Do You Have as Much Integrity as You Think You Do?

“I’m really not comfortable with that,” he said. I had just asked my good friend Tom Jeannett if he would mind if I copied an album he had just bought. Tom explained that that would deprive the artists and record label from money they deserved. He was kind enough not to use the word “steal,” but that is what he was saying. And he was so gracious that, rather than feeling condemned, I realized that what I was asking was wrong and vowed to never do that again.

A few years later, I heard a talk by Bill Bright’s personal assistant. (I think his name was Pat). Bill Bright was founder and president of the ministry Cru, and since Pat traveled all over the world with him, he observed Dr. Bright in all kinds of circumstances, from completely pleasant to highly stressful. This gave Pat deep insights into the man’s character.

For some reason I remember Pat mentioning that Dr. Bright always traveled with two stamp booklets – one for ministry correspondence and the other for personal letters. “He didn’t want to use any ministry asset – even something as small as a postage stamp – for personal purposes.” Who would know if he did? Probably no one. And would it really matter? Dr. Bright thought so. Now that’s integrity!

But personal integrity extends beyond your actions. It also applies to your words. Pastor Chuck Swindoll once said, “A half-truth is a lie when it implies something that is absolutely false.” Ouch! At what point does presenting something in a favorable light become spin, and at what point does spin become a lie? I sometimes get dangerously close to crossing the line.

The NIV renders Jesus’ words in John 14:15 like this: “If you love me, keep my commands.” Of course, this is a commandment. But the ESV translates the verse this way:  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” treating his words as more of an observation than a commandment and suggesting that people who really love Jesus “naturally” or typically do what he instructed.

Both are good translations, and theologian R.C. Sproul especially likes the implications of the second one. Sproul comments, “Genuine love for Jesus manifests itself in obedience to His commandments” (John:  An Expositional Commentary, p. 255). Well said, and something to live up to.

So, John 14:15 both instructs us to behave in godly ways and observes that correct behavior flows from hearts that are aligned with God’s.

HERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT CAVEATS:

1. Talk of keeping Jesus’ commandments can lead us to believe that we can become acceptable to God by what we do. Many people think they’re OK if their good deeds outweigh their bad ones. Wrong. The Bible teaches that no one perfectly meets God’s standards. That’s why Jesus came – to assume on himself the penalty we deserve because of our sin and to allow his perfect life to count on our behalf. 

2. Those of us who have accepted Christ’s forgiveness can slip into thinking we remain in God’s favor by our self-effort in following all the rules. And we often add to requirements beyond what Jesus taught or come up with crazy interpretations or applications of his instructions. Of course, we should keep his commandments – isn’t that exactly what John 14:15 teaches? But creating slavish requirements beyond the Bible’s is called legalism, and it will suck the life out of your Christian life.

So, yes, your behavior matters. But that’s not what makes you acceptable to God, either initially or on an ongoing basis. And, as R.C. Sproul says, a natural outgrowth of your growing relationship with Jesus will be increasing conformity to his ways.

Both Tom Jeannett and Bill Bright are excellent examples of people who, because of their love for Jesus, “automatically” want to do what he said. Both of them have challenged me, and I hope they challenge you too.