5 says: More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Walk in Integrity. Proverbs 10:9 says: Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
Possess a Heart That Pleases God. 1 Samuel 16:7 says: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Trust God for Eternal Life. John 3:16 says: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Set a Good Example. 1 Timothy 4:12 says: Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Obey God’s Commands. Psalm 119:1 says: Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!
Follow Right Priorities. Matthew 6:33 says: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Renew Your Mind. Romans 12:1-2 says: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Avoid Walking in the Flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 says: Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Walk in the Spirit. Manifest Spiritual Fruit in Your Life. Galatians 5:16, 22, 23 says: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Seek God Continually. 1 Chronicles 16:11 says: Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Trust the Authority and Power of God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Husbands: Honor Your Wives. 1 Peter 3:7 says: Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Wives: Be Obedient to Your Husbands. 1 Peter 3:1 says: Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.
Keep Your Word. 1 John 2:5 says: But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him.
Do Good Continually. Galatians 6:9 says: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Use Money, But Don’t Worship It. Matthew 6:24 says: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
Practice Godly Parenting. Ephesians 6:4 says: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Control Your Anger. James 1:19 says: Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
Practice Serving Others. Mark 10:45 says: For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Speak the Truth in Love. Ephesians 4:15 says: Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
Godly character is within your grasp. If you haven’t renewed your efforts to be a person of Christ-like character, today is a great time to begin. The Lord will be pleased, others will be encouraged, and you will experience the joy of becoming more like Jesus.
Chaplain (Colonel) Scott McChrystal was commissioned in 1970 and served 31 years on active duty, 10 as an infantry officer and the remainder as a United States Army chaplain. His line officer experience included a tour in Vietnam as an Infantry Platoon Leader and three assignments with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. As an Army chaplain, he had multiple tours at home and abroad. His final assignment was as the senior chaplain at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He retired from active duty in 2005 and served as the Military/VA Representative and Endorser within the Chaplaincy Department for the General Council of the Assemblies of God from 2005-2019. His decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Award, the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge, and the Army Ranger Tab. His education includes a Master of Business Administration Degree, a Master of Divinity Degree, a Doctor of Ministry Degree, and graduation from The United States Army War College. Additionally, he serves as a consultant to the American Council on Education. In recent years, he and his wife have written several Christian devotionals. In addition, Scott co-authored a Christian action-novel and served as the managing editor for the The Warrior’s Bible, an application bible for the military community. Scott presently serves as the Executive Liaison for The Warrior’s Journey, a non-profit organization that supports the military community. He’s also a member of the Distinguished Advisory Board for Battle Ready Ministries. Chaplain McChrystal and his wife, Judy, live in Springfield, Missouri, and have 4 children and 12 grandchildren.
