(Ed) // THE GRACE LIFE >> i n t e g r i t y.

The word integrity comes from the same Latin root as integer and implies a wholeness. Like a "whole number", so is a person of integrity... intact, complete, integrated, and authentic. A person of integrity is living rightly (acting honestly and consistently with their morals and beliefs) not divided (with corruption, hypocrisy, or compromise).   Integrity is what allows for confidence of word and action… knowing that you are “doing the right thing” even in spite of what you may ”feel”. 

This verse in particular stood out to me as a beautiful picture of integrity:

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, 

that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." ~ James 1:2-3

Christ like Integrity: being patient and joyfully faithful to what God values in the face of temptation which makes one perfect (mature), entire (whole), and wanting nothing (at peace). 

As a person who has chosen to trust Christ for my salvation, simply put:  I believe God.  I believe that the moment I trusted on Him, an exchange took place and I am no longer my own:   for "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:" ~ Galatians 2:20a. By seeing myself through this perspective, how I am to live my life becomes very clear:  I am to believe God, value what he values, and live a life that is an expression of those values. 

A believer with integrity knows that God's standards of virtue (life-giving and life-sustaining values) are exhibited in the life and death of Jesus Christ. Virtues that, if understood though study and prayer, are acted upon in complete trust and are continually developed through discipline, will produce a life that is a reflection of Godly righteousness. For the Christian, this is integrity:  "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." ~ Romans 6:13  

Those with integrity have taken the time to understand through God's word what exactly they are to value as a "new creation in Christ" and choose, again and again, to live a life in accordance with those values. Over time, they become skilled and strong in "doing that which is right": internal conflicts between the spirit and the flesh become less frequent as they become more practiced at recognizing and acting consistently with their belief.  They are grounded and rooted in truth and are thus spared the consequences of mental corruption : guilt, pain, shame, fear, anxiety and depression. 

The Bible describes a believer that is lacking in integrity as "double minded": only hearers of the word but not does...deceiving themselves. Those who are double minded are different people according to their circumstances or they maybe not be the same person in private (at home/online) that he or she is in public (in the world/offline). A person lacking integrity lives a life of duplicity and inconsistency in attitudes and actions... They talk about their faith IN God and yet they do not walk by the faith OF God. As written in the book of James: "A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways" : driven by their selfish desires with shifting values and beliefs that change according to their emotions and circumstances.

How integrity relates to equanimity is easy to see : it is the stabilizer of the mind and spirit.  

Almost a month has gone by since publishing my last post on equanimity. It didn't occur to me at the time of writing it, that by laying down the qualities of equanimity in the order that I did (integrity, faith, mindfulness, well-being, wisdom, insight, and freedom), that I would need to write the subsequent posts on that topic in order. Why oh WHY did I put integrity first?!?!  Why did I do this to myself one week before going on vacation? I even tweeted : "Having integrity means blogging about integrity even when you don't want to...because you previously blogged that you would. Uhhhh." I was obviously not looking forward to writing this post and decided to put it off after I returned from vacation.

Once I was free from my self imposed deadline, my experience began to be less about blog content and more about living. And as it turns out, having the concept of integrity roll around in one's mind for a month (especially when a good deal of that time was spent in different circumstances surrounded by different people) is a pretty wonderful thing. 

Meditating on integrity:

*inspired me to clarify my values: truth, love, family, community, work, prayer, clarity, nessecity, etc.

*constrained me to reconcile those values with my actions: like choosing to show compassion and love to someone for whom I have little personal respect

*encouraged vulnerably which lead to deeper conversations and connections : such as sharing my struggles with submission and obedience.

*began changing my perspective : paying less attention to "what I want" and more attention to "what is right".  

*enlightened me to opportunities that would allow me to exercise (in action) that which I proclaim to value (in word) : looking for ways to be of service, to encourage, to share truth, to be love.

What God says about living a life of integrity:

*it preserves us: "O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee." ~ Psalm 25:20-21

*it guides us: "The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them." ~ Proverbs 11:3

*it results in blamelessness and enables us to shine the light of God:  "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" ~ Philippians2 :15

Mind renewing truth: "In Christ I am the righteousness of God...now act like it!" 

(Lov)e,

-k.