Every Step Of The Way
The subject of integrity is not exactly a headline-grabbing one, these days, is it? In fact, I will go as far as to say that it is largely forgotten. We have all repeatedly witnessed the sickening scene on TV news bulletins: the stoical expression on the public figure in question's face, recently exposed for either financial or sexual misconduct (be it politician, clergyman or other) with his long-suffering spouse at his side, parrying questions from the gathered media pack, all hungry for blood! But the calm, and quite possibly smug, response seems to be broadly along the following lines:
"I understand everyone's reaction, but all I can ask at this present time is that my family and I be allowed to consider the events of the last couple of weeks together, for which I can only unreservedly apologise, so that our lives can regain at least some of our previously now cherished but sadly missed normality. Let me assure, firstly, the general public at large, and also all those dear people for whom I am responsible, that the behaviour that has drawn such a media frenzy is centred around my private life, which, I solemnly declare, has neither bearing nor effect on my continued, consistent, diligent and tireless work in my public duties. I therefore take this opportunity to announce that I will not be resigning from my position. Thank you."
The broadly based acceptance of these speeches is deeply unsound, both inside and outside a Christian mind-set.
Firstly, in a general context: are we to accept your hypocrisy simply on the grounds of your apology? If your personal affairs are the subject of public scandal, why should we possibly be expected to trust you? You have courted the public's approval to get to your present position on the basis of the idea that you are worthy of it. Yet now, we the public are being asked to over-look your private shenanigans. Clearly, you refuse to accept responsibility for your actions, and have the further affront to refuse to resign and pay the price!
Secondly, in a Christian context. And this is where the definition becomes far more pervasive. The title of this blog was never more appropriate. You have been warned!
First, the mistake that Christians often make. I have chosen the word mistake deliberately to convey the fact that I am not at all being judgemental. In fact, the mistake, as I call it, which is very much my opinion, is well-intentioned. It is to respond with the idea that we are being, well, gracious. We tell ourselves that if this person says sorry, we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. This mistake is further compounded by what we rightly believe as Christians about repentance. The cycle of thought goes like this: if when I repented of my sins, and God forgave me, should I not then at least be prepared to do the same for this poor-looking specimen who has faced the humiliation of being held up as a public spectacle?
Answer: if this man is innocent, then he rightly deserves our sympathy and support, but he is not innocent. What is more, he is not repenting for sin. Indeed, it is highly likely that he does not even believe that there is any such thing as sin in the first place, and if he does, it is a shallow humanistic view at best. The only "sin" he has committed in his own eyes is that of being found out, and if any emotion has been brought to bear, it is his utmost resentment that this has happened. In short, if he had not been exposed in the first place, he would have continued! Thusly, the above related "Christian" response is a well-intentioned mistake.
Second, what does the Bible say about this subject, if anything? The Bible does in fact have a great deal to say on this subject, and there is a large amount of text given over to it. So much so, in fact, that this article would be, by definition, many times larger than it is now if I were to relate it all. So how can we do justice to it here, and why raise the subject at all if it cannot be done justice to here? The answer is simple. The commission, the mission statement, if you like, of this blog, is Gospel Invitation. And that is what integrity, in the Bible at least, is all about.
How so? You may well ask. In the Book of Job, Job describes two men who die; one of them dies in bitterness (torment) and the other dies "in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet". The point he was making was that, although death is common to all, not all die in peace, and the Hebrew word used to describe the man who dies in peace is integrity (Job 21.19-26). What else can this mean other than that integrity is the way to die in peace? Indeed, it goes even further. The Hebrew word translated "in full strength" is where we get the word security. In other words, the only explanation for his being at ease and quiet is the security he has in the first place. We don't have peace unless we first have security. So what is this security, and where does it come from? The answer to that is, quite frankly, is astounding. You will note that the above quoted Bible passage is in chapter twenty-one. You will see, if you turn back to chapter nineteen, Job's testimony with regard to the nature of his security and the source of it. I mean, of course, the famous declaration of verse twenty-five, "I know that my Redeemer liveth.". Unless we have a personal knowledge (relationship, in biblical terms) of God through knowing Jesus Christ as our Personal Saviour, there is no security, and without the security that comes from knowing the Redeemer, there is no peace, and without the peace that comes from that security, we will never be ready to die. And when we are, on these terms alone, ready to die, can we be truly ready to live.
And that is why integrity must NEVER be forgotten.
Jesus Christ is your Redeemer. Do know Him? You must come to know him, or you will never be saved. God loves you. You must be saved. You can be saved.
Here's how:
Find a quiet place to pray, and pray like you mean it. If necessary, get on your knees. Confess to God that everything you remember that you have ever thought, said and done up to that point. Even if you do not feel sinful, it has been a sin and you must confess it as such and declare that you are truly sorry for it all. Then, ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart as your Personal Saviour. I will state the fact that I believe that it is at that moment that you are, in fact, saved. But that is not the end. It is vital, and I know that no true Christian disagrees with me on this, that you find someone you trust and tell them. Then, find a Church as near to where you live as possible that preaches the Gospel, tell the Pastor there all about yourself and join them. Don't try to go it alone, you'll never make it.
God bless you, and thank you for visiting this blog.
"I understand everyone's reaction, but all I can ask at this present time is that my family and I be allowed to consider the events of the last couple of weeks together, for which I can only unreservedly apologise, so that our lives can regain at least some of our previously now cherished but sadly missed normality. Let me assure, firstly, the general public at large, and also all those dear people for whom I am responsible, that the behaviour that has drawn such a media frenzy is centred around my private life, which, I solemnly declare, has neither bearing nor effect on my continued, consistent, diligent and tireless work in my public duties. I therefore take this opportunity to announce that I will not be resigning from my position. Thank you."
The broadly based acceptance of these speeches is deeply unsound, both inside and outside a Christian mind-set.
Firstly, in a general context: are we to accept your hypocrisy simply on the grounds of your apology? If your personal affairs are the subject of public scandal, why should we possibly be expected to trust you? You have courted the public's approval to get to your present position on the basis of the idea that you are worthy of it. Yet now, we the public are being asked to over-look your private shenanigans. Clearly, you refuse to accept responsibility for your actions, and have the further affront to refuse to resign and pay the price!
Secondly, in a Christian context. And this is where the definition becomes far more pervasive. The title of this blog was never more appropriate. You have been warned!
First, the mistake that Christians often make. I have chosen the word mistake deliberately to convey the fact that I am not at all being judgemental. In fact, the mistake, as I call it, which is very much my opinion, is well-intentioned. It is to respond with the idea that we are being, well, gracious. We tell ourselves that if this person says sorry, we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. This mistake is further compounded by what we rightly believe as Christians about repentance. The cycle of thought goes like this: if when I repented of my sins, and God forgave me, should I not then at least be prepared to do the same for this poor-looking specimen who has faced the humiliation of being held up as a public spectacle?
Answer: if this man is innocent, then he rightly deserves our sympathy and support, but he is not innocent. What is more, he is not repenting for sin. Indeed, it is highly likely that he does not even believe that there is any such thing as sin in the first place, and if he does, it is a shallow humanistic view at best. The only "sin" he has committed in his own eyes is that of being found out, and if any emotion has been brought to bear, it is his utmost resentment that this has happened. In short, if he had not been exposed in the first place, he would have continued! Thusly, the above related "Christian" response is a well-intentioned mistake.
Second, what does the Bible say about this subject, if anything? The Bible does in fact have a great deal to say on this subject, and there is a large amount of text given over to it. So much so, in fact, that this article would be, by definition, many times larger than it is now if I were to relate it all. So how can we do justice to it here, and why raise the subject at all if it cannot be done justice to here? The answer is simple. The commission, the mission statement, if you like, of this blog, is Gospel Invitation. And that is what integrity, in the Bible at least, is all about.
How so? You may well ask. In the Book of Job, Job describes two men who die; one of them dies in bitterness (torment) and the other dies "in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet". The point he was making was that, although death is common to all, not all die in peace, and the Hebrew word used to describe the man who dies in peace is integrity (Job 21.19-26). What else can this mean other than that integrity is the way to die in peace? Indeed, it goes even further. The Hebrew word translated "in full strength" is where we get the word security. In other words, the only explanation for his being at ease and quiet is the security he has in the first place. We don't have peace unless we first have security. So what is this security, and where does it come from? The answer to that is, quite frankly, is astounding. You will note that the above quoted Bible passage is in chapter twenty-one. You will see, if you turn back to chapter nineteen, Job's testimony with regard to the nature of his security and the source of it. I mean, of course, the famous declaration of verse twenty-five, "I know that my Redeemer liveth.". Unless we have a personal knowledge (relationship, in biblical terms) of God through knowing Jesus Christ as our Personal Saviour, there is no security, and without the security that comes from knowing the Redeemer, there is no peace, and without the peace that comes from that security, we will never be ready to die. And when we are, on these terms alone, ready to die, can we be truly ready to live.
And that is why integrity must NEVER be forgotten.
Jesus Christ is your Redeemer. Do know Him? You must come to know him, or you will never be saved. God loves you. You must be saved. You can be saved.
Here's how:
Find a quiet place to pray, and pray like you mean it. If necessary, get on your knees. Confess to God that everything you remember that you have ever thought, said and done up to that point. Even if you do not feel sinful, it has been a sin and you must confess it as such and declare that you are truly sorry for it all. Then, ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart as your Personal Saviour. I will state the fact that I believe that it is at that moment that you are, in fact, saved. But that is not the end. It is vital, and I know that no true Christian disagrees with me on this, that you find someone you trust and tell them. Then, find a Church as near to where you live as possible that preaches the Gospel, tell the Pastor there all about yourself and join them. Don't try to go it alone, you'll never make it.
God bless you, and thank you for visiting this blog.
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