The Crisis of Eroding Integrity

The Crisis of Eroding Integrity Are you aware that there was actually a time in our nation's history when a man or women's word was their bond? When an agreement was made the parties involved would simply shake hands and it was done. I remember very clearly when I was around the age of seven watching my great grandfather negotiate a price to build a house for a man. They went back and forth for a while and finally came to an agreement. Then they shook hands and off we went. There was no need for lengthy and confusing contracts to keep the transaction and those involved honest. People simply lived their lives based on the integrity of the honor system. They took to heart the verse that says, "But let your communication be, Yea, yea or Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Matthew 5:37)

Over the years I have had the privilege of spending time with many wonderful Christian leaders, These folks are godly men and women who have modeled for me and so many others just what it means to walk out a life of integrity in every situation. They are passionate about truth and have "in deed" given their whole lives for the purpose of seeing God's perfect will and plan fulfilled in everything they do. When they tell you that they are going to do something, you can take it to the bank! On the other hand, I have also met and heard heartbreaking stories of people who are not as committed to a life of integrity. Their tendency is to prefer style over substance. They use God's name to manipulate people and situations to fulfill their own selfish wants and desires.

Jesus warns us saying, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ ("anointed"); and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5) Notice, Jesus didn't say these people would actually claim to be himself come in the flesh, but he was warning us about those who claim to be "anointed" but are not. Paul also warns us of such impostors: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

Another similar problem faces the church today: immature believers that tend to use the name of Jesus Christ to justify doing or saying something they feel strongly about. I don't say this to belittle the precious young ones in Christ among us but to make the point that much is being done in the name of our wonderful Lord that is wrong. In my twenty five years of ministry, I have never seen a time like now. I have personally witnessed even the so-called "mature" among us compromise their integrity on the altar of selfish convenience. Jesus warns, "Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation." (Luke 20:46) Talk about style over substance!

"These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever" (2 Peter 2:17) Jesus gives us a way to identify these folks, "For every tree is known by his own fruit". (Luke 6:44) In other words, just because someone says they're a Christian doesn't necessarily mean they are. The fruit of our lives is the only true evidence. A true Christian is someone who is forsaking everything to not only follow Jesus, but also to commit wholeheartedly to a lifestyle of being totally transformed into his likeness. Simply put, attending a few services at church each week "won't cut it" if real transformation into Christ's image is to occur! It takes a total commitment. An old country preacher once said, "Set'in in a church pew on Sunday makes you a Christian about as much as standing in a garage makes you a car."

What we say is never as important as what we do. "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works". (James 2:18) As long as we live our actions will always speak louder than our words. Paul hit the nail on the head when he said, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come".(2 Tim 3:1) These times have arrived. We are in the last days and the peril has begun. Only in the last sixty years have we seen our methods of communication progress from the archaic to the highly technical and very sophisticated systems we have today. Satellite, cable and microwave communications systems dump satan's deceptive agenda into our homes around the clock, continually working to erode away our integrity. The assault on everything that is good is raging and if ever there has ever been a time when we need to focus our wholehearted attention on God, it is now!

This is no time for compromise! "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, ("to indulge one's appetites excessively") and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man". (Luke 21:34) "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefor sober, and watch unto prayer"(1 Peter 4:7) In fact, our Lord's return is very soon.


	Are you aware that there was actually a time in our nation's history when a man or women's word was their bond? When an agreement was made the parties involved would simply shake hands and it was done. I remember very clearly when I was around the age of seven watching my great grandfather negotiate a price to build a house for a man. They went back and forth for a while and finally came to an agreement. Then they shook hands and off we went. There was no need for lengthy and confusing contracts to keep the transaction and those involved honest. People simply lived their lives based on the integrity of the honor system. They took to heart the verse that says, "But let your communication be, Yea, yea or Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Matthew 5:37) Over the years I have had the privilege of spending time with many wonderful Christian leaders, These folks are godly men and women who have modeled for me and so many others just what it means to walk out a life of integrity in every situation. They are passionate about truth and have "in deed" given their whole lives for the purpose of seeing God's perfect will and plan fulfilled in everything they do. When they tell you that they are going to do something, you can take it to the bank! On the other hand, I have also met and heard heartbreaking stories of people who are not as committed to a life of integrity. Their tendency is to prefer style over substance. They use God's name to manipulate people and situations to fulfill their own selfish wants and desires. Jesus warns us saying, "Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ ("anointed"); and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5) Notice, Jesus didn't say these people would actually claim to be himself come in the flesh, but he was warning us about those who claim to be "anointed" but are not. Paul also warns us of such impostors: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:1-7) Another similar problem faces the church today: immature believers that tend to use the name of Jesus Christ to justify doing or saying something they feel strongly about. I don't say this to belittle the precious young ones in Christ among us but to make the point that much is being done in the name of our wonderful Lord that is wrong. In my twenty five years of ministry, I have never seen a time like now. I have personally witnessed even the so-called "mature" among us compromise their integrity on the altar of selfish convenience. Jesus warns, "Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation." (Luke 20:46) Talk about style over substance! "These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever" (2 Peter 2:17) Jesus gives us a way to identify these folks, "For every tree is known by his own fruit". (Luke 6:44) In other words, just because someone says they're a Christian doesn't necessarily mean they are. The fruit of our lives is the only true evidence. A true Christian is someone who is forsaking everything to not only follow Jesus, but also to commit wholeheartedly to a lifestyle of being totally transformed into his likeness. Simply put, attending a few services at church each week "won't cut it" if real transformation into Christ's image is to occur! It takes a total commitment. An old country preacher once said, "Set'in in a church pew on Sunday makes you a Christian about as much as standing in a garage makes you a car." What we say is never as important as what we do. "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works". (James 2:18) As long as we live our actions will always speak louder than our words. Paul hit the nail on the head when he said, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come".(2 Tim 3:1) These times have arrived. We are in the last days and the peril has begun. Only in the last sixty years have we seen our methods of communication progress from the archaic to the highly technical and very sophisticated systems we have today. Satellite, cable and microwave communications systems dump satan's deceptive agenda into our homes around the clock, continually working to erode away our integrity. The assault on everything that is good is raging and if ever there has ever been a time when we need to focus our wholehearted attention on God, it is now! This is no time for compromise! "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, ("to indulge one's appetites excessively") and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man". (Luke 21:34) "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefor sober, and watch unto prayer"(1 Peter 4:7) In fact, our Lord's return is very soon.
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