Integrity matters.

We expect it, want it and need it, naively perhaps, of people in all places and in all walks of life. We trust people whose words, character and actions are consistent. But why is integrity so rare?

Why does our walk not match our talk? One of the most pertinent and positive examples of integrity in Scripture is that of the apostle Paul. In 2 Corinthians his passions and frustrations are clear as he offers us an extraordinary insight into the joys and pressures of Christian leadership. His model is no less counter-cultural today than it was in the first century: leading with God watching. 2 Corinthians 4 offers a valuable guide to what these priorities should be. There are really helpful lessons for all Christians here.

Jonathan Lamb writes challengely examining key passages and interweaving them with examples from everyday life. Whether in responding to criticism, exercising authority, coping with failure, handling money or struggling with personal weakness, this book is a call to live consistently in the light of gospel priorities. Only then will our lives speak authentically to a skeptical world.

Lamb cites a survey about the qualities that are expected from the perfect pastor….. (prepare-yourself-for-much-unreality!!)

‘The perfect pastor preaches for exactly twelve minutes. He is twenty-eight years of age, but he has been preaching for thirty years. He works from 8am until midnight every day, but is also the caretaker. He frequently condemns sin, but never upsets anyone. He wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, gives generously to the poor and has a low salary. He makes fifteen daily calls to parish families, visits the housebound and the hospitalized, spends all his time evangelizing the unchurched, and is always in his office when needed. He is very handsome.” (!!) p56

It’s comforting to know that I fail at some of these more easily than others!! Anyhow dig around in this book and live out this, for the sake of the resulting INTEGRITY that this world needs in us all……

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