Christian Integrity

Christian Integrity

As Christians, we face the challenge of protecting our personal and collective integrity.  The Pauline and general epistles in the New Testament address with the struggle of Christian and holy living.  All believers confront daily tests of making choices consistent with their identities as followers of Jesus.  Relying upon the oral tradition of Christ’s teachings, the early Christians had to define practically a holy and Christian lifestyle.  Central to that task is cultivating honesty, faithfulness and integrity.

Colossians 3:1-15 details the “Rules for Holy Living” and “Rules for Christian Households.”  It appears that very little has changed within the last two millennia.  The apostle exhorts the church at Colosse to “put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed which is idolatry.”  Furthermore, the apostle instructs them: “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”  Dealing with surrounding social, economic and political pressures of their city and region, how would Colossian believers maintain integrity of their Christian witness?  The Colossian epistle apostle clarifies the difference between the dominant culture and their faith.

Recently, a Christian pastor refused to accept a financial gift from a gentleman who won the Powerball lottery.  You can appreciate the divergence in opinions among believers about this gift.  Some disciples argue there is no express biblical prohibition against gambling.  Some see that money as filthy lucre and a tool of the devil.  They submit that gambling is an act of faithlessness; it excludes God.  The pastor refused the gift because he had recently counseled a family who had lost their home due to gambling addiction.  The pastor could not reconcile accepting gambling money while he was combating its unfortunate effects.  Believing the pastor lived in accordance with his principles, other disciples compliment the pastor for being true to his convictions.  They argue, “You have to protect your own integrity.”

Should a “Christian” lawyer represent drug dealers or murderers?  Should a church accept money from a drug dealer?  The answers to those questions are straightforward morally and nonnegotiable to some persons.  However, the circumstances are far more complex than they appear initially.  How do we reconcile refusing money from a street drug dealer and receiving it from the pharmaceutical industry, which forces senior citizens to choose between medication and food; limits drugs supplies to keep high prices; and arbitrarily extends patents to prevent the distribution of generic drugs?  What about the tobacco industry, which preys upon our children?  If a person is not a chain smoker by age twenty-one, chances are he will not become one.  Therefore, teenagers remain the target of the industry.  These hypothetical situations do not lend themselves to easy resolution. 

Immediately, you may jump for the simplicity and comfort of a black or white position.  Either permit all of these possibilities or none of them.  Rather then being simple, I argue that one would be simple-minded.  In contrast, we have the dilemma of Colossians.  We strive to maintain Christian character regardless of our situations.  A Christian lawyer must clarify his morals, ethics and professional standards in accordance with the norms of scriptures and his relationship with God.  The Bible reveals the holy, just and loving character of the God.  Christians have the priceless privilege of directly knowing and relating to Almighty God.  For that reason, we view our personal and professional choices through the prism of this incomparable and sacred relationship.  Will a Christian lawyer’s relationship with God permit him to defend a pedophile?

A fundamental question remains.  What does it mean to be Christian in today’s world?  The answer is not any easier for us than it was for the church at Colosse.  They did not have the benefit of the canon of Old and New Testament scriptures.  Yet, they accepted the apostle’s directives as they deepen their knowledge of the Lord’s teachings and strengthen their relationship with Him.  We still cope with the daily test of elucidating practicalities of Christian principles, behavior and integrity.