LAST month's article described how our personalities are molded by our environment and by the people with whom we associate. It suggested that by beholding we become changed either for better or for worse. It is only by beholding Christ, the Representative of God's true character, that we can become like Him. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18).
In discovering the true character of God in Christ, however, we must beware of the subtle counterfeits held out to us by the great deceiver, Satan. His design is to keep us from understanding the true nature of Christ.
This month we are going to look at three very important character traits and see how Satan has con fused our thinking on these traits by offering his counterfeits in place of the true.
Humility
The first of these is humility. The chart below is in tended to make the contrast sharper by comparing the components of both false and true humility:
False humility is usually a character trait of the type of person we previously defined as a dependent personality. Its basis is fear and self-depreciation. The falsely humble person fears what others may think and goes along with more dominant people's ideas because he fears nonacceptance by them. He may resent being dominated, at times, but dares not dis agree.
When badly treated, this kind of person may not answer back but will instead hold everything inside, where his pent-up feelings may result in acid indigestion or even eventually in ulcers. He is very aware of his feelings but prides himself in not answering back, even though his inner thoughts are anything but calm. He likes to feel that "he, at least, has good self-control" but may be motivated by a fear of nonacceptance or a pride in his own ability to repress his true feelings.
True humility, on the other hand, is based on an understanding of God's love and a self-respect born of a stability based on God's demonstrated acceptance of His earthly children. Instead of having to repress angry feelings, they are displaced in the heart of God's love. Rather than repression of anger there is an absence of anger because God removes it from the heart through the prayer of faith each time a temptation comes. Self-defense is replaced by a genuine love for others and peace reigns in the heart.
The character of the Christ who never retaliated is to be our standard, and such a character is humanly possible. It is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit working constantly in the soul to restore in us the image of God.
Many, not understanding this, have practiced counterfeit humility instead of the true. Others, however, have mistaken the true for the counterfeit, as is shown in the following quotation: "In every gentle and sub missive way, Jesus tried to please those with whom He came in contact. Because He was so gentle and unobtrusive, the scribes and elders supposed that He would be easily influenced by their teaching."--The Desire of Ages, p. 85.
The scribes and elders mistook true humility for the false humility that is weakness. They expected Jesus to be easily swayed because of fear of nonacceptance. Apparently many medieval artists were also confused about the nature of Christ when they depicted Him as weak and effeminate in their paintings. Such false portraits have turned many away from an acceptance of Christ.
Others also, besides the scribes and elders, were deceived by comparing Christ's humility to the false brand exhibited in humanity. "Because the life of Jesus condemned evil, He was opposed, both at home and abroad. His unselfishness and integrity were commented on with a sneer. His forbearance and kindness were termed cowardice." --Ibid., p. 88.
Satan has thus confused man down through the ages because of his need to justify self.
Strength
Next we consider true strength as opposed to false strength. In Christ the humility of a child was blended with a strength of character that would not bend to compromise with sin. "But as the people looked upon Him, they saw a face where divine compassion was blended with conscious power. Every glance of the eye, every feature of the countenance, was marked with humility, and expressive of unutterable love. . . . While His manners were gentle and unassuming, He impressed men with a sense of power that was hidden, yet could not be wholly concealed." --Ibid., pp.137, 138.
False and true strength can be contrasted as follows:
The individual exhibiting false strength is dominant in character, as previously described, and prides him self in being able to "pull himself up by his own boot straps." He has the tendency to push others into doing his will.
A person having true strength, however, does not use force or coercion but presents truth to others and goes ^ahead of them to lead the way. The Shepherd leads His sheep and goes before them to show them the way, and they follow Him because they trust Him and love Him. He does not get behind them, "whip them into order," and drive them ahead of Him. "The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God's government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know Him is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan." --Ibid., p. 22.
Some, in thinking about Christ and His character of love, misunderstand this characteristic because of a false concept of what actually took place when Christ cleansed the Temple. Notice what actually happened on that occasion. "Overpowered with terror, the priests and rulers had fled from the temple court, and from the searching glance that read their hearts. In their flight they met others on their way to the temple, and bade them turn back, telling them what they had seen and heard. Christ looked upon the fleeing men with yearning pity for their fear, and their ignorance of what constituted true worship." --Ibid., p. 162.
The fear that filled their hearts was caused by the sense of their own evil motives. Instead of running away from Christ, however, they should have cast themselves at His feet in repentance and love. Oh, how He yearned to comfort and cleanse them! Their fear was a product of their own darkened and deceived minds.
In this scene of Christ's cleansing of the Temple many of us too often find an excuse for retaliation for evil done to us. We term it "righteous indignation." But if we truly search our hearts, we will often find there a desire to justify self rather than discovering there the deep, abiding love that dwelt constantly in the heart of Christ. No self-concern motivated Christ. Only a genuine concern for others.
Mankind sees strength as an ability to control, dominate, or succeed above others. There are many ways we do this. One method is through use of physical force, "I can beat up everyone on the block!" An other way is by use of intellectual power. "I beat everybody else in that exam!" or "/ have my doctorate in philosophy, /should know!" Another subtle method is through the expression of false love, "He needed a friend, I counseled him, and now I can't get rid of him!" There are many others as well that are based on materialism, position, or heritage. "I have the largest, best-furnished house on the street!" or "They really picked the best man when they chose me to head the corporation!" or "My folks founded this town; why, my great-aunt Minnie came over on the Mayflower!"
These and many other similar expressions are all methods of unnecessarily attempting to build our egos and are basically due to the lack of a deep, abiding self-worth that can come only with an experiential relationship with Jesus Christ. Satan has so con fused man that he does not even know his own heart. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" (Jer. 17:9, 10).
The Holy Spirit must give us the insight necessary in discerning our own motives, because we are blind to them. Even when we may occasionally be forced to catch a glimpse of our true motivations, we make excuses for ourselves, because it is too painful to see ourselves as we really are without the abiding love of Christ.
To enjoy true success in life we must have a combination of the Christ-given gentleness and the strength described above. The correct combination is revealed to us in the following: "Christian life is more than many take it to be. It does not consist wholly in gentleness, patience, meekness, and kindliness. These graces are essential; but there is need also of courage, force, energy, and perseverance. The path that Christ marks out is a narrow, self-denying path. To enter that path and press on through difficulties and discouragements requires men who are more than weaklings." --The Ministry of Healing, p. 497. "Stand in your God-given personality. Be no other person's shadow. Expect that the Lord will work in and by and through you." --Ibid., p. 499.
The solution to our problem is, of course, a deep, abiding trust in God through faith. We must have personal contact with God through the indwelling of His Spirit.
We cannot change our attitudes. They can only be changed through a love relationship with Christ. We must behold Jesus rather than man and make Jesus our pattern. It is only by recognizing Jesus as He really is and desiring His character more than any thing else in this life that we can be changed. We are reminded that: "The thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character." --Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 310.
We may change our outside appearance and con duct, but it is only God who can change those thoughts and feelings whose dwelling place is the heart.
Peace
The third character trait in which we are interested is that of peace or calmness.
False calmness is a characteristic of people who have the emotional tendency we previously described as avoidance. This kind of individual usually feels in adequate and has learned to suppress his feelings to such an extent that many times he is even unaware he has any negative feelings. His defense against hurt from other people is to shut them out. Often he does not seem to be listening when others give directions, or he may find himself very sleepy when others begin telling him what to do.
This method of defense is used by all of us at various times when we do not wish to hear the communication of another. As we mentioned in a previous article, the expression, "I don't believe you've heard a word I've said," is all too prevalent in day-to-day conversation.
True calmness of spirit is based on an abiding trust in God and a genuine concern for others. Only a heart full of God's love could urgently plead from the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). That men, other than Christ, can actually do this is demonstrated by the same sort of plea prayed by one standing amid a barrage of stones, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60).
While this kind of love is a characteristic of God alone, we may receive it as God's greatest gift to us, even as Stephen possessed it, if we will allow Jesus to fully abide in our hearts. We may become temples in which the Holy Spirit dwells, bringing us the true humility, Christlike strength, and peace of mind we all need so much.
