The WORLD values, desires, and chases INTEGRITY. And that’s a good thing. Look at how Mr. Webster puts it:
in·teg·ri·ty: The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; the state of being whole and undivided.
Here are three of the most common ways the world looks at INTEGRITY: 1) Living your life in private as you live it in public; 2) Being honest and telling the truth; and 3) Having your walk match your talk.
Of course God is also looking for the same kind of INTEGRITY in his followers. But there is a DIFFERENCE between the two—the reason we should live with INTEGRITY.
For the WORLD, integrity revolves around “being a good person” and “treating people the way you want to be treated.” It is one of the “rules” man should live by.
But integrity for CHRISTIANS is not only about honesty and truth-telling; it is built on having Godly CONVICTIONS that stand for the inerrancy and power of God’s Word that are manifest by:
OUR PURPOSE: God has commissioned his followers to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20).
OUR AUTHORITY: Christians are not powerless followers (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).
OUR TRUTHFULNESS: Telling the truth is essential to Spiritual Authenticity (Psalm 15:1–3).
OUR TRANSPARENCY: Everything Christians do is “in the sight of God” (Luke 1:6).
Spiritually-Authentic Integrity is one of what I call the “FAITH DIFFERENTIATORS” (just like Christian LOVE versus worldly love). It is relational currency in a believer’s faith walk. It gets spent every day and we have a choice how we spend it.
Spiritually-Authentic Integrity is emulating Christ. Not for show. Not for points. Not for adoration. But, rather, for the glorification of Christ so others see it and come into his Kingdom. It is offering our WHOLE self to God and not just parts of our life.
WHY? Because if you strip away EVERYTHING else in life, you will be staring at one of two things: 1) Our Christian character and integrity; or 2) Something else and undesirable occupying that space because integrity was nowhere to be found.
I ask God to give me the strength to live with Spiritually-Authentic Integrity that GLORIFIES him and brings others into his Kingdom. I want AUTHENTICITY to flow in and HYPOCRISY to fly out of my life.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
In many cases, sadly, a Christian’s integrity is only good until it is tested. Does Spiritually-Authentic Integrity come out of you when you are tested in the world?
“But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.” Psalm 26:11
