Tag Archives: Cheating

He Kept His Integrity

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Tom_Brady_2011     There is much ado in the news lately regarding the issue of integrity.  For fans of the NFL this is especially true as the defending Super Bowl champions were just punished for a lack of integrity regarding the rules for proper inflation of the game balls used in one of their playoff games last season.  At stake is the integrity of the game.  At stake is whether it is desirable to endure future punishment for a reward now.  However, what is really at stake is something that is so much more important than just that.

     We have been told that cheaters never win.  That lies will eventually unravel and the truth will be known.  Today, some seem to think that our integrity and reputations are not that important.  If an advantage can be gained so we can win today, then we will deal with the consequences later with the prize in our hands.  That philosophy, unfortunately for them, is severely short sighted.

     There is value in having a good name.  Solomon wrote in Proverbs, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV).  Silver and gold will perish.  Prizes and trophies will all gather dust or turn to rust.  There will be a time, however, when the quality of our name and the integrity of our lives will come into play.  There will be a time when we will be judged by something much more important than public opinion.  There will be a Day of Reckoning when all that we have done, whether good or bad will be brought into judgment by the God of the universe (2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

     Just consider Job for a moment.  Job was a man who had great riches (Job 1:1-3).  He was a man who lost all that he had, including his children and his own health.  Even his own wife tormented him. “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’” (Job 2:9).  Job kept his integrity.  He did not stop doing what was right for some temporary relief.  He held fast to what was right.  Job said he would hold on to his integrity even to the point of death (Job 27:5).  That is who Job was.

     Who are we?  Will we hold fast to our integrity and do what is right even if it means we do not receive some temporary prize?  Or will we trade away our future, trade away our good name, for something that will one day perish in the dust?  Rest assured, what we do will find us out, either one way or the other. “He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9). “The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them” (Proverbs 11:3).  “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (Proverbs 28:6).  Let us never trade our integrity for that which we think makes us rich.  Let us hold fast to the prize that is to come, which no one can take away from us!

Following the Pack

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end_a_armstrong_d1_600x400     In a recent interview, Lance Armstrong has reiterated that he would cheat again if he had a chance to do it all over.  Lance Armstrong was revered as one of the greatest cyclists ever.  He won seven consecutive Tour de France titles from 1999 to 2005.  However, all the while Lance was winning those titles; he was also guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

     Once it became known that Armstrong had been doping, his titles were stripped from him.  After years of denials that he was taking PEDs, he finally came clean in 2013 and admitted to the doping during his illustrious career.  He states in his recent interview that he would do it again to be competitive, because everyone was doing it.  His only regret is that he was put in a place where he had to make the decision to take PEDs, not that he actually gave in and doped to improve his performance.

     So, Lance would make the decision to run with the pack again.  Do you ever remember your mother asking you if you were going to jump off of the bridge just because everyone else was doing it?  Is that a legitimate excuse?  Lance Armstrong’s philosophy reeks of situational ethics.

     What do the words of Scripture have to say about situational ethics?  Is there ever a right time to do a wrong thing?  Paul writes, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:7-9 NKJV).  Armstrong has allowed bad company to influence him to also do that which is wrong (1 Corinthians 15:33).  He has given in to running with the pack, rather than standing for what is right and good (competing according to the rules).  In his constant lying about his drug use, he has not let his yes be yes and his no, no (Matthew 5:37; James 5:12).

     Furthermore, James says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).  Lance knew what he was doing was wrong.  He circumvented the rules to gain an advantage.  Many might say they understand.  Who wants to work in a bicycle shop in Plano, Texas when they can be on top of the world?  The problem is that if we do that which is wrong, and say that we would do the same thing again, we show no repentance for our sins.  It does not matter if everyone else is doing it.  Jesus said there was a broad and easy road, that many were traveling, and that this road leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14).

     God wants us to follow Him, not the pack.  He wants for all men to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  There is never a right time to do a wrong thing.  Ethics are not situational.  Truth is absolute.  Cheating and lying are always wrong.  Will we be like Lance, and do whatever it takes to achieve fame and fortune in this life, only to lose our own souls (Matthew 16:26)?  Or will we be like Jesus and keep our focus on doing right so we can join Him for eternity, even if we have to struggle in a bicycle shop in the meantime?  Who will you follow?