The Big Picture: Character

Oboedire

by

Practicing Faith

Special to United Methodist Insight | Feb. 24, 2026

[Note: I am renaming this series so it can be archived as a separate category.]

Writing about big-picture items in the spiritual life locates us in a way of living referred to by some as the Wisdom Pattern. [1] With the foundational element of communion (I-Thou relationship) in place, we move to the aspect of character.

The Spirit-to-spirit relationship is linked by the word holiness, with God saying, “Be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44, 19:2). It is one of only several verses in Leviticus repeated in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:16). The continuation of the theme into the Christian tradition highlights it as a key aspect of the spiritual life. [2]

In every world religion, virtue is the formative aim. The spiritual life is ethical at its core. [3]

Simply put, civilization is uncivil without virtue. Paul was connecting with the virtuous life when he made the fruit of the Spirit (not  legalism) the evidence of authentic spirituality (Galatians 5:22-23). It is, therefore, no surprise that Christianity identifies Christlikeness in relation to the nine words in Paul’s list. [4]

But the centrality of virtue was already established in the culture before he wrote about it. The Stoics, for example, extolled four cardinal virtues: courage, discipline, justice, and wisdom. [5]  Ryan Holiday offers this important word about virtue,

“The ancients understood virtue differently—not as a noun, but as a verb. To the Stoics, virtue was a way of life. Not something we are, but something we do. Aristotle described virtue as a kind of craft, something to pursue just as one pursues the mastery of any skill. “We become builders by building and we become harpists by playing the harp,” he wrote. “Similarly, then, we become just by doing just actions, temperate by doing temperate actions, brave by doing brave actions.” [6]

Those of us who are Christian say the same, viewing each of the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit as both a quality of character (noun) and an expression of conduct (verb). Rooted in soul and reflected in action, we make virtue real. In the Christian tradition, this is inward (personal) and outward (social) holiness.

Virtue is summed up in the word love, expressed as Jesus taught in the love of God and neighbor (Matthew 22.34-40). He was bringing forward the cardinal teaching in Judaism (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18), making clear that this would be the core of the Christian movement–“the excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13).

Virtue, as an inward character quality and an outward conduct expression, becomes a political mandate in society, expressed in the term “common good.’ Virtuous government promotes collective thriving. That leaders today are intent on enriching the rich (exploitation) and elevating themselves (supremacy) is proof positive that virtue has left the building and needs to be restored.

Living the Wisdom Pattern begins, continues, and ends in love, with us offering to be co-creators in the advance of love wherever, whenever, and however we can. [7]

[1] Richard Rohr, The Wisdom Pattern (Franciscan Media, 2020) and Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Way of Knowing (Josey-Bass, 2003).

[2] Richard Foster, Streams of Living Water (HarperOne, ####), chapter

[3] David P. Gushee,

[4] Steve Harper, Jesus Unpainted (Amazon, 2024).

[5] Ryan Holiday has written a four-volume series about each virtue. You can learn more about them at https://dailystoic.com. Holiday’s Daily Stoic book, and his daily reflection and podcast explore the virtues in detail.

[6] Ryan Holiday, The Daily Stoic e-letter, 12/24/2025.

[7] Paul W. Chilcote, Multiplying Love (Abingdon Press, 2023).

The Rev. Dr. Steve Harper is retired seminary professor, who taught for 32 years in the disciplines of Spiritual Formation and Wesley Studies. Author and co-author of more than fifty books.. He is also a retired Elder in The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.