James series – “The Litmus Test for life”

James 5:12

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

As we continue in our series “The Litmus Test for Life” we come to the 11th test, “The Integrity Test.” Like the other tests we’ve looked at this one is a pass / fail test. Unlike our culture when it comes to integrity Christ does not grade on a curve, it’s not multiple choice. Today we have a culture that is trying to grade character on a curve but as believers we are called to look and live like Christ. Like the other tests that we have taken it reveals whether our faith is real or not. But unlike the previous tests, this one is only one verse, it is short, sweet and to the point. God calls us to be people of integrity so that our talk matches our walk. Because when our words match our walk we are a Godly witness to a watching world. But when they don’t our life reflects a lie. My prayer as we take the integrity test is that our words and our walk will be a Godly witness that will point people to Jesus. The dictionary defines integrity – “as the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.” So let me ask you a question, Have you ever lied? If there was ever a sin for which the phrase, “everybody does it” was true, it would have to be the sin of lying. The thing that makes it so shocking is not that lying happens. Lying has always happened. It’s how it has become so increasingly accepted as normal, to the point where it’s not just prominent but praiseworthy. But just because our culture calls it acceptable doesn’t mean that Christ does. Preacher and author John MacArthur, said this about the prevalence and popularity of lying in our society today. He said, “Our society is built on a framework of lies, leading one to wonder whether our social structure would survive if everyone were forced to speak the truth for even one day.”20 years ago Jim Carry stared in a movie that considered this very idea. In the movie “Liar, Liar”, Jim Carry plays a lawyer who is particularly good at stretching the truth. After promising, and then breaking his promise, to show up at his five-year-old son’s birthday party, the son wishes that his dad would be able to only say the truth for one day. The promise comes true and Jim’s character wakes up not being able to tell even the smallest of lies. Needless to say, this turns his world upside down, both personally and professionally. When Jim’s character founds out that it was his son’s wish that was behind his inability to lie he says, “No one can survive in the adult world if they have to stick to the truth.” Do you think that’s true? For many people lying is a way of life, instead of seeing it as sin its seen as a skill. But while it may be the prevailing thought of our current culture it’s not what Christ taught.