JD: Things that could harm our reputation and our testimony and I’m talking about, in general, the Christian community by compromising our integrity. David lets first discuss a few Biblical passages that actually deal with the issue of integrity.
DJ: Sure, well I think it might help to actually consider the word for integrity in both the Old and the New Testament in the Hebrew and in the Greek. Integrity in the Old Testament means the condition of being without blemish, completeness, perfection, sincerity, upright, and so on. And then in the New Testament in the Greek it means honesty and inherence to a pattern of good work. So, that leaves I think the foundation as far as the original languages in the Bible are concerned.
The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about integrity so I think it would be good to start there. Proverbs 11:6 says the righteousness of the upright will deliver them but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust. In Proverbs chapter 6 going back to the six things the Lord hates and seven, which are abomination, integrity is a major theme in those things the Lord hates; a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises evil plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, false witness, and someone that stirs up conflict against his brethren. So, integrity is a very important thing there.
Proverbs 28:6 says, better as the poor who walked in his integrity than he that is perverse in his ways though he be rich. And then moving to the New Testament as you think about someone who is to be an elder an overseer in a local church. In I Timothy chapter 3 says a Bishop must then be blameless that’s all about integrity. And then in I Peter chapter 3 the beginning of verse 15 he says but sanctify the Lord in your hearts and then moving down to verse 16 he says have a good conscience that when they defame you as evildoers those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
So the point is this that integrity has to do not only with what you do but the appearance of what you do and we need to be blameless which means that not only are we acting with integrity but we’re acting in such a way that our integrity is clear to others.
JD: David James with a Biblical approach to true Biblical integrity.
We report this information because it is setting the stage for Bible prophecy to be fulfilled.
As you listen to Daves Biblical description of integrity you had to recognize the importance of integrity in the Christian lifestyle. Integrity is not only important for Christian leaders but for those who are in the pews as well. In fact, the apostle Paul said that in the last days men shall depart from Biblical integrity that’s II Timothy chapter 3.
Our world today is full of people that lack integrity both in the church and outside of the church. It’s a true sign of the end of times.
