Character-Building Activities for Christians

In order to develop true Christian character we must strive to attain Christ-like attributes such as love, joy, peace, kindness, and self-control. If our environment doesn't stimulate us in these areas perhaps it would be wise to engage in character-building activities which challenge our carnal nature.

Visiting juvenile Detention Centers

Most juvenile delinquents come from dysfunctional families and due to their hard-nose attitude and arrogance it can be a serious challenge just to get them to talk in a civilized manner. Many teenagers today can't complete a sentence without profanity and it is even truer of those who end up in juvenile detention.

"If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that." (Matt. 5:46-47)

Deliberately choosing to spend time with those we find difficult to love can strengthen our ability to love others. Trying to love someone that we don't even like goes against our nature but in doing so we learn how to see them the way Christ saw us when we were living in trespasses and sin.

The most effective approach is to realize that regardless of the reaction we get, the child is obviously suffering. When compassion fills our heart, the love of Jesus emanates from within us to them. "It is not I but Christ who dwells in me." (Gal.2:20)

In trying to love rebellious teenagers we can learn how to love all who are difficult to love and it's just quite possible that we could lead them to Christ. The children are everyone's responsibility. If more people took an interest in our young people we might have fewer juvenile delinquents in the world today.

Visiting Retirement homes

"A man has joy by the answer of his mouth and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" (Prov. 15:23)

Senior citizens in retirement homes are often abandoned by family and friends. They may visit for a while at first but the visits usually become fewer and farther apart. The elderly persons then become depressed which is totally understandable. No one wants to be abandoned. Simple words of encouragement can have a profound effect on someone who may be feeling down. According to Scripture, our encouraging words will not only bring joy to others but will also create joy in us.

"Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord." (Lev. 19: 32)

Likely as not they only need a sounding board which in itself will be much help to them. While we may not be able to help them directly, our concern can touch them deeply. When people share their frustrations with someone who really seems to care, they feel like they're not alone in the problem and a few encouraging words can make a world of difference.

Reading the Bible to an elderly person who may have trouble holding a book or has poor eyesight would be a tremendous service and well pleasing to the Lord. Others will also be exposed to the words of God as you read which could very well plant seeds which someone else may eventually water and God may cause it to grow.

Bible Study

"But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you." (Prov. 1-2)

Those who love the Lord demonstrate it by obedience just as Christ demonstrated His love for the Father by going to the cross. While studying the commands of Jesus and applying them to our daily lives we can learn obedience and develop the peace which passes all understanding.

There are a number of commands that Jesus gave which we sometimes overlook such as love your enemies, turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile or do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If we make a list of all Jesus' commands and make an effort to obey each one until it becomes a natural way of life for us, we would soon develop the peace which the Lord promised to those who obey Him.

Spend Time With Family Members You Don't Like

Many of us have family members that we don't particularly like to associate with but tolerance is a very necessary trait that Christians need to develop.

"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love." (Eph. 4:1-2)

Many of us fall short in the area of patient endurance. God patiently waited for us to turn down the path of righteousness so we should learn to be kind and patient as well. There are unkind and even hateful people in every walk of life. Learning to deal kindly with them can be a real challenge. Nevertheless, God, in His infinite mercy, was longsuffering toward us so we should be all the more willing to be patient and kind to others, even to those who don't seem to deserve it.

We should periodically make an effort to approach someone that we usually don't care to associate with and practice a bit of loving tolerance. It doesn't have to be long periods but long enough to exercise our patience.

We could also spend time with friends or coworkers that we don't usually interact well with, which could not only improve the relationship but also increase our ability to bear with those we find unpleasant to be around.

In some cases we might learn that the problem in the relationship was actually us and not the other person. Sometimes we enter a relationship with preconceived notions of the person which we could have picked up from others. As a result we could find that we actually enjoy the person's company and end up with a lifelong friend.

Coach Little league

"What is desired in a man is kindness." (Prov. 19:22)

Anyone who has volunteered to coach little league can verify the fact that it is often a thankless task. Parents can get very upset with the coach as well as friends and other family members. It takes a lot of stamina to be kind to someone who is yelling profanity at you. However, it is a good service to the neighborhood and an excellent way to practice kindness under stress.

One of the Lord's greatest attributes is kindness. He causes the rain to fall and the sun to shine on the evil as well as the good. He is kind to all so we should also be kind. It's easy to be kind to someone who is being kind to us but the challenge is to offer kindness to someone who seems unworthy of it. We're simply not wired that way.

Jesus said that we are not to return evil for evil but rather that we should conquer evil with good. Kindness can overpower evil. When people are being rude or hateful towards us and we respond with loving kindness it throws them off balance. It's not the kind of reaction they expect as it shines the light of the Lord on them, exposing their evil deed which brings shame upon them.

This is an excellent activity to develop and strengthen kindness which is a very important trait. Kindness can have a strong effect on the conscience. It's difficult to be unkind in the face of kindness.

"Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city." (Prov. 16: 32)

Of all Christian character traits self-control seems to be the most difficult to master since we live in a world where we have access to just about anything our hearts desire. Unfortunately, many of us tend to desire those things that aren't expedient or profitable. We want what we want when we want it and in today's modern society we usually get it which lowers our self-control.

Any activity that stimulates our carnal nature will go a long way towards helping us develop Christian character traits if we are properly challenged by them. It may sound absurd to deliberately expose ourselves to such awkward situations but if we are exercised by them the results will be a strong Christian character. Then we can say with the Apostle Paul that we have run the race and fought the good fight.

Therefore, anyone leading a life that offers little to no stimulation of the old nature needs to participate in activities which challenge them to strengthen their Christian character. Interacting with difficult people is a good way to strengthen character and improve our walk with God.

"I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man." (Eph. 3: 14-16)