integrity :

Will I find integrity in the Church?

Jesus asked the question "...Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8).

We know that faith has been decreasing. What Jesus was saying in that scripture passage is that in the last days leading up to His coming back to earth, Christian faith on earth is going to be so thin that He asked if He would even find any at all.

Likewise, Christian virtues, values and moral character and integrity has been on the decline also.

We often hear of this word as applied to an individual's description of being moral or trustworthy.

We may refer to "a person of or with integrity". But where in the person is this trait found?

We think of politicians not keeping their word or abusing of their position as lacking integrity. In our personal lives, we come across people who do us wrong.

Just recently, my husband and I told a Church group that we would come and minister in music, if I would be able to find a guitar player to play along with us. Since my husband had his stroke we are no longer able to perform without an extra rhythm guitar player to accompany my lead mandoline.

I called a friend the night before and he said he would come and be there between 11 and 11:30 the next morning. So we got all our music and sound equipment ready and in the morning loaded it all up into the car.

We drove to the location and hauled out the heavy equipment from the car, onto the stage, set it all up and our guitar player did not show up.

That's lack of integrity. Not keeping your word is a lack of responsibility and integrity.

What makes a person distinguishable from another? Well, physically, it is the physical look, the physical appearance. One is tall, another is short, one has brown hair, another blond, red, black, etc...

Characteristically, it is the reputation of a person as a moral and ethical human being.

Where is this trait found? In the soul? In the spirit? In the heart? Well, in all of the above by way of the "character" of a person.

What is character?

As pertaining to the human being, the New World Dictionary of the American Language describes it as: ... "the pattern of behaviour or personality found in an individual or group; moral constitution; moral strength; self-discipline, fortitude; a reputation; a statement about the behaviour, qualities, etc. of a person..."

The Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary adds: "... the peculiar qualities impressed by nature or habit on a person, which distinguish him when the person has not acquired stable and distinctive qualities; an account, description, or representation of anything, exhibiting its qualities and the circumstances attending it, as, to give a bad character to a town; by way of eminence, distinguished or good qualities, those which are esteemed and respected, as, he is a man of character, etc..."

What is integrity?

From the New World Dictionary of the American Language) 1. the quality or state of being complete; unbroken condition; wholeness; entirety; 2. the quality or state of being unimpaired; perfect condition; soundness; 3. the quality or state of being or sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty, and sincerity.

The Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary adds: purity, genuine, unadulterated, unimpaired state and gives this example: the integrity of language.

In other words, a pure language, genuine, unadulterated, unimpaired.

Therefore applied to the human being, integrity is a moral trait of a person of pure, genuine, unadulterated, unimpaired moral character.

Blessings,

Dr. Diane

Article copyright(c) Diane M. Hoffmann. You may reprint this article without changes and including the following author's name and resource box.

Dr. Diane M. Hoffmann is president of the Link School of Ministries, a Christian Correspondence & Internet School and Theological Reading Room that can be seen at http://www.linkschool21.com . She is the author of numerous Christian books, e-books, seminars and theological articles and tracts, including the 300-page book "The Horizontal Chronology of the Four Gospels".

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