Maintaining Our Integrity

Well, the Pharisees and scribes are at it again in Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:21-26, trying to trip Jesus up and cause Him to fall in disfavor with the people so they could dispose of Him. This time they ask Him if it’s lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. But first they flatter Him by telling Him they know He’s an honest man and couldn’t lie, and that He didn’t have any personal bias so He couldn’t be influenced. Obviously they were trying to use His integrity against Him, hoping to force Jesus to answer in such a way that He was seen as either siding with the hated Romans or siding with the people who abhorred paying taxes to Roman thus putting Jesus at odds with the Empire.

But at once Jesus asks to see a coin. Then He asks them, “Whose image is this.” When they answer the obvious by saying “Caesar’s” He floors them with His famous line, “Pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” What could they say to that? Nothing. And so they remained silent.

As followers of Jesus there will be times when the world will test our integrity, too: The boss who wants us to fudge some numbers, the friend who wants us to lie to cover his misdeeds, the family members who insist we see that objectionable movie, etc. And at those times we must choose between maintaining our integrity or coming down on the wrong side of an issue. I remember a relative who would deliberately bring up controversial subjects to try to make me look ridiculous. After all, how could any modern-thinking person with any ounce of sense actually believe the Bible is real? Or that it should guide our thinking and behavior?

I learned a lot during those encounters. I learned that sometimes maintaining integrity meant forsaking pride and being willing to look foolish as well as to be disliked or vilified. I wish I could say I passed every test that came my way, but I didn’t. But those times I failed I was left with such an unhappy feeling that I would have traded it for any amount of scorn I would have received had I not succumbed. When we forsake our integrity we wound our soul and end up diminishing ourselves.

As Christians it’s unrealistic to think we will not be called to make choices or that we can remain “neutral.” Jesus has a way of taking us out of our comfort zone and bringing us face to face with unpleasant situations. And remember this: Because the world hates Jesus, it will hate us, too. But we’re not here to court the love of the world. We’re here to glorify our wonderful Lord and be salt and light, and when we do, Jesus is right there waiting to strengthen us and see us through.

Until next time,

Sylvia