“We want to live what we preach! Our ministry and our people should be transparent in all that we do. Our attitude needs to be one that says stains on our character are much more detrimental than stains on our clothes.”
Integrity is the state of being morally sound or whole; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; honesty; uprightness; genuineness; purity. The scriptures clearly assert that integrity is a necessary aspect of the godly life.
Integrity is included as one of the ABCRM Core Ministry Values. It’s in there, but we’re always looking for it. It’s in our core values in our individual churches, but can we find it? In our personal lives, we know it is a virtue that we must have; there is no way to be an effective disciple without it, but can we always pinpoint it?
Integrity is a powerful word that by its shear strength demands it not be misused, taken lightly, or ignored. When we look at integrity as a core value for our region ministry, knowing it is a state of being morally sound we must look to the Holy Scriptures to know what ‘morally sound’ is. Aside from the scriptures we wouldn’t know. Moral standards are constantly being lowered in a sinful society. If we as a board are to lead God’s people effectively, we must maintain moral purity in the power of God’s Spirit, who is holy.
Impurity can result from a failure to make a commitment to moral purity. We as a board make that commitment. The world may give us ‘thumbs up’ for looking good, but we know that God looks on the heart, He examines our character.
Job makes a declaration in chapter 31, verse 6 of the self named book; “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.” As a board, we need to be able to make the very same declaration. God and region constituents need to know we handle our personal business as well as region business with integrity. Our moral behavior needs to be beyond reproach, understanding that integrity does not come in degrees. Being one of low integrity, (or high integrity), does not fit within the definition of integrity. You either have integrity or you don’t. We need to fully understand the need to “Be clean” as it is requested in Isaiah 52:11. We must not carry any unclean thing with us into the board room. This includes selfish attitudes, past hurts, dishonesty, hidden agendas, moral weakness, etc.
I Timothy 6:11 tells us that any sinful habit or questionable behavior must be discarded. That takes us back to the definition of integrity that says integrity is freedom from corrupting influence or motive. Those corrupting influences can be so ‘corrupting’ before we even realize it, unless we are really paying attention. We know that God examines our motives in all our choices and decisions. Ecclesiastes 11:10 reminds us that God will judge all things, that alone should lead us to live moral lives.
Integrity must be included as a core value as we seek to work with God as He works in our region. Knowing the moral standards that are essential, for our walk to be pleasing to God, requires us to stay in His Word, and be led by His Spirit. Integrity is not an option for us as a board, or for us, individually, as children of God. When unbelievers look for it, it needs to be clearly evident.
Marie Heaton
ABCRM Board Member
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