Integrity Is ALWAYS An Issue
August 22, 2008
This week, we’ve been inundated with a couple of Christian Leader Integrity issues that seemingly are undermining the plans and purposes of God.
No doubt you’ve heard the story of Todd Bentley, who has ministered in Lakeland, Florida the last several months. Last week, right after announcing the end of his time of ministry there, news broke of the separation he and his wife are experiencing.
Then, just in the last couple of days, news came out about Michael Guglielmucci, the Pastor from Australia who wrote the hit worship song, “Healer”. The story was that he had written the song on deep inspiration from a just diagnosed case of cancer. Turns out there is no cancer.
I am not writing this post to point out what should or shouldn’t have happened in the Lakeland Revival, nor do I write to claim anything less than a great worship song in “Healer.” I am writing to simply declare that integrity - being the same person on the outside as you are on the inside - is ALWAYS an issue.
Your relationship with family, your marriage, your co-workers, your church, your neighbors. Integrity is ALWAYS an issue.
I appreciate The People of the Second Chance! I am glad to be one. But folks, any of us who desire to see God build Pastor For Life material in us have got to realize that transparency, honesty, vulnerability, submission to one another and plain old “doing the right thing”, all of those individual pieces of integrity. It’s ALWAYS an issue. That will ALWAYS remain true.
Thoughts?
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3 Responses to “Integrity Is ALWAYS An Issue”
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Paul, the first question that popped into my mind about the “Healer” debacle was simply “Why?”. I mean, eventually someone will probably know. I wondered if it was the stress of looking successful or making money or what. I don’t think I’m a “want to know the gory details” kind of person but I am always interested in the why because I think that is what we learn from. What happened with Ted Haggard? What was the point where he began to make decisions that were so unwise? What happened to Mike G? I want to know because I want to learn. Integrity is about the small choices leading to large choices, don’t you think? What were the small choices that led to the large choices?
Lack of integrity always speaks to a bigger issue. Jesus clearly states that “out of the heart,” we speak, live and our intentions are derived. Solomon told us to “gaurd our heart,” for if not, our insecurities, hurts, shattered dreams will become manipulations of others, pleas to be noticed, our works to be affirmed and so on.
If we are not careful we will turn all relationships into us having our needs met, our churches into manipulated masses who feed our egos and needs and serve us, rather than becoming healthy and whole and serving God. Tommy Walker wrote a very moving song: ‘I want to make my life, ALL ABOUT YOUR GLORY.” That is our prayer and our repentance. We are clay pots, cracked pots - fragile and frail - we must be filled with the treasure - Jesus!
PS: I love Paul Kuzma.
I love the comment by Paul Kuzma. The matter of heart is the root of all our decisions whether right or wrong. I was beginning to ask myself “does anyone else see anything wrong with what some pastors are doing?” This is not to be critical, but it is scary and completely unacceptable to me to be led by someone who has no integrity, who can lie continually to keep members pacified and who has deceived himself into believing that he is doing what is right.
The actions we take concerning others and how we justify them is a clear indication of what is lurking in the heart. God has a definite problem with leaders who lack integrity and so do I, especially when Jesus is the remedy for this problem.
I am learning each day to set my affections on things above and to wear this world as a loose garment.