Breaking Character

When an actress breaks character, she slips out of her role and into her own personality. You seldom see this from professionals, except perhaps on comedy shows when one actor begins laughing and can't stop. This then leads to everyone else breaking character and either the "take" is scrapped or it is left in for the audience to enjoy. We saw this type of thing a great deal on live comedy such as The Carol Burnett show between Tim Conway and Harvey Korman or the I love Lucy show. Not so much anymore, although it does happen.

There are times when we might be asked to "break character" with regard to our faith in following Christ. That does not mean to infer that our relationship with Christ is merely a "role" we play. What it does mean is that as follows of Christ we are to exhibit a certain character - quality of life and beliefs - that often separate us from the rest of the crowd. When we violate that quality of life and belief system, we break character.

I vividly remember when my wife lost her job because she would not lie to the sub-contractors she had been working with. Doing so would have been a breach of character for her. Oh, it might have been a "wink and a nod" to the one who was asking her to lie, but to other people who saw and were impacted by her living testimony, it would definitely have been a break in character.

When we read about Saul, David and Jonathan in 1Samuel, there is a great deal of lying going on. At one time or another each of them misrepresent the truth. But were they breaking character or was this a normal course of human relations at that time, in that culture?  Selfish behavior and self preservation seemed to be the order of the day on the part of each of these men (and their wives at times).  Therefore, is it acceptable to lie when it comes to saving one's skin? Is all fair in love and war?

In a book I'm reading, "Writing for the Soul" by Jerry Jenkins, he tells of his research and interviews with Mike Singletary, the famous linebacker for the Chicago Bears. Mike told him candidly about a serious incident in his life when it might have been easy for him to break character on two occasions. The first time was when he had an "affair" while engaged. Then during his honeymoon he felt compelled to confess this indiscretion to his wife. He could have kept it a secret hoping no one would find out, but he did not want to live with that lie. He told his wife realizing that they would have to start building a trust relationship all over again. He could have broken character a second time, but he chose not to. (Writing for the Soul, p. 124)

In Acts 7, when the High Priests asked Stephen "Are these things so?" It would have been easy for him to deny his faith and blend into the crowd. But he did not break character. Even when the stones that would crush his skill and break his body were lifted high, he did not break character.

Everyday, in some way, I suspect we are tempted to break character. That is exactly what the enemy was trying to do with Jesus in the wilderness temptations. That is exactly what he tries to do with us. May we be found faithful and hold our "part."

Father, I struggle to say on the path every day. It seems, without fail, something calls out to me to "break character." May I seek your strength to stay faithful one more day.