Integral Education: Character
Character: “It is of little value if our students know a lot of the Bible or have great theology but aren’t experiencing a continuous inner change in their life. We intentionally engage with each student on campus in order to encourage them to allow the Spirit of God to develop the character of Jesus in them.”
Our true character is revealed when under pressure. Whether it be a lack of sleep, a to-do list that seems a mile long, or strained family dynamics, a person’s character will be revealed in uncomfortable circumstances. Scripture encourages us to count these difficult situations a joy. In Romans 5:3-4 it says, “But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”[1] At Millar, character is one of our quadrants in the integral model because we believe that it is of little value if our students know a lot of the Bible or have great theology but aren’t experiencing a continuous inner change in their life.
In a book entitled Uncomfortable, Brett McCracken writes about “recovering a willingness to do hard things, to embrace hard truths, to do life with hard people for the sake and glory of the One who did the hardest thing.”[2] While at college, students have the opportunity to learn under pressure. Whether it be the stress of assignments and due dates, presenting drama or music before an audience, or performing their best while on the volleyball court, students experience uncomfortable situations that reveal and shape their character. As staff engage students on campus, we want to challenge them to do the hard things; to embrace the discomfort. Christians who seek growth must embrace the difficult aspects of following Jesus. [3] Challenges come in many different forms, and facing these troubles with faith will look different for every individual as God calls each person to their own journey. Staff at Millar strive to encourage students to allow the Spirit of God to develop the character of Jesus in them as they face both the joys and trials of life, and pray that as students fill their mind with greater knowledge of God’s Word, that their hearts will overflow with a deeper love of God and his commands.
“Staff at Millar strive to encourage students to allow the Spirit of God to develop the character of Jesus in them as they face both the joys and trials of life.”
McCracken also writes about uncomfortable holiness and uncomfortable truths. Followers of Christ are called to be set-apart, pursuing different values than the world around them. This means that we must pursue holiness and not settle for mere authenticity. Believers of Jesus Christ are called to “be holy.” This means that our character should be different than the character of the world. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raises the bar because he wants His people to be noticeably different for the sake of the gospel – for the sake of His Father in Heaven.[4] What often passes for authenticity is just a safe, faux-openness that establishes an environment of vulnerability.[5] However, authenticity and vulnerability do not lead to a change of character – to holiness – without genuine repentance.
Following Jesus also means believing truths that are unaccepted in today’s world, whether it be a biblical sexual ethic, the reality of hell, the idea that the universe was created, or any number of other unfashionable things. Obeying the commands of Jesus is uncomfortable, yet there is a deep peace and comfort in knowing Jesus. As students at Millar grow in their knowledge and love of God’s Word, and gain a deep understanding of true obedience to Christ, their character is sure to stretch deeper and higher than ever before.
The goal of our integral model is to push students to a fuller, more complete, maturity in Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 the Apostle Paul writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” Likewise, if our students are firmly grounded in the truth of Scripture but it has not impacted their character, their knowledge means nothing. In fact, in their arrogance, they will likely cause more harm than help to the body of Christ. When students’ love for God’s Word changes their character, it immediately leads them into deeper and healthier relationships, as well as a more Christ-like lifestyle. Already you can see that each quadrant of the integral model is inextricably linked in reaching our vision for the students to become “passionate, relevant, servants” whose character is shaped by the entire Scriptures.[6]
About the Author
This article in our Integral Education series is written by Shania Ruten, who serves in the Worship Arts department at our Pambrun campus.
[1] Scripture references are taken from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
[2] McCracken Brett, Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2017), 25-26.
[3] Ibid., 26.
[4] Ibid., 60.
[5] Ibid,. 64.
[6] Accessed September 19, 2022, https://www.millarcollege.ca/vision-and-mission.