Christian Leadership
Kyalae T. Haywood
March 23, 2014
Making of a Christian Leader
What is Character
Human “character”, is the pattern of thinking and acting which runs right through someone, so that wherever you cut into them, you see the same person through and through [1]. The transformation of a person character is their virtue. Virtue is what happens when wise and courageous choices have become “second nature [2].” Wright differentiates a biblical framework from a Greek moral framework in that Jesus and his followers are offering the three-dimensional model toward Aristotle two-dimensional points [3]. Wright gives us excellent contrast between biblical and Greek moral framework and I agree with his positions. For example, Aristotle felt for someone to establish character they have to continually practice their strengths, he saw that the ultimate aim was to become the kind of character who would be able to act in the right way automatically, by the force of long training of habit. Jesus and Paul agreed; but they proposed a very different way by which the relevant habits were to be learned and practiced. Also Aristotle saw that for one to be completely happy they needed moral strength called virtues, whereas Jesus and his followers highlighted qualities that Aristotle didn’t rate highly such as love, kindness, forgiveness [4]. Evaluate Wright’s position and note where you agree and/or disagree with him. Defend your positions.
[1] Wright, N.T. After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matter. Copyright 2010. P.24
[2] Ibid.21
[3] Ibid. 35
[4] Ibid.36
Character relates to Kouzes and Posner leadership model and Maxwell’s reflection in that Maxwell’s stresses the value of how we first have to work on yourself before we can work on others. He states it is easier to teach what is right than to do what is right [5]. He also reflects that people do what they see. In this we cannot build something great out in the world until we’ve tried to build something great inside of us
March 23, 2014
Making of a Christian Leader
What is Character
Human “character”, is the pattern of thinking and acting which runs right through someone, so that wherever you cut into them, you see the same person through and through [1]. The transformation of a person character is their virtue. Virtue is what happens when wise and courageous choices have become “second nature [2].” Wright differentiates a biblical framework from a Greek moral framework in that Jesus and his followers are offering the three-dimensional model toward Aristotle two-dimensional points [3]. Wright gives us excellent contrast between biblical and Greek moral framework and I agree with his positions. For example, Aristotle felt for someone to establish character they have to continually practice their strengths, he saw that the ultimate aim was to become the kind of character who would be able to act in the right way automatically, by the force of long training of habit. Jesus and Paul agreed; but they proposed a very different way by which the relevant habits were to be learned and practiced. Also Aristotle saw that for one to be completely happy they needed moral strength called virtues, whereas Jesus and his followers highlighted qualities that Aristotle didn’t rate highly such as love, kindness, forgiveness [4]. Evaluate Wright’s position and note where you agree and/or disagree with him. Defend your positions.
[1] Wright, N.T. After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matter. Copyright 2010. P.24
[2] Ibid.21
[3] Ibid. 35
[4] Ibid.36
Character relates to Kouzes and Posner leadership model and Maxwell’s reflection in that Maxwell’s stresses the value of how we first have to work on yourself before we can work on others. He states it is easier to teach what is right than to do what is right [5]. He also reflects that people do what they see. In this we cannot build something great out in the world until we’ve tried to build something great inside of us