Honesty and Ekklesia

Chad's talk really got me thinking about community. Since, as Chad put it, our character is "malleable" and dependent on immediate circumstances and emotional phases, our ability to live into the character we are called to have as both Christians and social beings is highly contingent on our context. If I am in a context that is largely positive (for example, around really great and open people in the midst of the Colorado Rockies), then my ability to live into character is improved. If I am in a negative context (use your imagination--its a good thing to have), then it will be difficult for me to demonstrate character.
This got me thinking about the church. If we as Christians are called to have character, I think it is biblically sound to say that we are called to have character together. Given the psychological background that Chad outlined, this theological statement takes on new import. In this light, the church can be seen as a grace-saturated context which makes space for us to be able to live into our highest character. Now, too often the church becomes a harbour of negativity and aversion, but if we are taught in grace and love the church can become a place of incredible positivity. For Paul, the church is built upon the virtues of faith, hope, and love. We Christians are to be the church, the ekklesia--"the called out ones"--and we are called to act in love and in character. Given Chad's talk, I think these two callings go hand in hand. We need each other if we are to be people of character.