DEPRAVITY VERSUS INTEGRITY

There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one – Romans 3:11-12

In these days of moral relativism, there is a colossal slide of integrity with grim spiritual, domestic, and political implications which threaten the very survival of life on earth. Christians in particular, at home, work, and in the marketplace, are under severe pressure to compromise. Integrity implies consistency between what is inside and what is outside. God is totally consistent. His words and actions always match His character and nature. His goal for us is nothing less. Christ’s intention for His disciples is to make us disciplined people: who do the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reason.

Let’s get practical: spouses engage in extramarital affairs, applicants falsify their ages, students cheat in examinations, scholars commit plagiarism, workers pilfer office supplies, employees steal time at work, citizens falsify tax returns and bribe to obtain licences or permits from public agencies, police officers demand bribes, bankers can hardly be trusted with money, manufacturers exaggerate products, merchants trade in lethal drugs and fake medications, some doctors terminate living embryos without a blink, politicians deceive the electorate, judges misplace justice, and pastors soothe itching ears – telling people only what they want to hear.

Reasons have been cited for the integrity crisis. A popular culprit is the moral relativism and subjectivism of our day, in which ‘Self’ is enthroned in the supreme court of human thoughts, behaviour and conduct. Where the motto is, “My opinion is as good as yours,” ethics and integrity are sacrificed. Where leaders lie, politicians pollute, teachers cheat, economists embellish, cultural icons contaminate, and preachers deceive, integrity suffers, and society decays. Yet, the integrity dilemma can be attributed mainly to the fact that humans are fundamentally dishonest! It all boils down to human depravity.

Fallen humanity – men, women, and even children – are congenital liars: “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips” (Rom.3:13). No one had to instruct the toddler in the art of dishonesty. Even after being regenerated, we may return to deceit like a duck to water, if we do not discipline ourselves under the Lordship of Christ. The situation of modern humanity is exacerbated by the subtle seas of deceit and waves of deception which surge back and forth over societies through the media, so much so that we scarcely know what or where reality is. It has become so easy, even for a Christian, to have lose integrity and traffic in delusion, and not know!

But there is hope for the sincere Seeker: “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon” (Isa.55:6-7).