Integrity

 Hi everyone!

Let's do a messy subject everyone loves to discuss, and no one likes to try to live out. So here we are. Let's kick off this new round with Integrity.

In recent history, I have hated this word because, in ministry and leadership, it forces you to do what is right even when what is right is very hard and uncomfortable. The other challenge is the more you understand integrity, the more things become morally wrong and ungodly in everyday practices of function in every aspect of society. Keep in mind I am not the "Integrity Police." However, I understand this subject enough to have a few hard seasons because of it. I started to understand integrity the most when planning a 15-hour teaching called Leadership is Stewardship. A teaching that looks at how scripture depicts leadership, ownership of responsibility, and with what character it should be modeled.  This required me to look at how scripture shows Integrity and the emphasis given to it. After quite a bit of research, I came to Psalm 15. It included literally everything everywhere else had and added some more.

Now Integrity involves giving credit where due and also showing issues when needed. I will first point out that The Passion Translation (TPT) is NOT a Bible translation. A translation translates the text in various accurate ways, always careful to avoid presenting a theological stance in the text but inserting all such material to be notes. This is where study Bibles and Commentaries live. TPT didn't follow Biblical or industry translation standards in most cases but added a personal theology to the text and presented it as the word of God. This is what occults do, such as Mormonism, Islam, Jehovah's Witness, etc. So on its best day, it’s a poorly done commentary. This is why when asked, I tell people it should not be your sole or primary source of God's word because it's really not God's word anymore in many respects. That doesn’t mean it can't be used for another perspective, just like a commentary should be used. 

Psam15, from a literal translation, uses the wording Oaths or Swears. This creates a miscommunication of what is meant in the text as the culture around oaths or swear between the original audience and the Western world is different. If you research the original language and how they use the concept, it would be better articulated as a commitment, i.e.," I will be at your graduation tomorrow." TPT is the only one that has nailed this psalm to my knowledge with such accuracy, though it omitted the crucial line of “not giving money out at interest.” Which is why I went through such detail in prefacing the statement. I was shocked to discover it and would be a liar if I didn't admit it.

TPT

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

Psa 15:1  A poetic song, by King David. Lord, who dares to dwell with you? Who presumes the privilege of being close to you, living next to you in your shining place of glory? Who are those who daily dwell in the life of the Holy Spirit? 

Psa 15:2  They are passionate and wholehearted, always sincere and always speaking the truth—for their hearts are trustworthy. 

Psa 15:3  They refuse to slander or insult others; they’ll never listen to gossip or rumors, nor would they ever harm another with their words. 

Psa 15:4  They will speak out passionately against evil and evil workers while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth. They make firm commitments and follow through, even at great cost. 

Psa 15:5  They never crush others with exploitation or abuse and they would never be bought with a bribe against the innocent. They will never be shaken; they will stand firm forever.

 

ESV

 

 Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

Psa 15:1  A Psalm of David. O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? 

Psa 15:2  He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; 

Psa 15:3  who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; 

Psa 15:4  in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 

Psa 15:5  who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. 

So now that we have read Psalm 15 in both literal translation and commentary, let's ask the Holy Spirit to help us to live it out. I hope it creates the edification in you that it has in me.


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