Christlike

Lately I've been thinking about personality versus character. When I was driving to a bar on a Friday night for a friend's birthday party at 8:00, I had a prematurely old moment when I thought to myself, "I can't believe I'm leaving my house after 8 pm."

But I don't think it's so much that I'm prematurely old as it is that I'm just not a go-out kind of person. I'm much more content to curl up with a book or a good TV show than I am to hang out with a bunch of people. I mean, I like to hang out with people one-on-one sometimes. But on a typical night you'll find me at home on the couch, and that's just where I want to be.

There is nothing better or worse about being an introvert vs. an extrovert. I think with both, you need balance. (Introverts need to be with people sometimes, even if it drains them, because community is important. Extroverts may be drained by being alone, but it's important for reflection and prayer.)

And there are a million other examples of personality traits that are totally separate from character virtues. What your hobbies are, what you're passionate about, what you're good at.

Which got me thinking about what it really means to be Christlike. Because I think sometimes it is hard to separate Jesus' character from his personality. He was a public figure. He was often with crowds. This didn't seem to overwhelm him, even if it sometimes was a sacrifice when what he really wanted was a little alone time. I would venture to say Jesus was an extrovert. Does that mean I need to get up on a mountain and preach? No. Does it mean I need to be compassionate? Yes. Does my compassion have to be amidst a large crowd? No.

What do you think? What are some lines you'd draw between Jesus' character and his personality?

Christians

I've been thinking about the kind of Christians that I admire and want to be like, and the kind of Christians that make me embarrassed to call myself a Christian. Because I do want to grow in my faith - but I want to grow more Christ-like, which isn't always more "Christian."

The Christians that make me embarrassed are known for what they are against, like homosexuality or abortion. They picket and are loud-mouthed about their opinions.
The Christians I admire are known for radiating love and care to everyone around them.

The Christians that make me embarrassed stand on street corners and hand out tracks awkwardly, making others feel uncomfortable.
The Christians I admire overflow with Jesus naturally, so that conversations about faith just happen because of their lifestyle.

The Christians that embarrass me always have a cheesy cliche handy.
The Christians I admire respond to everything in humble, authentic prayer.

The Christians that embarrass me reek of phoniness.
The Christians I admire leave no doubt of the sincerity of their faith.

The Christians that embarrass me mindlessly echo things they've heard or read about faith, without thinking for themselves.
The Christians I admire have their own faith journey stories and insights to share.

The Christians that embarrass me get preachy when people do things like swear or drink beer.
The Christians I admire love and accept everyone.

The Christians that embarrass me do all kinds of Christian activities so it's obvious they're a Christian.
The Christians I admire are just obviously Christian.

The Christians that embarrass me do a lot of talking.
The Christians I admire do a lot of asking and listening.

What contrasts would you add to this list?