A new word to add to the American vocabulary – Deflategate.

Is there anyone in America who has not already heard about Deflategate?  The fact is, you can turn on the news almost every day and see the stories of the lack of integrity in American culture.  This time, it is big news again in the NFL.  Unfortunately, it seems that integrity is rapidly becoming a forgotten virtue.  We see leaders living a double life; corrupt politicians who say one thing a do another; cheating athletes who will do anything to win; even religious leaders who turn their back on the ethics and values that they preach and teach.

It’s not just high-profile people who are guilty.  It could be your closest friend, someone who you thought you knew.  You loved them, believed in them and trusted them, only to find out that there were secrets, that when revealed, exposed an incredible lack of integrity in their life.  Those personal stories won’t make the headlines, but the hurt and disappointment they cause is just as real.

It seems we have come to the place that when there is a high level breach of integrity, no one seems to be surprised anymore.  It is almost expected.  No one is shocked on the news that the New England Patriots would cheat.  And this has absolutely nothing to do with the Indianapolis Colts.  They were beaten and beaten badly.  As a Colts fan, it was painful to watch.  This is not about crying foul because of defeat.  Cheating in the NFL is an embarrassment on the entire league.  What a shame it is that we live in a world where people are more shocked by integrity than they are by a lack of integrity.  People seem to be more surprised by someone who does the right thing than they are by someone who does the wrong thing.  Oh, how far we have come.

It is clear to me that there is an integrity crisis in our world today.  Integrity has been defined as adherence to moral and ethical principles;  soundness of moral character; honesty.  In its simplest and most practical form, integrity is when my behavior matches my beliefs.  Living an “integrated” lifestyle means what you believe and what you say are in complete alignment with what you do.  That is integrity!  It’s when your private life matches your public life.  Someone said, “Integrity is what you do when no one else is looking.”  Integrity is different from your reputation.  Your reputation is who other people think you are.  Integrity is about who you really are…good, bad or ugly.

Psalm 15 really captures what it means to live a life of integrity.  It is about living a blameless life.  It is about doing what is right, speaking the truth from your heart, being honest.  Integrity shows up in your actions and your words.  It impacts how you interact with people and how you relate to God.  A man or woman of integrity will keep his oath even when it hurts.

When all is said and done, the real loser Sunday was not the Colts.  It was the New England Patriots.  They lost something far more important than the AFC Championship game.  I look forward to the day we get back to preserving integrity at all costs, not only in the National Football League, but in the United States of America.

Allowing God’s Word to Speak Truth into My Life.

There once was a day when you were able to respect other’s beliefs, values, lifestyles or truth claims without sharing them.  Today, people are expected to accept every individual’s beliefs, values, lifestyles or claims of truth as equal.  What was once said to deserve permission we are now called upon to embrace.  Some think that to love someone means you will encourage them to do whatever they want, to exercise their freedom and to operate within the framework of moral relativism and situational ethics. We’ve tried to become a law unto ourselves.

Can a person be considered loving if they are unwilling to tell you the truth?  Wouldn’t it be criminal to know the cure for cancer and never share it?  The same principle applies with spiritual truth.  Truth must be spoken, even if it is not always accepted.  Some will complain that the truth seems intolerant or judgmental, but still, the truth must be told.

Through the years there has been a highly successful attempt to change the way we think in America.  Times have changed, but it is more than that.  Worldviews have changed.  Thinking has changed.  There is a lot of confusion in our world these days.  On a very broad scale, we have lost our point of reference.

When you are out on the water in a boat, there is a tendency to drift.  You need a stationary point on the shore to maintain perspective.  It is easy to get lost when you go out far enough that you lose sight of the shoreline.  At that point a good seaman knows he must depend on his compass.  Without a compass, or a stable point of reference, it is easy to lose your way.  There is a tendency to drift and lose perspective.  That’s what’s been happening in American culture in recent years.

It’s hard to know where you are and where you’re going without a point of reference – that’s why we need something that doesn’t change – that is absolute.  We need a basis for truth.  Isaiah 40:8 says that “the word of our God stands forever.”  The Bible provides an anchor in the storm.  Without an anchor, when you are bombarded with conflicting messages, all claiming to be true, you can easily lose your way.  Maybe that’s where you have been living.  Are you willing to allow the Word of God to speak truth into your life?

Truth can be known!

We are being told many different things about the truth in society these days.  There are so many voices and so many different opinions about where to find truth.  With so many broad definitions and different understandings of truth, it seems like fewer and fewer people believe that truth actually exists.

Some polls indicate a large majority of people contend that there is no such thing as absolute truth when it comes to matters of morality.  Some surveys say that more than two out of three adults and more than four out of five teenagers believe that truth is always relative to the individual and to circumstances.

In John 18:38, Pilate asked a cynical question of Jesus.  His question came as a response to Jesus’ statement, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”  Pilate’s question is the same one a lot of people are asking these days; “What is truth?”

While many in contemporary culture would deny that absolute truth exists, it should be noted that the denial of truth does not dismiss the truth.  I may deny that gravity exists, but that does not change what’s true.  Water is still two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, whether everybody believes it or nobody believes it.

Jesus assures us that truth can be known.  In John 8:32 He said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  So, how can a person know the truth?   And what is truth anyway?  How do you define it?  And is there a truth that is so universal that applies to all people and all situations?

In order to define truth you must take a leap of faith in some direction.  For instance, I have made a personal choice.  I have decided that the Bible doesn’t just contain truth, it is truth.  But that declaration requires that I have chosen to believe something.  I have taken a step of faith.  I studied the facts and I made a decision.  I have decided that the Word of God is the foundation I will build my life on.  That decision requires a step of faith.  Over the next few weeks I would like to invite you to join me as we explore how truth can be known.  More next time…

Maintaining Moral Purity

Ephesians 5:3 reminds us to avoid “sexual immorality, or any kind of impurity.”  Sexual abstinence is not antiquated or out dated.  Virginity does not make you weird and it is certainly not something to be ashamed of.  I am always proud of young people who testify to taking a stand for moral purity.  I love to hear about students who are bold in their commitment to choose abstinence, which means they will wait to have sex until AFTER they are married.

The benefits of sexual abstinence are wonderful!  Did you know that abstinence is the only 100% effective method of birth control to prevent pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases and infections?  Some say, “But everyone is doing it.”  They seem to think that in today’s culture it is impossible to maintain sexual purity.  Wrong!  Although staying pure in our society is difficult, it is possible.

So, how can someone stay pure in this oversexed culture?  It begins with a desire to please God.  Dedicate yourself to following God’s standards and not culture or your raging hormones.  Then you’ll need to learn how to defend yourself from the attacks against your desire to please God.  You can start by choosing to read and apply God’s Word.  Memorize verses like Galatians 5:16, Psalm 51:10, and Psalm 119:9-11.  Set physical boundaries for yourself before you get into a tempting situation.  Ask yourself some important questions like, who will I choose to date?  Who will I choose not to date?  A good rule of thumb is if you won’t marry them, don’t date them.  I am a believer in disciples of Jesus Christ dating and marrying other Christ followers (see 2 Corinthians 6:14).

Be careful about when and where you will be together.  There are some places you have no business going together.  For instance, the bedroom should be off limits.  First Corinthians 10:13 tells us that “God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  God will always provide a way out of temptation, but it will require a great deal of strength and integrity to take it!

When it comes to sexual temptation, the right thing to do is run!  Avoid it at all costs. Learn from the example of Joseph (see Genesis 39).  That is a great strategy for having boundaries and overcoming sexual temptation.

 

Avoiding Sexual Sin

The sexual relationship is the deepest level of intimacy and bonding between two people.  No form of birth control is going to block the bond that takes place.  God wired us to bond in the act of sexual intimacy.  We bond not only physically, but mentally, and emotionally as well.

Many today believe there’s nothing wrong with sex outside of marriage, because, they say, “it’s not hurting anyone.”  Nothing could be further from the truth.  In First Corinthians 6:18-20 we are told to “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.”

God created sex to be a beautiful and essential ingredient of marriage, but sexual sin—which is any sex act outside the marriage relationship between a man and woman)—always hurts someone.  It hurts God because it shows that we prefer following our own desires instead of what He desires. It hurts others because it violates the commitment that is so necessary to a healthy relationship. It will hurt you.  It can result in disease and it definitely results in memories that are etched deeply in our minds.  It affects us on every level whether we want to admit it or not.

And no matter how we try to suppress it, our hearts and minds are impacted because we know we are living in violation to God’s clear standard.  Many people say they have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies.  But is living in sexual sin really freedom or are you actually a slave to your own desires?

The brokenness resulting from sexual immorality is widespread.  It ranges from stories of unplanned or unwanted pregnancies to the aftermath of premarital and extramarital affairs.  The fallout includes regret, depression, low self esteem, ruined reputations, emotionally scarred children, sexually transmitted diseases, and the devastation of divorce.  As a pastor, I have witnessed the fallout on a firsthand basis and it affects every member of a family, not just the two involved parties.  The sexual sins of our world have created more heartache and more pain than almost any other evil known to man.

 

Biblical Truth Contradicts Cultural Myths about Sex

In Matthew 19:4-6 (NLT) Jesus said, “God made them male and female.  This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

Scripture is clear that God has called us to holy living.  Hebrews 13:4 says, “Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.”  Numerous passages of scripture point us to the fact that God created sex to be enjoyed within the boundaries of marriage.

Culture says, don’t worry about that, “If it feels good do it.”  The prevailing attitude is that I can do whatever I want, whenever I want, with whoever I want.  I am a law unto myself and no one else can tell me what to do.  I will decide what’s right and what is wrong for me.  Contemporary culture rejects the idea that there is a clear standard of truth or lies, or right and wrong, that applies to all of us.

Biblical truth contradicts common cultural myths about sex (and about so much more that matters in life).  First Corinthians 6:13 reminds us that “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord…”  Sexual immorality can easily be defined as any kind of sexual behavior outside of a faithful and committed marriage relationship between a man and a woman.

Many today believe sex is just sex, nothing more.  It’s recreational.  Modern culture is filled with all kinds of philosophies that are ABSOLUTELY immoral when it comes to sex.  We need to understand that sex is far more than a physical act.  The Bible says it’s in a different category than enjoying a game of tennis with a friend.  According to scripture, the sexual relationship creates a bond of intimacy between two people.

God holds a very high view of marriage.  And marriage is not seen as a practical necessity or a cure for lust.  It is a picture of the relationship between Christ and his church!  Paul’s counsel to the Ephesians (Ephesians 5) reveals the biblical ideal for marriage.  He tells us that marriage is a holy union, a living symbol, a precious relationship that needs tender, self-sacrificing care.  It is not to be taken lightly.

 

Who sets the standard on sexual purity?

There is a lot of confusion in today’s culture regarding the matter of sexual morality.  Sex is good—it is a gift from God and it is enjoyed on the highest level when it is shared within the confines of a faithful and committed marriage between a man and his wife.

So, when it comes to matters of morality and sexual purity, it is natural to ask, who decides what’s right?  Does culture dictate what is right and wrong?  Do you really want to allow Hollywood to set the standard?  Should a matter of such huge importance be left up to popular opinion?  How about the Government?  Should we turn to the government for answers to questions about morality and purity?

We need answers.  What we need is a point of reference…a foundation for truth.  What we need is an authority on the subject of sexuality and morality.  The Word of God provides exactly that.  In a world we are all constantly inundated with images and messages that glorify immorality, impurity, and sexual sin, the Word of God brings us face to face with the Truth.

In 1 Thessalonians 4 the Apostle Paul tells us that lustful passions should not control God’s people.  Paul reminds us that being a committed disciple of Jesus Christ is about more than just showing up at church on Sunday.  It is about more than having a Bible app on your phone.  A profession of faith is proven, not just proclaimed.  James speaks of this too when he challenged us to be doers, not merely hearers of the Word.  Being a follower of Jesus Christ means living in obedience to His Word and His will for our lives.

So, what does obedience look like in the matter of sexuality and morality?  Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways…God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.”

Is God condemning sex?  Absolutely not!  God created sex.  But His Word teaches that sex is to be enjoyed only within the boundaries of a lifelong, committed marriage between a man and wife.

More next time…

Jesus Hates Hypocrisy. (Integrity Series)

Last time we talked about integrity.  The opposite of integrity is hypocrisy.  Integrity is about living an integrated life where your beliefs match your behavior.  It is about doing the right thing, even when it hurts.  Integrity is based on honesty and truth.  Hypocrisy, on the other hand, is when people pretend to be someone they are not.  They will say or do whatever they think they have to in order to get what they want or to get you to believe what they want you to believe, whether it is the truth or not.

Did you know Jesus hates hypocrisy?  He was harder on the hypocrites than just about any other group of people. Take some time to read Matthew 23:25-28 and you will see what I mean.  Jesus came down hard on the teachers of the law and Pharisees saying, “You hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.”  He went on to tell them that they appeared to be righteous outwardly, but inside they were full of hypocrisy and wickedness.  They lacked integrity.

Hypocrites are people who put on a good game face.  They look religious.  On the outside they look clean but their heart may be filthy with sin.  And the sad reality is that they get so wrapped up in their hypocrisy they can’t even see the problem.  People are often blind to their own hypocrisy. 

Jesus made the point clearly.  First, He told these leaders to clean the inside of the cup and dish and then the outside would also be clean.  He is letting them know that integrity is an inside job.  Integrity doesn’t start from the outside and work its way into our lives.  Integrity begins on the inside and it works its way out.  Integrity is about being pure on the inside.  It is a heart issue.

It’s so easy to slip into hypocrisy, isn’t it?  But integrity is hard.  Are you willing to tell the truth and do the right thing even when it hurts?  Integrity is right and it will impact your life and the life of your family on every level. 

When you choose a life of integrity, you will see the benefits in your marriage, your family, your work, your relationships, etc.  You’ll gain trust, respect, honor, and influence from the people who matter most in your life.

Do the right thing…even when it hurts! (Virtue Series)

Integrity may not always be easy, but integrity is right and there are some distinct benefits to living a life of integrity.  For instance, a man or woman of integrity will experience a closer walk with God.  That is because there is ongoing fellowship with God.  Things are different when there are no secrets.  When you live according to God’s values, you can walk with Him, and enjoy His presence, moment by moment, each and every day.

Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”  When you live a life of integrity, you will have an inner compass for life.  You don’t have to sit around wondering what’s right and wrong.  You will be able to make a clear distinction between right and wrong.  You will do what’s right.  Your integrity will guide you.

Living with integrity will also result in peace.  It is a wonderful thing to put your head on the pillow at night and not have to worry that someone will find out the truth.  When you live a life of integrity there is peace.  There is no fear of getting caught and no worries about being found out.  There are no secrets and no lies when you live with integrity.  It is a great way to live!  Nobody lies awake at night thinking, “I hope no one finds out I did the right thing!”   What a blessing it is to know that you are doing the right thing.

So, what do you do when you recognize that you lack integrity?  Begin by making a personal commitment to be a man or woman of integrity and ask God for His help.  I am convinced that God will enable you to live the life He is calling you to live.  Ask God to forgive you and ask those whose lives have been impacted by your lack of integrity to forgive you too.  Then make amends and to the best of your ability, fix what’s been wrong!  I don’t know what that might mean for you, but I suspect you do.  Seek forgiveness, fix what’s wrong and don’t go there again.  Integrity is about doing the right thing…even when it hurts.  With God’s help you can do it! 

Integrity (Virtues Series)

You can turn on the news almost every day and see the stories of the lack of integrity in American culture.  Integrity is rapidly becoming a forgotten virtue.  We see leaders living a double life; corrupt politicians who say one thing a do another; cheating athletes who will do anything to win; even religious leaders who turn their back on the ethics and values that they preach and teach.

And it’s not just high profile people who are guilty.  It could be your closest friend, someone that you thought you knew.  You loved them, believed in them and trusted them, only to find out that there were secrets, that when revealed, exposed an incredible lack of integrity.  Those personal stories won’t make the headlines, but the hurt and disappointment they cause is just as real.

It seems we have come to the place that when there is a high level breach of integrity, no one seems to be surprised.  It is almost expected.  What a shame that we live in a world where people are more shocked by integrity than they are by a lack of integrity.  People seem to be more surprised by someone who does the right thing than they are by someone who does the wrong thing.

It is clear to me that there is an integrity crisis in our world today.  Integrity has been defined as adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.  In its simplest and most practical form, integrity is when my behavior matches my beliefs.  Living an “integrated” lifestyle means what you believe and what you say are in complete alignment with what you do.  That is integrity!  It’s when your private life matches your public life.

Someone said, “Integrity is what you do when no one else is looking.”  Integrity is different than your reputation.  Your reputation is who other people think you are.  Integrity is about who you really are.

Psalm 15 really captures what it means to live a life of integrity.  It is about living a blameless life.  It is about doing what is right, speaking the truth from your heart, being honest.  Integrity shows up in your actions and your words.  It impacts how you interact with people and how you relate to God.  A man or woman of integrity will keep his oath even when it hurts.

With God’s help, you can be a person of integrity!