GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 6:6
Character and Reputation
Character and reputation are two words in the English vocabulary that can refer to the same individual in quite different ways. Character is usually defined as who someone truly is, while reputation refers to what others believe about them. In Book II of Plato’s book The Republic, there is a story about a shepherd named Gyges who discovered a ring that could make its wearer invisible when he turned the ring halfway around on his finger. Gyges used the power of the ring to make himself invisible. Then he infiltrated the royal palace, seduced the queen, murdered the king, and took over the kingdom. Plato used the myth to emphasize the difference between character and reputation. If one were invisible—if he could act without fear of punishment—his true character would show through. Socrates argued that the true character of a person shows up whether visible or invisible. Gyges, for example, had the reputation of being a gentle shepherd, while in character he was an insurrectionist and murderer.
The issue of character and reputation came up in St. Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry. Stories about his teaching and healing spread through Israel, and everywhere Jesus went, crowds gathered around him. People began speculating about him, building his reputation. “But others were saying, ‘He is Elijah.’ But others were saying, ‘He is a prophet like one of the prophets.’” (Mark 6:15) People created his reputation—he was Elijah or a prophet. Even now, some people picture the historical Jesus as omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent. None of these theoretical attributes seem to be true about the historical person—Jesus. He got tired, at times frustrated, and even angry—all natural human emotions. He was kind; he appeared to love children; he enjoyed close friendships; and he was touched by human suffering—his character.
Character and reputation should be congruent. Sometimes they are, and sometimes they are not.
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