CHAPTER 18 – THE INTEGRITY OF THE UPRIGHT GUIDES THEM
“From the deformity of our imperfection after the fall of the first human being, the Holy Trinity brings us up to the perfect human being and trains us for the fullness of Christ’s time.” -St. John Scotus Eriugena
Honesty, integrity, and truth become for the members of the Coworkers of Christ a standard and benchmark of behavior when interacting with each other, God, and indeed with the world around us. We freely accept a call to a life of mutual transparency and accountability recognizing the scriptural mandate to immerse ourselves in whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is admirable.
Let our honesty be tempered with compassion and our truth be offered out of love and respect. We must never allow our honesty to become a tool of manipulation used out of malice and guile. Sometimes silence offers a powerful witness to the truth and discretion becomes the better part of honesty.
Our commitment to honesty, integrity, and truth demands that we engage with reality with open eyes and courageous hearts. This means that we try to approach the Bible without preconceived notions, allowing its diverse voices to speak authentically rather than manipulating its message to align with our personal preferences. We value the insights of science, respecting its methods of observation, description, and the drawing of evidence-based conclusions about the world around us. We listen attentively and respectfully to the lived experiences of others, taking their perspectives seriously without imposing our own biases or assumptions. We prioritize truth over comforting illusions or rigid expectations that offer a false sense of control. Our integrity allows us to be at peace with the inherent uncertainties and limitations of our knowledge, fostering a spirit of humility and continuous learning. By embracing this commitment to truth and reality in all aspects of our lives, we strive to live with genuine integrity as individuals and as a community.
We are called to live a life of integrity, one of unbroken or undivided completeness, of wholeness and beauty lived out not only within ourselves but within the community at large. As love is our law so too let our integrity be founded in love. So often in the world integrity has come to mean rigid adherence to a set of societal norms or even doctrinal dictates. The members of the Community, being counter cultural, are called to an integrity whispered by the Holy Spirit at work in our lives and guided by compassion and love. Let us display an integrity born out of freedom and set ablaze by our love of Christ and His creation.
- Scriptural Support
Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. Ps. 15:1-2 (KJV)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer. Ps. 19:14 (NKJV)
Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Cor. 4:1-2 (KJV)
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6-7 (NIV)