Essential Principles for Christian Character Development in Teens and Young Adults

The following is a list of principles essential to the Christ-like character development process, including principles and concepts essential to developing and implementing character formation activities. Specific detail is given as to the application of each principle as it relates to teaching and guiding young people in their character development process. The teenage years are unique because parents and teachers need to take a step back and learn to become observers who influence rather than control behavior of the young people under their care.

Recognizing Personal Frailty.

Christians must recognize that human beings lack the capacity and the resources to save themselves and, therefore, are in desperate need of Jesus’s redemptive power. Salvation can only come through His Grace. This acknowledgement of weakness causes Christians to turn to God for help. Jesus shows His followers that the way to prepare for entrance into the Kingdom is to first and foremost admit their poverty of spirit and open their hearts to that which only God can provide. Human weakness is constantly pointed out by failure to break free from the bonds of sin by human effort – reminding people of the need for Christ.

Taking Responsibility for Actions.

It is through meekness and submission to Christ that Christians are made to realize the fact that they are weak in their sins. Christ-like meekness means being able to recognize personal faults and taking responsibility for them. The world tells its citizens that they need to be strong and powerful and submit only to the standards that they set for themselves. Pride and self-centeredness are seen as virtues in the earthly kingdom. One of the worst things for a parent or teacher to do when the young people in their care make mistakes would be to let them get away with the wrong-doing. If young people don't see any negative consequences that resulted from their poorly-made decisions, they will continue down the wrong path. They need to be taught that actions have consequences. young people are old enough that they should no longer be treated like little children, but through it all, they need to be shown love, and more importantly, the love of God.

Obeying the Will of God.

Essentially, the Biblical character development process involves dying to self and self-wishes in order to obey the will of God. What truly matters is the recognition of human frailty and inability to please God, on top of the fact that God is in control. One developmental problem that young people have is a tendency to think that the world revolves around them, so-to-speak. It is an unfortunate fact that too many young people usually put their own desires above all else. They need to be shown the reality that Christians must put their lives in the hands of Jesus and trust in His strength rather than their own. Choosing to follow Jesus means putting Him first, before their own wants and wishes, and their desire for their own earthly self-preservation.

Repentance from Sin.

Young people need to be shown that failure is part of life, and it is okay to make mistakes. Discipleship does not require perfection, but rather recognition of failure, true repentance, and receptivity to being lead by Christ. Christians recognize their own unworthiness of the forgiveness they have received through Christ and therefore forgive others because they are themselves forgiven. Contrary to the way the world sees it, forgiveness does not need to be “deserved.” Christians don’t get what they deserve, or they would not be saved. Everyone is a sinner in the eyes of God, but God shows mercy by forgiving people while they are still sinners. Christians have the best understanding of what it really means to be merciful because they themselves have been shown mercy by God.

Making the Right Behavioral Choices.

The Kingdom character development process is more than just a set of codes by which Christians must live their lives. Growth in true Christ-likeness goes from merely control by laws and rules to control by the heart's desire to please God. Becoming Christ-like in character also includes the out-pouring of values in behavior. young people need to be given just the right amount of freedom. If they have been raised properly, with the right set of morals and values, they will hold to their Christian character and make the right decisions. When they make mistakes, as they invariably will, they need to be treated with love.

Facing/Overcoming Hardships and Trials.

The teenage years are traumatic and stressful for all involved: parents, teachers, and the young people alike. Therefore young people need to be shown that it is a natural part of the Christian life to face a variety of different kinds of hardships and trials. A fact that too many Christians hate to admit is that it often takes suffering to bring about an honest change of heart. As is evidenced in Romans 5:3b-5, Christ-like character development requires that Christians overcome the hardships they face, because then they are able to grow in their relationship with God.

Setting Limits/Boundaries.

Parents and teachers are called by God to undertake the task of properly instructing the children in their care, which includes necessary correction and discipline. The goal of setting limits/boundaries for what children can and cannot do is to create a sense of motivation toward being responsible, empathetic, and caring, not just because it is important to their parents and teachers, but because it is important to them. Children need to realize that when they disobey or act in a disrespectful manner towards their parents and teachers it is really God who is not being obeyed and honored.

REFERENCES

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