Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions.
Integrity can be regarded as the opposite of hypocrisy,[1] in that integrity regards internal consistency as a virtue, and suggests that parties holding apparently conflicting values should account for the discrepancy or alter their beliefs.
The word "integrity" stems from the Latin adjective integer (whole, complete).[2] In this context, integrity is the inner sense of "wholeness" deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character. As such, one may judge that others "have integrity" to the extent that they act according to the values, beliefs and principles they claim to hold.
Every one should be careful to protect
one’s own integrity because if we fault on it the character starts to decay! It
does not matter what one owns, money, talents, friends, education or
popularity; if they do not have character every thing else is totally lost! People
with integrity are people who are honest with themselves, with God and others.
The need not wear masks, and they do not need to spend their energy pretending
to be the one whom they are not. Most of all they are not afraid of what others
may find out about them because they have nothing to hide.
The alternative to integrity is hypocrisy
and that eventually leads to more than one that is duplicity. When that
dominates they become two people inside, and neither of the one knows the
other. When one is a hypocrite they eventually loose the inner wholeness, and
become confused and conflicted. They can not function successfully in life or
enjoy all that God wants us to enjoy.
Let us look at 1 Timothy3: 1-7 which talks
about the qualifications for church leaders. This chapter deals with the proper
conduct of Christian leadership, in which the character of the leaders is
specified. The leaders should be blameless or without reproach, and he must not
lie under any scandal. Not having given a bill of divorce to one and taken
another, or not having many wives which was common to Jews and Gentiles during
the time of earthly ministry of Jesus. He must be vigilant and watchful against
Satan and he must watch over himself, and he should be sober, which means he
must be temperate and moderate in all his actions. In a nut shell he must have
a good report among his neighbors and without reproach and not double tongued.
All these can be put in a nut shell, which is he should be a man of character and integrity!
How does one cultivate integrity? This
means much more than knowing the Bible fully well. That is learning to know the
author of the Bible, who is God the Almighty, and understanding His
forgiveness, His truth, His Church and His unfailing love. A good study book to
cultivate integrity would be the first Epistle of John, which comes from a
faithful walk with Jesus Christ, which is walking in the light, and no shadows
or nothing to hide. “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for
stumbling in him”1 Jn 2:10.
Fellowship with Him and One Another
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.1 John 1: 5-10.
God is light and a self-active uncompounded spirituality, purity, wisdom and holiness and there is no mixture of anything alien contrary to absolute Excellency or any decay in Him. God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. To walk in darkness is to live and act according to such ignorance, error and erroneous practice as is contrary to the fundamental dictates of our ‘holy calling’. There may be those who may pretend to great attainments and enjoyments and profess to have communion with God, yet their lives may be immoral, impure, unholy conversation and lie and their personal integrity will be a question! What communion has light with darkness?
Do we agree that our “walk” is a good description of our spiritual progress? If not what other word would we choose to describe? Crawl? Sprint? Jog? Stand still? How do we relate our spiritual walk with our personal integrity and character? How important is this to us as Christians in an ever changing world of value systems with regard to ‘integrity’?
Foot Notes:
1. ^ John Louis Lucaites; Celeste
Michelle Condit, Sally Caudill (1999). Contemporary
rhetorical theory: a reader. Guilford
2. ^ "integrity".
The American Heritage Dictionary of
the English Language (4th edition ed.). El- shaddai ØØØ. 2000. Retrieved 2009-05-13. "... from integer, whole, complete"
References:
1. Dr. Ed Murphy. The Handbook for Spiritual Warfare. Nashville: Thomas Nelson
Publishers, 1992, 1996, pgs: 432-436.
2. Jay E. Adams. Critical Stages of
Biblical Counseling, Finishing Well, Breaking Through, Getting Started. New
Jersey
3. Jay E. Adams. How to Help People Change, The Four-step Biblical Process.Grand
Rapids
4. John F. MacArthur, JR.Wayne Nashville
5. Jay E. Adams. Lectures on Counseling.Grand
Rapids
3. Jay E. Adams. How to Help People Change, The Four-step Biblical Process.
4. John F. MacArthur, JR.
5. Jay E. Adams. Lectures on Counseling.
6. The Holy Bible, New King James
Version, Women of Destiny Bible. Women Mentoring women Through the Scriptures,
A Spirit Filled Life Bible. Nashville ,
Tennessee
7. Warren W. Wiersbe. Devotions for
confidence & Integrity, Hebrews & John. Colorado ,
Springs, Colorado
Website
References:
1. John 1 NKJV - The Eternal Word - In the beginning was - Bible Gateway
The Eternal Word. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3
All things were made through ...
2. 1 John 1 NKJV - What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched - Bible Gateway
What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched. 1 That which was from
the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we
have looked upon, and our ...
3. John 1 New King James Version | The New Bible.com
Bible.com is all new! Enjoy a free online Bible from You Version. Now, the
simple, ad-free Bible experience loved by millions is available at Bible.com.
4. Integrity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrity
Integrity is a concept
of consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations,
and outcomes. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty
...
Very well said. I especially like your comparison of integrity and hypocrisy. Well done.
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