Character witness

 In a church discussion group (a few years ago), the question was put to the group "why do you believe?" I don't think the questioner was satisfied with any of the answers the group gave. His answer was that God changed his life. That's why he was a believer.

I felt push back to that answer within myself. My response was that people's lives change for a lot of reasons, and such change is sometimes short-lived. Also, belief would actually precede the change, having resulted from the belief.

But I suppose I was looking at this question from the perspective of whether what was believed is really true Just because someone believes something, and it changes their life, it doesn't mean that what they believed is true. I wanted the answer to be that my belief was due to the understanding and persuasion that the object of my faith was true.

But looking back and thinking about the question some more, I would have to agree that character was a major reason as to why I believed. But not really my change of character, but others.

Looking back, I can see that human character had a major role in why I became a believer. It was the character of others that had an impact on me: it was the character of others who have believed. And it was the character of others that made me realized I wasn't saved, for I was already becoming positive about a lot of things related to Christianity.

And probably before and after I became a believer, I think I saw as one of the greatest witnesses to what I believed was the character of Christ. There is no one in history that was like Jesus Christ, in both words and deeds: "No man ever spoke like this Man!" John 7:46

As a believer for over 45 years, I have seen that though people's lives can and do change as believers, they are far from perfect. And though the character of believers had an affect on me, eternally and practically, I know that they, just like me, will fail. Unfortunately, but true.

Jesus is the “Captain” and “Perfecter” of faith (See Hebrews 12:2). We are to look to Him as the supreme example of what living by faith and obedience to God is to be.

Though I remember with gratitude those who by their words and conduct had an impact on my life and even led to my salvation, I know that even they have had failures and struggles in their Christian lives.

I have determined that regardless of whether others fail, I will not use that as an excuse to be disobedient to God. Because we can use others as an excuse for our own failures and disobedience to God. And it could be that what hinders us is not really the failures of others, but our own affections—but we tend to want to blame others for what hinders us.

Though the witness of the character of others plays an important role in our lives, Jesus is still the Captain and Perfecter of faith. Look to Him and His example.