We have just three more Sundays of talking about Core Values. This Sunday's message is on integrity. My interpretation of integrity, in terms of saying yes to salvation, is to stand behind your commitment. It is to "walk the walk and talk the talk;" and to "put your money where your mouth is."
I'm not sure if every Christian, upon salvation, understands the nature of commitment. Deitrich Bonnhoeffer wrote a book many years ago entitled, "The Cost of Discipleship." In it he talks frequently about "cheap grace"; which is when a person accepts salvation purely on the terms of its benefits. They give no thought or attention to the commitment that is required. These type of Christians lack integrity, because a huge part of salvation is about commitment.
Basically, salvation has a two-fold meaning, each of equal importance to the other. Salvation means eternal life; saved from hell; "No one shall pluck you from My Father's hand," Jesus said. That's the great benefit of salvation (among many others).
But of equal importance is the commitment. Jesus said, "If you want to come after me, then deny yourself and take up your cross (sacrifice) and follow me." He also said, "Anyone who turns back after putting there hand to the plow is not worthy of the kingdom of God" (my paraphrase). The last quote is quite harsh, and the point should be well taken literally by every Christian.
Integrity is a very important core value - actually, a necessary one, not only for you as an individual; but for the church as a whole. It's not about being perfect - that's impossible to do. It is about staying the course and getting back on track even when you fall away. It's about repentance - turning away from the sins that so easily beset you. It's about holding your commitment as a top priority for your life before God.
Hopefully your commitment to Jesus is something that you take very seriously. Not simply out of a sense of duty, but out of a loving trust for God and His concern for you. God is the Creator of life, and He designed the human life to be lived a certain way - to bring honor and glory unto Him. He calls us to commitment because without it He knows that we will be completely destroyed by sin. He is the "Way" that life was intended to be in the first place.
May God find us as a church of integrity.
Blessings,
-Leo
No comments:
Post a Comment