Becoming Good: Building Moral Character

Becoming good—building character—is what we all want for ourselves and for others. But where do we begin? Becoming good is not simply a matter of a few dos and don'ts. In fact we can't begin to do the right things until we have built an adequate foundation. This is precisely what David Gill sets out to help us do.

His approach is deeply rooted within the Christian tradition and specifically designed for people who want to allow Scripture to shape the way they think and act. Gill's arguments are not drawn from ethical theory (though they are informed by it) but from the Bible—from Paul's admonitions to faith, hope and love, and from Jesus' Beatitudes.

Here is rich, biblical teaching that will help people from every walk of life—whether engineers, bus drivers, managers, restaurant workers, PTA members, parents, neighborhood volunteers, nurses, teachers, coaches, attorneys, journalists or physicians—fulfill their calling to be salt and light within their own spheres of influence.

David W. Gill (Ph.D., USC) is an ethics writer, educator and consultant. He served as professor of Christian ethics at New College Berkeley (1978-1990) and professor of applied ethics at North Park University (1992-2001).

As an adjunct or visiting professor, he teaches Christian ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary and Regent College, and business ethics in MBA programs at University of San Francisco, and Seattle Pacific University. He is also the Director of the Mockler Center for Faith & Ethics in the Workplace at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

He is a member of the Society of Christian Ethics, Society of Business Ethics, and Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. He is president of the International Jacques Ellul Society.

Gill has written or edited six books, including the two-volume introduction to Christian ethics, Becoming Good: Building Moral Character (2000) and Doing Right: Practicing Ethical Principles (2004). He often leads workshops, seminars and retreats for Christian students, faculty, professional and church groups, and he provides business ethics training and consulting services in the marketplace.