Character Education a Good Thing?

At first glance the title of this post might make us wonder why that would even be brought into question on a Christian site. Of course character is important.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Prov. 4:23)

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. (Lk. 6:45)

What Qualifies Character Education as Good?

We may need to reserve our determination of whether character education is a good thing based on our responses to some questions. We should look at our curriculum or agenda in light of these questions.

Clicking on the above links will take you to posts that give thoughts on these qualifications. Before you read those responses, however, take a look at 2 Peter 1:3-9. Therein you will find guidelines against which to measure character education. You should be able to answer the above three questions by examining this passage.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.