Accountability and Integrity

I recently wrote this note to Facebook :-

“Sometimes we express on Facebook that which we would not or could not express in our churches. There are reasons for this -
Firstly there is no real accountability here. We do not have to look someone in the eye as we speak out our comments.
Secondly we are bold because we are 'in secret' and some of us will not even reveal our names for fear of being 'caught out'.
Thirdly, we can express here the secret things God has laid on our hearts without fear of scorn or rebuke or laughter. BUT
Finally, God sees our every word - even those we delete and type again differently. Yours - mine - everybody's words. God sees everything and we will all have to answer one day for any loose words we have put out here - even if you are the only one who knows it was a cheap shot.

So maybe there is some accountability after all :-)”

Then a good friend came back to me with this - “I think we need to have a post on integrity. Do not post anything here or elsewhere you would not want Jesus to see and point out to everyone.”

Do not post anything here or else where you would not want Jesus to See and point out to everyone – that’s the important thing isn’t it. We have to guard our own integrity, probably under the prompting of the Holy Spirit who will convict us when we step aside from what is good. Would everything that you put out on Facebook or Twitter stand the scrutiny of Jesus? Would He be pleased to pass it all on? I can only speak for myself in that, although I may try – I frequently fall short of the standard I know God requires of me.

Our integrity is all we have here. Nothing else matters. Reputation is nothing – popularity is even less. Even our faith means nothing without the integrity to go with it. The integrity we display anywhere in public - but especially in the Facebook and Twitter chat rooms – must also be a reflection of Jesus. Would He say that which we just said? Would He do that which we just did? As Leonard Ravenhill said, “Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”

Our public utterances are our reflection of Christ – and sometimes, it has to be said, they are unflattering to Him. Should we not write as if Jesus Himself was standing looking over our shoulder and approving what we write. There are too many in this world who use unsanctified language, who take His name very much in vain or even as a cuss-word. We have to be better than that. Too many so-called Christians use unsanctified language; laugh at unsanctified humour; act in very un-Christ-like ways. If we are no different to the rest of the world, how can we possibly attract them to the church or to Jesus? If we are no different in our lives – if our integrity can be seen to be as bad as everyone else’s, then we have very little hope of redeeming others. We have, quite honestly, done the devils work for him.

Hey people - can we just try a little harder?