Integrity Demands It

I was listening to the radio this morning, and someone said - and truthfully, I don't know who she was - that her integrity demanded it. That phrase caught my attention. What is it that our integrity demands that we do?

That approach to decision making has several implications:

1. If our integrity demands it, then the opinion of others takes a back seat. If integrity demands it, then popularity (or ridicule) takes a back seat. I think about the politics in the world right now. I don't think many politicians are acting as if "their integrity demands it." Not to get into the political realm too much, but the members of Congress have taken an oath to protect the Constitution. Stepping back form affirming an election - even when in private they say they know Biden won - in order to keep their follows or placate the President is not an example of decision making based on "my integrity demands it." But moving past politics, how often do we make decisions without influence of what others will think of us?
2. If our integrity demands it, then we may have to set aside our previously held beliefs or opinions. We may have to explore the decision to find the truthful information that will help us to make a decision. If our integrity demands it, then our strongly held opinion has to step aside.
3. If our integrity demands it, then our decisions may make us uncomfortable, or even have consequences we would rather avoid. I think about Chris Krebs, the administration officer who was in charge of CISA - the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency - who worked with his department to keep our elections safe, and then dared to stand up and say so. He lost his job, and I doubt this was a comfortable outcome for him. I think about the pastor I knew who walked in Birmingham in the 60's and then faced harsh reactions in the church he served. Not a consequence he would have chosen.
4. If our integrity demands it, then our decisions belong to us. We can't blame others for them; we have to take responsibility for the choices we have the power to make.

If our integrity demands it, then we have to work to develop and hone our sense of integrity. It needs to be an integrity that isn't cold and calculating, that is shaped by what Jesus taught us is most important - that we love God and love each other. The simplest definition of integrity I have heard is that integrity is doing what you have said you will do. We are baptized and confirmed. We say we are followers of Christ; integrity is acting like it.

And I fail at that probably every day.