Morality and Integrity Won’t Change the Culture. Character Will.

I always thought morality, integrity, and character were all the same thing. Turns out they’re not. I just read an exceptional book called The Noticer Returns by Andy Andrews that has taught me the difference. It’s an important distinction. Our culture is suffering because the church doesn’t know the difference.

Morality vs Character

I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me when I read this:

“While morality is not doing what is wrong, character is actively doing what is right. … Without the spine to do what is right, it is possible to be a moral person with weak character.” – Andy Andrews in The Noticer Returns

I felt like I heard God saying, “Your culture is suffering because the church is moral but with weak character.” While not being deceived by the Spirit of the Age ourselves, in many ways we’ve compromised with it through our silence.

For example, do we allow media (TV, music, movies, etc.) in our homes that glorifies unrighteousness or sexual immorality? Even though we don’t participate in that behavior ourselves, do we let our children watch it and listen to it?

The latest Star Trek reboot movie had a scene at the beginning where Sulu left his daughter with his homosexual partner before departing on the Enterprise’s next mission. It was only 30 seconds. It didn’t matter to the rest of the story. Most Christians tolerated it. But we shouldn’t have. We should have walked out of the theatre.

It’s my fault that scene was there, me and Christians like me. You see, I grew up watching James Bond, Top Gun, and similar movies. They were great movies although they had a lot of illicit sex. But I tolerated it because those scenes were only a couple minutes long and weren’t key to the story. I had the morality to not participate in that wrong, but did not have the character to take a stand against it.

Morality in a culture does not stand still. It is moving one way or the other. Because we as Christians tolerated those movies we grew up with, we now have to tolerate homosexual scenes in something as innocent as Star Trek. Disney is also starting to include them.

Morality in a culture does not stand still. It is moving one way or the other.  If we tolerate homosexual and transsexual scenes, however insignificant they seem, within 10 to 20 years we will be tolerating scenes glorifying pedophilia. Possibly sooner. The seeds are already being sown in our culture today with the phrase, “Love is love.” Although today it is meant to justify same-sex marriage, it also justifies pedophilia.

Need more proof? Pedophiles are starting to rebrand themselves as “minor-attracted persons.” Yes, I realize that term is correctly used by child abuse prevention organizations to enable people to get help, but the media is already starting to misuse it.

Although the church has the morality to not participate in homosexuality (mostly), do we have the character to take a stand against it, loving the people while taking a stand against self-destructive, immoral behavior?

Being moral, not doing the bad thing, is good. But it’s not enough. We need to risk the disapproval of the culture and have the character to actively stand up against what’s wrong and stand up for what’s right.

Integrity vs Character

“A person of integrity, trustworthy and reliable, is prepared and capable of performing the task for which he was created, but it takes character to speak up, step out, and perform that task.” – Andy Andrews in The Noticer Returns

A church in my city displayed their character beautifully. There was a young, non-Christian woman who came home from college pregnant. Her parents helped her with the pregnancy, but required her to go to church with them. She would sit in the back corner, obviously pregnant, and bolt out the door after the service was over.

The pastor noticed this behavior and asked some of the women in the church to make sure they talked to her. They did more than talk to her; they loved on her. She was amazed that they liked her and showed friendship toward her. They didn’t condemn her or try to fix her. She was blown away by the massive baby shower they threw for her. Through their love and generosity, she met Jesus. She now sings in that church’s worship band.

Integrity is worthless without the character to act on it. The women of that church had the character to act on their integrity. Will we?

I’ve often heard it said that “Integrity is what you do when no one’s looking.” I would submit that character is what you do when the culture’s looking and disapproves.

As the church, as God’s representation on the earth, we have the answers. Will we act on them and stand up, by word and deed, for what’s right? Will we show love to the ones the world throws away? Will we testify to the world with tears of love that its immorality is destructive?

But What Can I, Personally, Little Old Me, Actually Do?

Will you commit to this action pledge with me?

In the situations and conversations I find myself in, at work, at home, around town:

• I will speak up for what’s right. I will not tolerate racial jokes or injustice against any group.
• I will speak up against what’s wrong. I will turn off media that portrays unrighteous or immoral behavior as good.
• I will show love to everyone. Even if they hate me, I will choose to see them a person for whom Jesus died and loves.
• I will ask the Holy Spirit how to speak life into every difficult conversation I find myself in. I will not be silent and let good be spoken of as evil, or evil as good.

If we will personally commit to these 4 things, we will change our little corner of the world. And all those little corners will change the world at large.

Your Turn

What do you think? If you disagree, please leave a (respectful!) comment, and let’s have a conversation. If this post resonates, tell us your story in the comments; it will bless others. And please share this post on social media if you think it will bless others.