How Christian Character Produces Character

HOW CHRISTIAN CHARACTER PRODUCES CHARACTER

Strategies for Character Development in Christian Stories

Characters are important to any story but developing them can be a challenge. Biblical principles can give a starting point …


HOW CHRISTIAN CHARACTER PRODUCES CHARACTER

Consider two Biblical passages - Romans 5:3-4: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (NIV) and 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God – I say this to your shame.” (NIV). Read each its larger context. Both passages emphasize how what goes on around someone can affect their personal character. This must be considered as much when writing Christian stories as it is dealing with people in everyday life.

In storytelling, there are two character levels, main characters and secondary characters. There are three main character types: the protagonist (hero), the antagonist (someone at odds with the protagonist), and the villain (who wants to stop the hero). Usually the villain and antagonist are the same character, but the antagonist does not need to always be the villain, such as two romantic rivals (protagonist and antagonist) fighting to rescue a woman they are both interested in from a third party that they both agree is a threat but each wants her for his own (villain). There are also secondary characters that work in support roles to each of the main character types, such as friends or servants.

Regardless of character type, each character has some attributes that are strong and others that are weak, and the story often involves the character growing by confronting weakness, or that weakness being used to some greater purpose in the plot. God can do the same using character weakness in people’s lives to move people to greater purposes and closer to Him.

QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES TO CHALLENGE YOU:

1) Look at a biblical person in a Bible story. Consider this person’s personality in relation to the aspects of what constitutes a Christian character. Where is biblical person strong for Christ, and where do you see character defects? Were any of those defects used to God’s greater purpose?

2) Design a character that you could write about. Consider: physical looks, relationship status, kids, if introverted or extroverted, moral standards, fears, temperament, life attitude, ambitions, frustrations, interests, abilities, occupation, level of education, political affiliation and religion along with the strength of the character’s religious commitment. What are this character’s strengths and defects? Do you see this character as a protagonist, antagonist, villain, or a character that might function in a supporting role to one of these three types?


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CREATIVE WORDS TO SPREAD THE WORD


Coordinator: Shannon Muir
email: creativewordstospreadtheword@gmail.com

BROCHURE #6
Last revised: March 2008

Based on the Prose Workshop of May/June 2006


Brochure text by
Shannon Muir
Original Artwork on Printed Version by
Kevin Paul Shaw Broden

[The above is a modified Internet transcription of the text of a print brochure originally released by Creative The Words to Spread the Word. This transcription released by Creative Words to Spread the Word. All rights reserved.]