God's Character sits at the top and shapes all parts of this framework because it is where we see and understand who God is, revealed in His word. God is relational and His creation has the need for companionship built into it; both between humans and the non-human world, between humans and especially between humans and God. Being made, in all our diversity, in the image of God, the intention from the beginning was that all human beings will work together to take care of creation.
A central theme in the bible regarding God's character is the relationship between God and humans, expressed through covenant. Through election and covenant God binds himself to humanity in promise and partnership. We are told that God chose a particular people and promised to care and provide for them. The chosen people were asked to respond in faith and gratitude by living as the people of God.
In the Old Testament we see God's character revealed from the beginning of the story of the chosen people. We hear of a God who responds to the cries of the needy and rescues those in oppression. The codes of behaviour that the covenant required included frequent warnings to care for the poor and disadvantaged. As well as being concerned about religious practice, the prophets stood up against injustice and exploitation on social and economic issues. Indeed, as commissioned spokespersons of God, the prophets' message was that God was more interested in behaviour than sacrifice and empty worship. Across the Old Testament we hear of God's character in the phrase “slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love," despite the people's continual failure to live up to their part of the covenant. (See Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 86:15, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2)
In the New Testament we see the unique witness of God's character made into flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the climax of the covenant, proclaiming that the Kingdom of God has appeared in his words, deeds, healings and signs. Through the incarnated life of Jesus we see that God continues to be passionately involved with creation. But the scandalous nature of the incarnation is seen in that, through Jesus, God was willing to identify with the least of humanity. Thus we see in the story of Jesus that his own experience included poverty, refugee-ism, rejection and torture. He related to people of all backgrounds, and specifically to those who were considered irrelevant by worldly standards: women, children, the diseased, and the disabled, those whose professions were despised. He identified so fully with the human experience that he was willing to face death. Through the incarnation God entered into a full relationship with humanity. Through Jesus' death on the cross, God's judgement on those individuals and systems that deny humanity was made apparent. Through the resurrection, God's grace was offered to transform our world with hope.
The New Testament also witnesses to the role of the Spirit of God as the one through whom God's character, including compassion, a sense of justice and solidarity with the needy, can become rooted in our own lives. Through the Holy Spirit we continue to be bound in relationship to God: a covenant written on our hearts. In the Biblical story, then, we are shown the character of God: one who is committed to love, justice and transformation.
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