SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #16 ---- 5/3/98
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
Encouraging One Another as we "Fight the Good Fight"
Title: THE DEMAND FOR INTEGRITY
In recent days I have been reminded of several past experiences that have
driven me back to study again a fundamental yet indispensable element of
ministry ---- that of Integrity. Two particular experiences come to
mind.
1. One event pertained to a situation with a member of a ministry group
which we were leading ---- a person who was in a position of leadership
and influence. Some conditions that were required of all group members,
and which had been strongly emphasized throughout preparation, we assumed
had been fulfilled by this particular member, when, in fact, they were
not. Some had not even been begun.
Though totally unintentional and probably unexpected on his part I am
sure, there were nonetheless some consequences to his failure.
First was his loss of influence. Second was his loss of testimony.
Third was his fellow team member's loss of trust and confidence in him.
Fourth was their loss of respect for him. Fifth was our loss of
trustworthiness in him ---- he was one we had depended on greatly.
Finally, was his loss of further participation in our trip; we had to go
without him.
You would think that he must have done something terribly sinful. No,
nothing is further from the truth. There was no case of moral failure,
embezzlement, or any such thing. The worst thing you could say was that
he was guilty of "silent lies" and "implied action" ---- by his silence
he portrayed the image that he had done all he was supposed to do. By
his silence, he insinuated that he had taken appropriate action toward
meeting the requirements.
What a tragic consequence because of simple negligence! By his
procrastination and apparent undisciplined irresponsibility (for whatever
reason ---- fear, pride, forgetfulness, etc.,), he disqualified himself
from the trip and left the group short handed and in a bind.
More importantly, however, an incredible person, with extraordinary
potential, suffered the loss of personal integrity.
2. A second event pertained to a fellow pastor whom I know well. Years
ago in another ministry setting, we had an opportunity to bring our
respective ministries together for a short term project.. In
preparation, he utilized some very strong tactics to negotiate a better
arrangement for him and his ministry, to which we reluctantly and with
great inconvenience acquiesced.
Some time later when the roles were reversed; acquiescence and compassion
were needed from his side, but none was coming. Much like the parable of
the servants, when he was in need, he gained our favor, but when someone
else was in the same need, they received no compassion from him.
The end result was that no such ministry took place that second time
because, with the shoe on the other foot, he failed to conduct himself
with the same grace and compassion with which he had been treated by us
in the earlier situation.
Remembering such events has prompted me to encourage you in being a
person of integrity ---- in whom there is no guile, deceit, double
mindedness, or two-faced hypocrisy concerning any matter or any area of
your life.
While I'm certain I won't communicate all that is in my heart about this
subject, let me share at least that of which I am capable at the moment.
MINISTRY REQUIRES INTEGRITY:
Perhaps nothing can more totally destroy a person's reputation,
influence, and ministry than the loss of integrity. Even if it involves
a small area of your life or an isolated event at which time you may have
erred only once, it can mean the loss of integrity in all of life.
It can even be something within the confines of your own home ---- like
failing to keep a promise you made to your daughter ---- or losing your
temper in front of your young son. In fact, if there is no consistent
integrity in your home, there will be none in your ministry. A general
rule of thumb is this ---- the way you live in your private life is the
way you will influence in your public life. (I wish some of our public
leaders understood that principle.)
PAUL'S HAUNTING NIGHTMARE:
Paul made some pointed remarks that demonstrated his fear that loss of
integrity or some other thing might disqualify him from ministry simply
because of an unintentional slip up on his part.
1. In I Corinthians 9:24-27 he says, "Do you not know that those who run
in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way
that you may win.
"And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all
things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an
imperishable.
"Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way,
as not beating the air;
"I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have
preached to others, I myself should be disqualified."
2. He goes on to admonish Timothy in I Timothy 1:19 concerning the danger
of shipwrecking his ministry by not maintaining a life of integrity
through clinging to a life of absolute faith and disciplining himself to
maintain a good conscience.
" . . . keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and
suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith."
ARENAS OF INTEGRITY:
Just what areas of our lives should be characterized by integrity?
Obviously, all areas. For example, however, let's consider these five:
I. The Integrity of your CHARACTER:
If there is no integrity there, there will be no integrity anywhere. The
Bible is clear that what we are on the inside is exposed to the outside
by our actions. If you study the Psalms, you'll find time and again that
David cries out to God for help in his inner man ---- in his character
---- because he realizes that "as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he",
and "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh". David knew
that if he could maintain integrity in his character, it would show
everywhere else.
Whatever is on the inside is going to come out. Consequently, whatever
you see on the outside came from the inside. So, the beginning point for
true integrity is to have a Character of integrity.
This comes only through disciplined and intimate daily time with God ----
NOT to get new sermon ideas or maintain some type of "quiet time"
regimen, but rather, to get to know God more intimately, and to get to
know yourself more honestly.
2. The Integrity of your CONSISTENCY:
There are many examples in Scripture of people who have so disciplined
themselves in the matter of integrity, that their character remained
consistent ---- in the good times as well as the bad ---- in times of
testing as in times of triumph.
Job certainly illustrates this as well as any Bible character. For
example, . . .
"And the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job? For
there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man
fearing God and turning away from evil. And he STILL holds fast his
integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without
cause.'" (Job 2:3)
Again, . . .
"Then his wife said to him, 'Do you still hold fast your integrity?
Curse God and die!'
"But he said to her, 'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.
Shall we indeed accept good from God and not adversity?' In all this Job
did not sin with his lips." (Job 2:9-10)
Integrity is a day in and day out affair. There are to be no days off
from the life of integrity. In fact, apart from conversation, probably
consistency (or lack of it) exposes the true make up of your integrity,
no matter what you may profess or demonstrate to the contrary.
3. The Integrity of your CONVERSATION:
The secret to having integrity in your conversation is to always speak
the truth. While there are many aspects of ministry, and dangers of sins
with the tongue, none is more crucial and fundamental than speaking the
truth.
What are some of our more prevalent sins with our tongue as ministers of
the Gospel? Well, for starters,
speaking . . .
1) PART truth ---- that verbal exercise when what we say is part
truth and part not. Because we have spoken truth, though mixed with lie,
we assume all is well ---- and will even conclude that the lie is
actually truth. Taking the event of another and retelling it as if it
were our own experience is Part truth. Exaggerating statistics is Part
truth.
2) PARTIAL truth ---- the art of telling only as much truth as
necessary, but not telling the "whole truth", thus creating a lie by
omitting some of the truth. We can easily do that in bringing reports
and recommendations to our churches or our committees. Even those of us
in itinerant ministries are as susceptible as others in this area ----
taking credit for something not entirely ours, preaching a sermon that
did not originate in our own hearts and failing to acknowledge that the
thoughts or points verbalized had first come from someone else.
3) PREFERENTIAL Truth ---- telling only the truth that is to your
benefit or preference, and avoiding the rest of the truth. This is such
a common practice that Washington dwellers have turned it into an art
form. Even in our preaching there are certain aspects of truth that we
prefer, to the neglect of others. Sometimes in preaching on the
compassion and longsuffing of God, we forget to declare His justice and
judgement.
There are even times when we declare our favorite "doctrine" to the total
neglect of other equally important themes.
And, then there are times when we find that our personal opinions and
convictions keep us from preaching aspects of the truth that we discover
are inconvenient, uncomfortable, or are contrary to or undermine those
opinions and convictions; so we prefer "our" truth to the Biblical
version.
4) PERVERTED Truth ---- mixing or twisting truth in such a way that
the outcome appears to be truth even though it is not. It is the skill
of taking truth, or even sometimes lies, and twisting them to form other
"conclusions of truth".
This is possibly illustrated with the question, "Why do elephants wear
red tennis shoes?"
The answer is, "So they can hide in cherry trees. Have you ever seen an
elephant in a cherry tree?"
"No."
"Then that proves Elephants wear red tennis shoes."
All perverted truth is as absurd and ridiculous as that story. Those of
us who preach have more than our share of opportunities to preach some
form of perverted truth. The serpent demonstrated a classic example in
Genesis 3. By his insinuations and doubt casting with which he bombarded
Eve, he led her to perverted truth. When he said, "did God Really say,
'don't eat or you'll die', she replied, "yes,that's what He said; we
can't eat Or TOUCH; otherwise we'll die". The truth was there ("don't
eat or you'll die"), but it was perverted with "or touch" ---- something
God never said. Perverted truth often adds human demands to the truth.
Perverted truth is "truth PLUS", "truth MINUS", or "truth TWISTED". In
this case, it was "truth PLUS". In the case of the elephant, it was
"truth TWISTED".
5) POISONED Truth ---- truth that is mixed with a vindictive or
condemning spirit, thus turning truth that should have produced life and
encouragement into something that creates death. It produces
condemnation rather than conviction, death rather than life, despair
rather than hope.
There were times in my earlier preaching ministry that I was grossly
guilty of spewing out truth that was poisoned. Then one day, God brought
me to my knees. From that day forward I vowed to never use my pulpit as
a whipping post by trying to "guiltify" my people into some sort of
action. We are always to be "speaking the truth in love".
Any truth that is not the "Whole truth" and "truth with love" is an
untruth. An untruth is not the truth. Something not the truth is a
falsehood. A falsehood is a lie. A person who tells a falsehood has
told a lie. A person who tells lies, is a liar! Liars are as abhorrent
to God as those who practice witchcraft, commit immorality, do drugs,
murder, and worship false gods.
"Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the
murders and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying."
(Rev 22:15).
Integrity in your Conversation is crucial because it first demonstrates
what's in your heart, and second, it is the most visibly noticed by
others.
4. The Integrity of your COMMITMENT:
There is a difference between decision and commitment. (Unfortunately,
our churches are filled with members who assume they are the same, and
because they do, their decisions are easily abandoned or changed.)
Nehemiah illustrates integrity that has a solid foundation of commitment
undergirding it. Space won't allow full quoting, so read Nehemiah
5:14-19. Here you find that his integrity was so thorough and
uncompromising that in every area where he was tempted to jeopardize it,
he stood firm. Why? ---- because he reinforced his one-time Decision
with life-long Discipline, and a life-time Commitment.
He was tempted to eat the governor's food, use the governor's money for
the food, react to the heavy-handed tactics of the governor's
lieutenants, abandon the construction of the walls, purchase land for his
own use instead, cave in to the scrutiny of 150 Jewish officials, succumb
to the cynical curiosity of international emmisaries, and give in to the
temptations of pleasure and libations.
Yet, he maintained his commitment ---- because his commitment was one of
integrity. It was his integrity that gave his commitment both back bone
and stamina.
What then gave his integrity such strength? It was His God! You see,
Nehemiah knew two things that many in ministry have forgotten:
1) First, a failure in his own integrity would reflect on God's
integrity. If he blew it, God's great and holy Name would be tarnished.
That was too great a price for Nehemiah to pay by backing off on his
commitment ---- even just a little.
To back off was to compromise. And, to compromise was to surrender. To
surrender was to have been defeated. To be defeated was to be taken
captive. To be taken captive was to be right back where he began in a
foreign "city". To be back where he began was to have failed. To have
failed was to be as if he had never tried. To have never tried was to be
a spectator rather than a participant. To be a spectator was to be
passive. To be passive was to be tolerant. To be tolerant was to be
accepting. To be accepting was to endorse. To endorse was to embrace.
Nehemiah could never imagine such a thing. And, he knew that the
ultimate collapse would come at the initial point of his integrity. The
cost was too great. It was a "no brainer" for Nehemiah. Would to God it
was the same with prophets and "wall builders" in our day!
2) Second, as long as he sought the Lord, Nehemiah knew the Lord
would empower him to maintain a strong and consistent integrity in all
areas of his commitment.
He recognized that the kinds of pressure he faced were totally beyond his
own resources to resist, especially over the long haul. Like David, in
his times of weakness and struggle, he cried out to God even more
desperately.
And God was faithful!
How about you? Does your commitment have integrity? Do people know that
you are in it for the long haul? Are they confident that you will stick
to whatever you have promised? When you make a commitment, do they know
you will see it through?
5. The Integrity of your COMPASSION:
Compassion, by its very definition demands and exudes integrity. Any
form of compassion that has attached to it any hint or desire for reward
or personal benefit is not compassion; it is personal selfishness that
has turned outward.
If your compassion for the lost includes the thought of more additions to
your church, yours is a compassion without integrity ---- selfishness.
If your compassion for the hurting has an attached motive of feeling good
about yourself or gaining the affirmation of your people by your
so-called compassionate heart, it is a compassion without integrity ----
selfishness.
If your compassion runs out before the hurting is over, it is a
compassion without integrity ---- selfishness.
If your compassion is selective in its choice of subjects, it is a
compassion without integrity ---- selfishness.
If you are going to genuinely serve the Lord God with your whole heart,
your compassion must have integrity. And compassion with selfishness is
not even compassion.
Does your compassion have integrity?
INTEGRITY MANIFESTED:
The fruit of integrity can be clearly seen by others. There are many
manifestations, but let me mentioned five from scripture and illustrate
them.
1. Moral Uprightness: (Genesis 20:3-10). When Abimelech realized he
had been tricked by Abraham concerning his true relationship with Sarah,
his integrity did two things ---- first, it enabled him to stand for what
was right even though he truly wanted Sarah ---- and, second, it
demonstrated God's faithfulness to protect Abimelech from sin.
One of the reasons many fall into sin is because there is no integrity in
the heart as a base upon which God can build moral character.
2. Unselfish Service: (Numbers 16:15). When Korah and his sons accused
Moses of heavy handedness and leadership failure, Moses came before God
and pled his case for personal integrity on the basis of his faithful
service, even to those who had betrayed him and tried to undermine his
ministry.
In the life of a person of true integrity, unselfish service continues
on, even to those who oppose him and try to bring him down.
3. Keeping Promises and Vows: (Jeremiah 35:12-19). After God rebukes
Judah through Jeremiah for their repeated failure to keep His
commandments, then He singles out the house of Rechab and commends them
for their faithful obedience to God, and rewards them by promising there
will always be a man in their lineage who will stand before God in
integrity.
4. Rejecting Bribes and Blackmail: (Acts 8:18-23). Because of the
integrity of his own heart, Philip successfully stands against the offer
of bribes from Simon the sorcerer. There will be many "Simons" come
before you to buy your integrity. See to it that you resist as
successfully as did Philip.
5. Honest Behavior: (II Corinthians 7:2). Paul, because of his
integrity, was able to honestly stand before the Corinthian believers and
unhesitatingly declare that he had been honest in every way he had dealt
with them.
Oh, how we need to see just how much churches are blessed, strengthened,
and stabilized when they have pastors and staff who conduct themselves
with integrity in all they do.
GOD'S PROVISION:
You may say, "Bob, you're too idealistic," to which I would confess,
"yes, I am! And I make no apologies for it."
I consider myself to be a "realistic idealist" in the sense that, through
the indwelling and controling presence of Jesus Christ, all His
"idealistic" commands are thoroughly realistic and reasonable.
No matter what the circumstance, God has made total provision for us to
resist everything that needs to be resisted, abandon everything that
needs to be abandoned, and accomplish everything that needs to be
accomplished. The commands for integrity are totally attainable through
Jesus Christ. There is no excuse to settle for less.
God, therefore, is always available to . . .
1. Help us MAINTAIN our integrity.
It is far better to have a fence at the top of the cliff than an
ambulance at the bottom. James was clear about this.
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; . . . . Let no one say when
he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; . . . But each one is tempted when
he is carried away and enticed by his OWN lust. Then when lust has
conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished it brings
forth death! DO NOT BE DECEIVED, my beloved brethren.!" (James 1:12-16)
John declared it adamantly.
"My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not
sin!" (I John 2:1)
Paul acknowledges the probability of sin, but also unashamedly announced
it is possible to Not sin. "Sin need not reign in your mortal bodies!"
Take time to read again chapters 6-8 of Romans.
Rather than having an ambulance cart you off to the hospital ---- or the
morgue ---- from the bottom of the cliff, heed the fence! Heed the
fence!
2. VINDICATE our integrity.
If you have been able to maintain integrity over the years, get on your
knees and give all the praise and glory to God you can muster for
enabling you to do so.
Recognize, however, that such victory greatly angers the enemy, and there
will be times (if they have not already come) when you're going to need a
voice from the heavenlies to declare your integrity to the world. If you
try to do it yourself, you will come across as arrogant and filled with
pride.
Instead of being tempted to brag on yourself, let God do it. He's much
better at it.
"Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity
that is in me." (Psalm 7:8) When David was coming under great attack by
the Benjamite, Cush, he turned to God as the One who would be his
vindicator. His confidence was so great that he continued, "My shield is
with God, who saves the upright in heart." (Psalm 7:10).
3. REBUILD our integrity.
There are times when it's already too late ---- we broke through the
fence. Maybe we didn't see it. Maybe we saw it but were too curious
about what was on the other side beyond the light. Maybe it was on a
curve and we didn't detect the change in direction quickly enough.
At any rate, praise the Lord that there is an ambulance at the bottom,
and it is filled with life-giving equipment operated, hopefully, by
compassionate attendants. I can tell you one thing, my friend ---- I'll
be there. And I do care.
FINALLY:
May you and I have said about us that which was written of Daniel. "Then
this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and
satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king
planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom.
"Then the commissioners and straps began trying to find a ground of
accusation against Daniel . . .; but they could find no ground of
accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no
negligence or corruption was to be found in him." (Daniel 6:3-4)
May we follow the admonition of Paul: "Therefore, since we have this
ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have
renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness
or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth
commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (II
Cor 4:1-2)
Join with me in praying that integrity will be the watchword of every man
and woman of God, and that churches will be healed, become healthy, and
thrive on the purity of integrity.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK. There is no greater privilege than to server the Lord
Jesus Christ not only because we are Christians, but also because we have
been called to vocational ministry.
With all my heart I can say that these moments with you bless me beyond
words. I pray the bless and encourage you as well. Be blessed by the
mercy, grace, and full adequacy of our all-sufficient Christ.
In Christ's Bond,
Bob Tolliver
Copyright May, 1998. All rights reserved. Permission is given to share
this article, with credits, to anyone you feel will be encouraged by its
content.
LIFE UNLIMITED MINISTRIES
ADDRESS: Route 1, Box 87AB, Collins, MO 64738
Ph: 417-275-4854. Fax: 417-275-4855
E-mail: lifeunlimited@juno.com
_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]