Ministerial Integrity: Does It Wane or Glow with Time? Essay

TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION … ………… …………… ……………… ………………………………3

DEDICATION………………………… ………………………… ………………………. 4

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………… …………………………… 5

INTRODUCTION……………………… ………………………… ……………………… 6

I. Rational/Need………………… ………………………… ……………………….. 7

II. Objectives………………………………………… ………………………………9

III. Methodology………………………………………………………………………9

IV. Literature Review……………………………… …………………… ………….. 10

V. Definitions……………………………… ………………………………………. 19

VI. Structure of Essay…………………………… ………………………………….. 31

CHAPTER ONE Integrity Expected Of Ministers …….. ……… ……………… ………… ……………. 32

1. The Church……………………………………………………………………………..

32 a. The Constitution & Standing Orders Of The Methodist Church …………………

32 b. The Constitution & By-Laws of The Presbyterian Church…………… ………… 34

1. 2 The Outside Community…………………………………………………………….. 35

1. 3 The Integrity of Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ……………….. ………………… 35

CHAPTER TWO Ministerial Integrity 2. 1 How to Acquire Integrity……… ……………………………………………………40

2. 2 The Need to Keep Our Integrity……………………………………………………. 44

2. 3 Consequences of Our Lack of Integrity……………  ……………………………….. 47

a. Socially (Here and now)…………………………………………………………47

b.Against the Church of Christ ……………………………………………………49

c. Eternally………… ………………………………………………………………. 49

d. Examples of True and Living Experiences………………………………………50 2. 4 How Do We Develop Integrity in Our Own Lives……………………………………………… 51 2. 5 How Do We Lose Our Integrity …………………………………………………….. 53 CHAPTER THREE Analysis of Interviews and Questionnaires and their Implications On The 3. 1 Universal Church of Christ………………………………………………………….. 62 3. 2 Ministry/Ministers…………………………………………………………………… 62 3. 3 Nation……………………………………………………………………………….. 63 CHAPTER FOUR Possible Solutions . 1 Individually (Biblical & Others)……………………………………………………64 4. 2 Church………………………………………………………………………………66 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………68 APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………. 70 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………75 DECLARATION ……………………………………………….. REV. PETER KENNEDY ANSAH-ESHUN (STUDENT) ………………………………………………………….. INTRODUCTION: I. Rational/Need A very good number of Ministers, if not all, begin as Apostle Paul puts it “in the Spirit”, but as to whether we continue and end ”in the Spirit” or to being rejected by the Spirit without we knowing is the issues that this research seeks to know.

What a good number of Ministers, said to have begun “in the Spirit”, saw as sinful in the past, becomes trivial or not worth mentioning when it comes to their turn of administration or direction. Some of us ministers also tend to forget our prime duties of ‘evangelism and missions’ and pursue wealth, power, prestige and popularity which eventually, and unfortunately, affect our spirituality and our “calling”. The Church and the society are equally worried, but do not find it easy to point to the iniquities of such minister. Even among ministers, junior ministers complain about the seniors and vice versa.

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In the Churches, there are many ill talks about preceding ministers by succeeding ministers. The media is also not silent on some of the immoral issues concerning the ministers, while very little is said about their contributions towards developments in its entirety. Thus, this research will also seek to know some of the developments made by some ministers in the Church and the community they served or are serving. Before I came into the full time Ministry of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I had the following thoughts about the Ministers of the Gospel and the Ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as a whole:

1.The best vocation in terms of fellowshipping is that of the Ministers, but it turned out to be something very different from my earlier thoughts, and the difference I personally experience is a motivating factor to doing this research. 2. The Ministers are representatives or ambassadors of Christ here on earth (2 Cor. 5:20) “We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, “Be reconciled to God! ” As believers, we are Christ’s ambassadors, sent with his message of reconciliation to the world. For me the ambassadorial duties as per the meaning of the word are gradually but evidently missing in a good number of ministers. I believe it’s high time something is done about this. This is one of the motivating factors of this essay. 3. They have integrity to keep as God’s representatives (Titus 1:6-9 NLT) “An elder must be well thought of for his good life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who are not wild or rebellious. An elder must live a blameless life because he is God’s minister.

He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or greedy for money. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must love all that is good. He must live wisely and be fair. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong and steadfast belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with right teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. Paul had given Timothy a similar set of instructions for the church in Ephesus (see 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 1 Tim. 5:22).

 

The qualifications bolded in the passage involve a person’s life-style and relationships which eventually reads into his or her character. Observably, these qualities are missing in most of the ministers. * No blameless life, not in terms of being very perfect, but that there should be the sensibility of sin and the pain to feel that sin is near. To some ministers they find themselves in many vices yet see nothing wrong with that. * Some are arrogant due to their spectacular gifts, academic achievements, etc. * Others are quick-tempered; * There are few others who are drunkards There are some with violent behaviors in the homes and the Church * Greed for money is more widespread among ministers now * Extravagance, unwise living and unfairness or injustice even among ministers * Lack of devout and disciplined living among ministers. Because the congregants are complaining in varied ways, the outside world may have genuine complaints for not wanting to be part of the church. There are complaints even among the ministers themselves; of embezzlement, sexual immorality, over ambition, lack of evangelistic drive, misplaced priority, resorting to ‘black magic’ among many others.

 

This paper seeks to make a scientific research through interviews, questionnaires and what others have already written about these issues, whether the integrity of the Minister of God “glows or should glow or wanes” with time. It shall also seek to find the general truth about the ministers as ambassadors of Christ, to finding solutions when our integrity is waning, to offer encouraging suggestions and contributions where we are living up to our expectations, with the view to making the next generation even better, in terms of service and integrity than today.

It must, however, be noted that ministers are called into a service of integrity and righteousness. II. Objectives 4. To know what the Church and the world see of ministers of the gospel. Though this is not to find faults about ministers, it is still to help us see how we are faring as “agents of God on earth”. 5. To afford those who might find themselves entangled in the web of the ‘enemy’ a possible way out of the enemy’s trap. And to also help to find restoration in their “Caller”, the Lord Jesus Christ. 6. To know whether or not the ministers of the gospel of the Protestant Churches are in tune with their calling.

 

And to offer some solutions and contributions for a better service of integrity. III. Methodology The method which will be used is to read some literatures that speak about the topic in discussion, then the constitutions and by-laws of the Protestant Churches to see what the expectations of the churches are, to be able to know if there are any lapses or that the ministers are really in tune with what the Creator God and the church expect of them. Primary Data Even though there are literatures that speak about the integrity of the Christians as a whole, this might be the first directed on the clergy (i. e. he ministers of the gospel). Interviews and questionnaires will be one of the main sources of material for the final work. These will be sourced from both the clergy and the lay persons of the Church as well as members of the community who may not be Christians. Secondary Data This essay will involve the interaction of the Bible as the Word of God which will help us to know the expectations of Him who has called us, The Constitutions and Standing Orders of some Protestant Churches like The Methodist, The Presbyterian and The Anglican which will also help us know the expectations of the Church on their ministers.

Books and articles which have been written in this area will also be consulted. IV. Literature Review The enemy had been subtle in his approach to the early faithfuls of the Old Testament, and had been more subtle to the early Christians and is much more subtle in his approach to Christian leaders, particularly the ministers with integrity. This is to say, that the problem of dishonesty had existed with the ages and so many have already spoken about it, but may not have said all.

Consequently most of the sources of materials will reflect the related literatures on how to lead an honest life. a. The Integrity Crisis Warren Wendell Wiersbe, in his work, The Integrity Crisis had discovered that for over nineteen centuries the Church had been telling the world to admit its sins, repent, and believe the gospel. Today, in the dawn of the twenty-first century, the world is telling the Church to face up to her sins, repent, and start being the true Church of the gospel.

He further laments that we Christians boast that we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but perhaps the gospel of Christ is ashamed of us, because the Church is not walking her talk, our ministry does not march our message. Something is wrong with our integrity, particularly with the clergy and the other messengers of the gospel. That both the ministry and the message of the Church have lost its credibility before a watching world, and the world seems to be enjoying the spectacle.

Wiersbe attributed this lack of integrity in our Churches to a number of issues including; * The proliferation of independent churches, where Churches and church members do what is right in their own eyes, where pastors suspect and compete with one another, even though we preach the same gospel, pray to the same Lord, and claim to be obedient to the same Word. The proliferation due basically for their selfish or parochial interest. * Lack of Spiritual Worship, the true biblical worship which satisfies our total personality.

That Satan knows that real worship is exciting, and that excited saints cause him trouble, so he works to keep us from devoting all our God-given faculties to the adoration of our Lord. Thus, churches today have introduced many other things that have taken the place of the Word of God, for example fund-raising day in day out. * The excitement and expansion in ministry, which eventually takes us to the Para-church ministry, with its attendant problem of indoctrination.

Wiersbe reminds his readers of the Word of God as in1 John 1:5-6 (KJV) that; “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” In the final analysis, he made it clear that whatever the cause we must not still wallow in this kind of shame, that we can change things by making ourselves available to God and obeying Him so He can work through us. b. Walking in Integrity and Uprightness

John Arhin Koomson, in his work, Walking in Integrity and Uprightness, defines integrity as “the quality of being morally upright. It is being honest with your relationship with God and man and being honest in one’s word” To him this quality does not depend on our status or background, but depends on our faith, commitment and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He emphasises then that whether a parliamentarian, a businessman/woman, a pastor, a husband, a teacher, an employer, etc we should do what is expected of us with honesty. In this way, Koomson speaks generally to Christendom.

Koomson makes the following clear about Christians or people of integrity; * That people of integrity must be undivided and complete, leading to consistent life with his or her words. * That Christians are expected to be honest and reliable because the God we are following is a God of integrity, * That we as his children should develop these traits, and emphasised that the success of Christian life depends not on our possession. He outlines the qualities of the man or woman of integrity as the following, that he or she is one who; * Is sincere and entire in his religion, and his or her walk is blameless. Is conscientiously honest and just in all his dealings, faithful and fair to everyone he or she comes into contact with. * Will maintain his or her honesty even in his or her preaching, teaching and in whatever he or she does. Being what one really professes to be. * Will endeavour to do all the good he or she can to his or her neighbours and careful not to willfully harm his or her neighbour. * Is a trustworthy person who does not betray a confidence (Prov. 11:3) * Does not accept bribe or any suspicious gifts (Amos 5:12) * Will not increase his or her estate by unjust practices. * Conduct his or her business with honesty (Ps 78:22)

His work brings out some principles which are also the attributes of God, as He the Creator requires from or of anyone who through His Son Jesus Christ has had a relation with Him. Principles which can only be made possible in the believers lives by the enabling of the Holy Spirit, and which he (Koomson) believes is very possible for the life yielded to the Holy Spirit. c. Intentional Integrity Millard MacAdam, in his work Intentional Integrity stresses on the word integrity as a word for our times in every discipline, in politics, business, and the professions, and particularly for the Church.

And that we who are Christians need to know that the foundation for integrity lies with God. He seeks to put in the picture that integrity is an intentional grace to be sought by Christians if we are to live lives pleasing to God, which is in consonance with what Koomson claims to be possible in the lives of the believers by the enabling of the Holy Spirit. He cautioned that we are in a day when apparent guilt seems to be rewarded and the black and white of right and wrong have become gray at best, even in Christian circles.

He therefore lays out an important and workable plan for introducing integrity into every part of our lives, personal or professional. MacAdam in his work teaches how to be and the importance of being, the right kind of person in order to do the right kind of things so you can have what is truly important. His work also addresses the topic that is essential if we are the “salt and light” of the world in which we live and work. His book confronts the issue of integrity head on, and gives a tremendous practical guide addressing the critical issues of living a balanced, bountiful and beneficial life.

He also brings to the fore the joy in terms of spiritual and economic benefits that can be gained from living a more integrated, moral, objective and beneficial life. Millard MacAdam assigns his reason(s) for writing this book as “how you can free yourself from the destructive trap set by what he calls ‘the big virus of dishonesty. ’ He continued that too many people have capitulated to conditional integrity … being honest when it’s convenient and as long as it doesn’t cost personally.

To him the conditional integrity as an operational paradigm is often touted as “the way to succeed” in life, marriage and business; which is characterised with tragic results of dishonesty. His concern about this paradigm is that it seems innocent enough at first sight, the smaller lies, deceptions, and improprieties people commit build callousness and too often lead to fraud and outright theft that destroys individual careers, families and other institutions. People who decide to live their lives within this paradigm lack the core operating values they need to guide their conduct.

MacAdam in contrast to conditional integrity proposes to and in his topic for this work chooses “intentional integrity” which to him will give every area of your life a solid foundation for honest and truthful actions. Intentional integrity insists that there are absolutes, there is a right and a wrong, that we can know the difference. It also means that we hold ourselves accountable and encourage others to hold us accountable for our actions; we do what is right, not what is convenient and painless. It is practical and biblically based.

To him, intentional integrity will help one to stand strong and not compromise your personal character. In other words, that kind of life is not automatic, it comes through intentional strategies, in order to get and give the most in life. He also answers the call to intentional integrity with principles and skills necessary for a balanced life. d. Christian Integrity Jim & Carolyn Murphy writing in the chapter six (6) of their work, An International Minister’s Manual on Christian Integrity, emphasise that integrity in the Christian is a priceless treasure and it becomes doubly sure for Christian leaders.

It could thus be said that it is triply sure for ministers of the gospel. They claim to have not known any true, great and powerful leader or minister who does not walk in godly integrity, that God always ultimately greatly blesses His leaders of integrity. Writing about the world and integrity, Jim and Carolyn remarked that the general attitude of the world has little room for integrity, because the unscrupulous most often come out on top while those with integrity appear to end up at the bottom. But as Christians, whom the Bible calls “strangers and liens”, (of the world, in Heb. 11:13 and 1 Pet. 2:11). We are not to conform to the standards of this world, because our real home is with God in Heaven where He lives. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth”. (Heb. 11:13) “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1 Pet. :11) Heaven came to earth in the symbolism of the Jewish sanctuary (the tabernacle and temple) where God’s presence dwelt. It came in a fuller way in the person of Jesus Christ, “God with us. ” It permeated the entire world as the Holy Spirit came to live in every believer. Someday, after God judges and destroys all sin, the kingdom of heaven will rule every corner of this earth. John saw this day in a vision, and he cried out, “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, the home of God is now among his people!

He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. ” Rev. 21:3 (NLT) Our true loyalty should be to our citizenship in heaven, not to our citizenship here, because the earth will be destroyed. Our loyalty should be to God’s truth, his way of life, and his dedicated people. Because we are loyal to God, we often will feel like strangers in a world that would prefer to ignore God. Thus, Christian Integrity does not permit us to follow the world’s way of life, which is contrary to what God expects of us as His Children.

Christian should not conform to the world, because we are not of the world. They noted that we are not born with integrity, and like Millard MacAdam in his Intentional Integrity, Jim and Carolyn confirmed that this priceless treasure takes a very long time to attain, it takes years, even decades to reach the state in which a Christian leader or Minister truly moves in godly integrity, and therefore requires an intentional approach to acquire this priceless treasure.

They rightly noted that integrity is gained by ongoing and continuous righteous living and may therefore be lost through unrighteous living or sin. According to them, the most effective weapon against Christian integrity is compromise; making observations from both the church and Scripture. Jim and Carolyn also indicated that one act of compromise does not rob someone of his/her integrity before God, the problem arises when compromise becomes our habit and custom, that is when it becomes willful and habitual.

They rightly noted that if one begins to apply the truths of the Word of God to his or her life, the Holy Spirit will surely come to his or her aid. And on the basis of these works, I want to come out in simple terms with the integrity expected of ministers who are the leaders of the Church, and how it can be kept in our times. DEFINITIONS a. Minister / Ministerial The office of a priest, a ritual expert learned in a special knowledge of the technique of worship and accepted as a religious and spiritual leader.

Throughout the long and varied history of religion, the priesthood has been the official institution that has mediated and maintained a state of equilibrium between the sacred and the profane aspects of human society and that has exercised a stabilizing influence on social structures and on cultic organizations. The term priest is derived etymologically from the Greek word presbyteros (elder), of which it is a contraction, and it is equated with the Latin word sacerdos (the Roman officiant at the sacrifices and sacred rites).

A minister is a person acting for another as his agent and carrying out his orders or designs, (an attendant servant). A person appointed by the head of the government to take charge of some department of state or Church. A diplomatic officer sent to a foreign nation to represent his government; usually ranking below an ambassador. He is anyone authorised to carry out the spiritual function of the Church, conduct worship, administer the sacrament, preach the word, etc. Ministerial then is having the nature of or characteristics of the minister or ministry.

However, the minister or ministerial mentioned herein refers to any ritual expert called of God and who has learned the special knowledge of the technique of worship and has been accepted as a religious and spiritual leader authorised to carry out the spiritual function of the Church, conduct worship, administer the sacrament, preach the word, etc. Ministerial then is having the nature of or characteristics of this kind of ministry. b. Integrity The Oxford English Dictionary says the word comes from the Latin integritas, which means “wholeness,” “entireness,” “completeness. The root word is integer, which means “untouched,” “intact,” “entire. ” The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English among other definitions defines integrity as the quality of being honest and of always having high moral principle. It is the state of being united as one complete thing. Webster New World Dictionary defines integrity as the quality or state of being or having; complete, unbroken and perfect condition, wholeness and entirety, unimpaired, soundness, dependable, sound moral principles, uprightness, honesty and sincerity, fairness, truthfulness, trustworthy, straight forwardness, freedom from lying, stealing and cheating.

A person of integrity is not divided (that is duplicity) or merely pretending (that is hypocrisy). Faithful adherence to the moral or ethical principles that are expected of one, in his social class, profession, position, etc. It is the incorruptible soundness of moral character especially as displayed in fulfilling trust. The Scriptures also makes a lot of inferences on integrity as belief, character and conduct in harmony with God. Micah 6:8 “No, O people, the Lord have already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”.

Job 2:3 “Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth-a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you persuaded me to harm him without cause. ” However, the Word of God has it in1 John 1:5-6, 8 and10 (KJV) that; “…that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him (God) a liar, and his word is not in us. ” This is the problem we are having today that people, Christians, and even ministers lie to other people about their fellowship with the Lord. There are many ways we do this; preaching what we don’t practice, praying for things we do not mean, pretending to do what we don’t do. But pretense is only the beginning, for the problem gets worse. For now we are not only lying to others, but we are also lying to ourselves and believing it!

And worse of all now we are not only lying to others and to ourselves, but we are trying to lie to God, in doing so, making God a liar! When hypocrisy (lying to others) and duplicity (lying to oneself) start to take over, integrity gradually erode until it is finally destroyed. The result is always apostasy (making God a liar), and gradually the light becomes darkness. And this takes place while the person or the ministry is maintaining what appears to be a faithful relationship with God. Integrity means that the light is shining within because the person has a single heart, a single mind, and a single will.

Hypocrisy means that fractions have formed and the shadows have moved in. Duplicity means that the light has become darkness, wrong has become right, and sin has become acceptable. This is the kind of person Jesus had in mind when He said: Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV) “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”. We can say the right words, give the right sermons from the right texts, and even perform miracles, but that can never take the place of doing the will of God. The tragedy today, however, is that many people can’t tell the difference between the real and the counterfeit. Perhaps the best illustration of this tragedy is Saul; who in his early years as king was a different person (1 Samuel 10:1-10) as a result of the Holy Spirit’s work in him. But as Saul’s power grew, so did his pride.

After a while he refused to seek God; the Spirit left him (1 Samuel 16:14); and his good attitude melted away. c. Glow Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines glow as “a soft steady light, especially from something that is burning without flames and Christians, particularly Ministers as “Salt and Light” of the world must preserve and shine for people in the world to see. The lights of the Ministers among other things must burn steadily. Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV) “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?

It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in his own life and in human society.

The means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus. The Christian should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness, and vice. He should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love.

In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth. Jesus was speaking in the part of the temple where the offerings were put (John 8:20), where candles burned to symbolize the pillar of fire that led the people of Israel through the desert (Exodus 13:21-22). In this context, Jesus called himself the “light of the world” in John 8:12 (NLT) Jesus said to the people, “I am the light of the world.

If you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. ” The pillar of fire represented God’s presence, protection, and guidance. Jesus brings God’s presence, protection, and guidance. As a soldier follows his captain, so we should follow Christ, our commander. As a slave follows his master, so we should follow Christ, our Lord. As we follow the advice of a trusted counselor, so we should follow Jesus’ commands to us in Scripture. As we follow the laws of our nation, so we should follow the laws of the kingdom of heaven.

These expectations from the Christians are most expected of the Ministers of the gospel, as the leaders of the Christian community to glow wherever we find ourselves to be able to protect the flock and to give them a proper guidance. Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.

Paul seeks to say that by our calling as Christians, but particularly as Ministers must live as models or agents to the will of God; that is, being living examples to the flock under our care in terms of what is good, acceptable and perfect in the sight of God. d. Wane Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English defines wane as becoming gradually less strong or less important, for example in power, influence, feelings. It is also defined as becoming smaller, weaker, and less important.

Webster New World Dictionary defines wane as to decrease, grow less, to grow gradually less in extent, to decline in power, importance, prosperity, influence, a period of decline. The fading or weakening of that which has reached a peak of force or excellence. A progressive lessening in degree or intensity of Thus, it is possible for someone to begin “in the Spirit” and then decrease or decline and eventually ‘burn out’ or become weaker spiritually. This can come as a result of compromise, complacency, procrastination, indifference, hypocrisy and duplicity. e. Time

The Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament defines; ? (kairos); time as a point of time as well as a period of time, it designates a fixed or special occasion; and from the Strong’s defines kairos as of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i. e. set or proper time: always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while. ? (chronos); as of uncertain derivative; a space of time, chronological age ? (aion), which denotes a particular period or interval; by extensive an individual opportunity; by implication delay: years old, season, space, (often-) time (-s), (a) while.

The Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament defines aion, properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world; specially (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future) age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-] ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Among other definitions time is defined as the period of time during which something happens or someone does something. An amount of time that is available for one to do something However, the “time” herein refers to a period of existence worked or to be worked by a minister as an employee or agent of God.

It is usually an allotted period or interval during which something is done. It is the chronos (space of time) and the kairos (point of time as well as period of time) not aion which has beginning but no end. f. Protestantism The religious revolution that took place in the Western church in the 16th century; its greatest leaders were Martin Luther and John Calvin. Having far-reaching political, economic, and social effects, the Reformation became the basis for the founding of Protestantism, one of the three major branches of Christianity.

Christianity is the major religion, stemming from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth (the Christ, or the Anointed One of God) in the 1st century AD. It has become the largest of the world’s religions. Geographically the most widely diffused of all faiths; it has a constituency of some 2 billion believers. Its three (3) largest groups are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox churches, and the Protestant churches. The world of the late medieval Catholic Church from which the 16th-century reformers emerged was a complex one.

Over the centuries, the church, particularly in the office of the papacy, had become deeply involved in the political life of Western Europe. The resulting intrigues and political manipulations, combined with the church’s increasing power and wealth, contributed to the bankrupting of the church as a spiritual force. Abuses such as the sale of indulgences (or spiritual privileges) and relics and the corruption of the clergy exploited the pious and further undermined the church’s spiritual authority.

One of the three major branches of Christianity, originating in the 16th-century Reformation, characterized by its doctrines of justification by grace through faith, the priesthood of all believers, and the authority of the Holy Scriptures is the Protestant Churches. The historical origin of the word Protestant is in the second imperial Diet of Speyer (1529), which reversed by a majority vote the decision of the first Diet of Speyer (1526) to allow each prince of the Holy Roman Empire to determine the religion of his territory.

The minority, consisting of 6 princes and 14 cities, issued a formal Protestation, the primary purpose of which was to protest that “in matters which concern God’s honour and salvation and the eternal life of our souls, everyone must stand and give account before God for himself. ” A secondary purpose was to protest against the ban on the expansion of evangelical religion. The supporters of the Reformation doctrines gradually came to be called Protestants both by their opponents and by themselves, since it was a convenient name to cover the many varieties of Reformed Christianity.

It spread from the continent of Europe to England, where, since 1689, the coronation service has contained an oath to defend the “Protestant Reformed Religion by law established. ” The non-Anglican Reformed churches in Great Britain have accepted the name as a true description of themselves since the 17th century, and this is also the case in the United States and the other English-speaking countries. No communion incorporated the word Protestant into its title, however, until this was done by the Protestant Episcopal Church of America.

The 19th-century Oxford Movement persuaded an increasingly large number of clergy and laity of the Church of England to repudiate the word Protestant as a description of their church The basic doctrines of Protestantism at the Reformation, in addition to those of the creeds, were the supremacy of Holy Scripture in matters of faith and order, the justification by grace alone through faith alone, and the priesthood of all believers. There has been variation in sacramental doctrine among Protestants, but the limitation of the number to the two “sacraments of the Gospel,” baptism and Holy Communion, has been almost universal.

In the 18th century the Enlightenment produced liberal Protestantism, which cast doubt on some doctrines in the creeds and stressed reason, religious experience, and the principle of private judgment in a way that would have been repugnant to the original Reformers. But this form of Protestantism was a spent force by the end of World War I. Through the efforts of such thinkers as Soren Kierkegaard and Karl Barth, Protestant theology and devotion have regained their objectivity with, at the same time, a deeper appreciation of the values of pre-Reformation Christianity.

Though the doctrine of the verbal inerrancy of Scripture is maintained by several Protestant groups, the supremacy of the biblical revelation usually has been reasserted without it. There are literally hundreds of Protestant denominations, all of which come directly or indirectly from the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. However, the Protestant herein mentioned refers to the Churches that came out of the Roman Catholic Church in protest of their doctrines and practices, but particularly the Methodist, Presbyterians, and the Anglicans (The Church of England).

V. Structure of the Essay Ministerial Integrity: Does it wane or glow with time? (A case study of the Protestant Ministers in the last two decades from 1986-2006) CHAPTER ONE. Integrity Expected Of Ministers CHAPTER TWO Ministerial Integrity How to acquire integrity The Need to Keep Our Integrity. Consequences of Our Lack of Integrity How Do We Develop Integrity In Our Own Lives? How do we lose our integrity? CHAPTER THREE Analysis of Interviews and Questionnaires and their Implications CHAPTER FOUR Possible Solutions CONCLUSION

APPENDICES BIBLIOGRAPHY CHAPTER ONE Integrity Expected of Ministers Far too many of the individuals who occupy positions of leadership in the Church, particularly the clergy appear to be mesmerised by, and practice the modern-day operational paradigm of conditional integrity, which Millard MacAdam describes as being honest when it’s convenient and as long as it doesn’t cost personally, perhaps because this paradigm makes it easier for them to lower their ethical standards for conduct and helps calm their weak consciences.

However, the Church that accepted to give us the opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, the community into which we shall find ourselves have standard that conform to the standard of Jesus Christ, the Caller himself. The Church The Methodist Church in her Constitution and Standing Orders has stipulated what the Church expects from her ministers, under Ministerial Character and Discipline-Standing Order (SO) 151. The Church’s expectations include the minister’s continued; a) Faithfulness to discharge the obligations of the ministry, which we have received from the Lord Jesus Christ to testify about the Gospel of the grace of God. ) Belief and preaching of the church’s doctrine. c) faithfulness in observing and enforcing discipline, and d) Competent abilities for the work of the church. And in Standing Order (SO) 155, under offences, the Constitution further stipulates what could be an offence for a minister as follows; 1) Immorality or imprudent and unchristian behaviour and conduct. 2) Habitual neglect of duties. 3) Disobedience to the Order and Discipline of the Methodist Church. 4) Disseminating Doctrine contrary to the established Doctrinal standards of the Methodist Church. 5) Unministerial conduct. ) Maladministration Under the disciplinary Council SO 154 article 6 clauses (a) Suspend the Minister from the exercise of ministerial duties for a period to be decided by the Council. (b) Recommend to conference through Synod and the General Purpose Council in their ministerial Session, expulsion of the Minister from the Ministry (c) Recommend to conference through Synod and the General Purpose Council, in their Ministerial Session, a change in status or expulsion of the Minister from the Church as a member. (d) Recommend to conference that he/she resumes duty with or without a change of station.

The Presbyterian Church in her Constitution has also stipulated in Article 21 that, her ministers shall a. be responsible for the studying, teaching and preaching the Word of God; b. Administer the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; c. Pray with and for the congregation; d. Encourage the people in the worship and service of God; e. Exercise pastoral care and pat special attention to the nurture of children, encouragement of the youth, well-being of the aged, the poor, the sick, the troubled and the dying f.

Take active interest in the organization and ensure their proper supervision; g. Call all persons to faith in Christ Jesus and ensure the planting of new congregations; h. Be responsible for sharing in the Ministry of the church in the government bodies above the session and in ecumenical relationships; and i. Perform any other functions pertaining to the charge given or seconded to by the Church (i. e. , as Chaplain, Teacher or Lecturer)

Under Church discipline the Presbyterian Church in her Constitution, Article 26 clause 5 shall discipline any act or omission by a member, group or an Agent of the church which is contrary to the scriptures, this constitution, customs and traditions of the Church. And in Article 27 clause 6 (c) and under the Censures of the Church, a minister who is suspended from office shall be debarred from discharging any of the functions of a Minister as provided by article 21 of their constitution and shall not wear the clerical collar or gown during this period.

From the Constitutions of at least these two (2) denominations, the Methodist and the Presbyterian Churches of Ghana, it could be said that the Church expects her ministers to be up to a standard that conforms to the expectation of Our Lord and master Jesus Christ. The Congregation & the Outside Community The question of integrity is most often related to the character of persons in relation to God and to their communities. The community expects the ministers to * Have good relationship with all the members of the community including your congregation, other denominations, other faiths, opposite sex, etc. Be spiritually and morally sound (devotional life, messages, etc. ) * Have a very good marriage and family life * Be economically disciplined and financially honest. The Integrity of Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ Integrity is ultimately about the quality of our relationship to God and to each other. The concern for personal integration and completeness is as much a concern in our day as it was for the authors of the various books of the Bible. Throughout the Old and the New Testaments, the question of integrity is most often related to the characters of persons in relation to God and their community.

Perhaps this concept is most poignantly presented in the story of Job. Despite the challenges and unimaginable trials he faced which included the murder of his family (Job 1:13-15, 18-20), the killing of his herds and servants, and thereby loss of all means of support for himself and his family (Job 1:16-17), and being afflicted with painful sores from top of his head to the soles of his feet (Job 2:17), he is able to remain an “honest and innocent man; he honoured God and stayed away from evil” (Job1:1).

Although Job’s wife did not doubt his innocence or integrity, his wife was unable to appreciate Job’s commitment to innocence (Job 2:9), Job “did not sin in what he said,” thereby retaining his faith and integrity (Job 2:10). Integrity is made up of several ingredients, the first of which is honesty. One cannot have any integrity before God or with other persons if there is lack of honesty. Proverbs 11:3 (NLT) Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty. Truthfulness is the core of integrity.

In the New Testament there is a fundamental distaste about appearing as honest when, in fact, one is not truthful. In confronting the Pharisees, Jesus talks about how when people see them they think they look good, “but on the outside you are full of hypocrisy and evil” Matthew 23:28 (NLT) You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness. Even some of the Jewish leaders who were against Jesus’ ministry nevertheless acknowledged His integrity. Mark 12:13-14 (NLT) The leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to try to trap Jesus into saying something or which he could be arrested. “Teacher”, these men said, “We know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You sincerely teach the ways of God. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not”? Jesus condemned the Pharisees and religious leaders for outwardly appearing saintly and holy but inwardly remaining full of corruption and greed. Living our Christianity merely as a show for others is like washing a cup on the outside only. When we are clean on the inside, our cleanliness on the outside won’t be a sham. Just as Jesus condemned the false and ambiguous piety of the Pharisees, so He does to us.

Jesus rather requires from each of us a whole and integrated commitment to God. Therefore to Christ, honesty as an ingredient of integrity means that the relationship we say we have with God is sincere and straightforward, suggesting the absence of dishonesty and duplicity. Another ingredient of integrity, which is wholeness, also implies a certain commitment to innocence. We have a commitment as integrated people to be “careful to live an innocent life” and not to look at anything wicked and, therefore, not relevant to a pure and holy relationship with God.

To live this whole and undivided life committed to serving Jesus Christ, we must stay away from evil and pursue the things of God with all our hearts. Matthew 6:24 (NLT) “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. ” Jesus seeks to emphasise that money is gradually but evidently taking the minds of many people. This truth can be appreciated individually if we can answer the question “Can you honestly say that God, and not money, is your master? We live in a materialistic society where many people serve money. We spend all their lives collecting and storing it, only to die and leave it behind. Our desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs our commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about them (Matt. 6:21). Don’t fall into the materialistic trap, because “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). One test is to ask which one occupies more of your thoughts, time, and efforts.

Jesus then calls for our total dedication and commitment. Money is good but if that money will hinder your faithful service to God it is simply bad. How can we tell if you are slaves to Money? We who; * Think and worry about money frequently * Give up doing what we should do or would like to do in order to make more money. * Spend a great deal of our time caring for our possessions. * Find it difficult to give money away to the Church, family or neighbours. * Refuse to pay assessment which could otherwise have been paid. * Turn false expense and accounting reports And participate in other ways of dishonesty All for money-People and ministers alike seek to acquire money unscrupulously. We should not be fascinated with our possessions, lest they possess us. This means we may have to do some cutting back if our possessions are becoming too important to us. Jesus is calling for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen what is eternal and lasting. Matthew 6:33 (NLT) and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

Throughout the Bible there is a concern over corrupted character. The quality of being honest, whole and undivided as a mark of Christianity or the minister of the gospel is undergirded by obedience to all that God has commanded, keeping all His rules and laws. People of integrity can be trusted to be faithful, to their word, to God and to their community. It means keeping our promises to God and to others. It means doing what we do and meaning it, representing ourselves as godly and actually being holy. “Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no” (Matthew 5:37).

Integrity is ultimately about the quality of our relationship to God and to each other. When we are able to live for God in this way, and not being fascinated by the world and its pleasures then God promises to supply all our needs. CHAPTER TWO How to acquire integrity Integrity is not something we inherit from our parents or receive by birth. It is very true that before one can see the need to intentionally acquire integrity, one would have to appreciate oneself as a Christian and to further confront oneself with the traits as expected of a Christian.

If one happens to see any opposing traits in one’s character and conduct then its time for one to religiously make the intentional effort to acquire the integrity expected. The Bible mentions many specific actions and attitudes that are wrong. The list includes: a. Arrogance (2 Cor. 12:20; Gal. 5:20) b. Envy (Gal. 5:21) c. Murder (Rev. 22:12-16) d. Idolatry (Gal. 5:20; Ephes. 5:5) e. Witchcraft (Gal. 5:20) f. Drunkenness (Gal. 5:21) g. Wild living (Luke 15:13; Gal. 5:21) h. Cheating (1 Cor. 6:8) i. Adultery (1 Cor. 6:9-10) j. Homosexuality (1 Cor. :9-10) k. Greed (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Ephes. 5:5) l. Stealing (1 Cor. 6:9-10) m. Lying (Rev. 22:12-16) n. Sexual immorality (Gal. 5:19) o. Lust (Col 3:5) p. Impurity (Gal. 5:19) q. Hatred (Gal. 5:20) r. Discord (Gal. 5:20) s. Jealousy (Gal. 5:20) t. Anger (Gal. 5:20) u. Selfish ambition (Gal. 5:20) v. Dissension (Gal. 5:20) It’s most unfortunate; this number of characteristics from the wrong traits influences some of the ministers of the gospel as well. It then becomes imperative and prudent for us to compare our lives with what Apostle Paul escribes in Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) “But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. Here there is no conflict with the law. ” This nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control—we cannot obtain them by trying to get them without his help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to his (John 15: 4-5).

We must know him, love him, remember him, and imitate him. Only then can we fulfill the intended purpose of the law, to love God with all our hearts, our souls, our minds, strengths and also love our neighbours. If the Holy Spirit is working in us we see love instead of hatred, patience instead of anger, humility instead of arrogance, generosity for greediness, decisiveness for complacency, peace for violence, honesty for fraudulence, kindness for cruelty, understanding for impatience, justice for unfairness and so forth and so on. To answer the “how”, Psalm 24:4 states that He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully”. KJV “Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idol and never tell lies. ” NLT And continues in verses 5-6 that; “They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have right standing with God their savior. [6] They alone may enter God’s presence and worship the God of Israel. Thus, the Lord is looking for; 1. Those whose hands are pure or clean The phrase “pure or clean hands” as used here does not speak of dirt on a person’s hand but of the purity of deeds. It also speaks of what the person doesn’t do.

It is said of people who are innocent of something they had earlier been accused of, as having clean hands when the person is later found to be innocent or exonerated. Thus we see this clean hand both in the Bible and the secular as a person who does not indulge in the sins of the flesh. Somebody who will not commit sin willfully, or habitually, or just because all others are doing that, or as he/she was before (2 Cor. 5:17) 2. Those whose hearts are pure … “A pure heart” The phrase “A pure heart” as David used it in this psalm speaks of what a person thinks which is also directed at one’s inward thoughts.

Our thoughts can be impure, which normally comes from our fallen nature or from demon, they are in either case not pleasing to God. As soon as we become aware of them we must reject them and put them out of our mind. By exercising this mental discipline hundreds and thousands of times, we develop the godly integrity of a pure heart. It must be noted that God is so much concerned with our thought life, because He knows that thoughts precede action. So, to act with integrity, one must think with integrity. Proverbs 27:19 (NLT) says it all that “As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person”. . Those who do not worship idols or do not lift up their souls unto vanity Few leaders in today Christian world have physical images or idols before which they bow down and worship. So when we see statements in scripture about idol worship we are likely to picture Buddhists, Hindus or people of some other idol based religion. But in reality there are many that pose as Christians yet idolises their work, spouses, children, cars, money, wealth etc. Admittedly the way to become Christian may be made too easy. But it involves much more than just deciding to join a church.

There must be an encounter with Christ when a commitment is made to Him as Saviour and Lord. Many people, including some ministers, are spending their energies for second-rate values, seeking for things which can never satisfy their needs or deepest desires, and finding life little more than vanity. In addition to wealth ministers today will go all lengths for positions, strive for so-called good stations, forgetting the responsibilities attached to these capacities but the privileges only. A world of pleasure centered on possessions, position, or power is ultimately worthless.

God never meant life to be like this. I am sure if we continue like this we will marvel or wonder on the judgment day, why we got so excited about possessions and pleasure, power and position, money and wealth, instead of the Lord Jesus the Christ the only Saviour of the world and his glory. 4. Those who never tell lies or sworn deceitfully. Swearing by what is false means telling lies under oath. How greatly God values honesty! Dishonesty comes easily, especially when complete truthfulness could cost us something, make us uncomfortable, or put us in an unfavorable light.

Dishonest communication hinders relationships. Without honesty, a relationship with God is impossible. If we lie to others, we will begin to deceive ourselves. God cannot hear us or speak to us if we are building a wall of self-deception. It had almost been established that religious people including ministers lie, cheat and pilfer as much as the non-religious. Thus ministers must make intentional efforts to live with clean hands, pure hearts, and to live purposefully and honestly. The need to keep our integrity One cannot fathom the many and diverse blessings that one enjoys as a minister of integrity. . Men or ministers of integrity receive the Lord’s blessing and have right standing with God their saviour. Psalm 24:3-5 . . . Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have right standing with God their savior. Proverbs 28:20 . . . The trustworthy will get a rich reward. But the person who wants to get rich quick will only get into trouble. Isaiah 56:1-2 . . . “Be just and fair to all,” says the Lord. Do what is right and good, for I am coming soon to rescue you. Blessed are those who are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest by refusing to work. And blessed are those who keep themselves from doing wrong. ” Isaiah 32:8 . . . Good people will be generous to others and will be blessed for all they do. b. Not only does God bless us when we live our lives with integrity, but future generations also benefit from our integrity. Prov. 20:7 . . . The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children after them. c.

Integrity pleases God, for it is godly. 1 Chronicles 29:17 . . . I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously. Proverbs 12:22 . . . The Lord hates those who don’t keep their word, but he delights in those who do. Proverbs 21:3 . . . The Lord is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give him sacrifices. d. Our integrity and our relationship with God are interdependent.

We cannot have either without the other. Psalm 15:1-5 . . . Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to slander others or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. Those who despise persistent sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord and keep their promises even when it hurts. Those who do not charge interest on the money they lend, and who refuse to accept bribes to testify against the innocent.

Such people will stand firm forever. . e. Integrity provides stability, and each step away from a life of integrity is a step closer to a “slippery slope” that leads us into a sinful lifestyle. Proverbs 12:3 . . . Wickedness never brings stability; only the godly have deep roots. Proverbs 10:9 . . . People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall . f. Integrity provides protection and guidance. Sin and the lack of integrity expose us to all kinds of harm, especially the disintegration of our own character. Psalm 25:21 . . May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. Proverbs 11:3 . . . Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty. Proverbs 13:6 . . . Godliness helps people all through life, while the evil are destroyed by their wickedness. Isaiah 26:7 . . . For those who are righteous, the path is not steep and rough. You are a God of justice, and you smooth out the road ahead of them Consequences of our lack of integrity a. Socially Proverbs tell us plainly that God despises all forms of dishonesty.

Not only does God hate dishonesty, but we are told that it works against us, because “People normally value leaders who speak the truth” Prov. 16:13, others will no longer trust us when they found out that we are flattering them; for the reason that “Most people will appreciate truth in the end more than flattery”. Prov. 28:23 In the short-term one may dishonestly gain some treasure, but the Bible and experience has shown that “Ill-gotten treasure is of no value. ” Prov. 10:2 “Riches gained dishonestly don’t last. ” Prov. 21:6 and “Fraudulent gain is sweet for a while” Prov. 20:17.

It is possible then that we may or cannot even enjoy our dishonest gains once the truth is found. Some were imprisoned, others stigmatised, and still others dispossessed of the gains. Thus, it is wiser to be honest because “a righteous man escapes trouble” (Prov. 12:13). In the long-term the “Truthful lips shall endure. ” Prov. 12:19 and “the blameless shall be kept safe”. Prov. 28:18, here and hereafter. b. Against the church William Evans has said that “Preaching is truth through personality”. The message of truth must go with the messenger’s life. The Church of Christ has the truth and the Church’s agent must be truthful.

Thus, lacks of integrity on the part of the ministers adversely affects the Church. When this happens Warren Wiersbe says “that both the Ministry and the message had lost its credibility before a watching world, and the world seems to be enjoying the spectacle. ” Is this not the reason why issues concerning ministers are bloated, and always found in conspicuous and eye-catching places in the dailies? The lack of integrity on the part of the minister indeed has a very negative influence on the universal Church of Christ, and particularly on the home-church of the dishonest minister. c.

Eternally It is known by all humans good or bad that “God delights in honesty. ” Prov. 11:1 “He delights in those who are truthful”. Prov. 12:22 “God is pleased when we do what is right and just”. Prov. 21 and that “God detests unjust measures”. Prov. 20:10 “For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power”. 1 Cor. 4:20 (NLT) Most ministers talk a lot about faith, but that’s all they do. We may know all the right words to say, but our lives don’t reflect God’s power. Paul says that the kingdom of God which is our eternal home is to be lived, not just discussed.

There is a big difference between knowing the right words and living them out. Don’t be content to have the right answers about Christ. Let your life show that God’s power is really working in you. “Don’t you know that those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers—none of these

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