Integrity

This probably won’t come as much of a shock to you, but I’m not hugely famous. I’m not, for example, Jeff Deyo or Bryan Duncan, and on the fame scale, they aren’t Donald Trump.

Oh, but around these parts (Central Pennsylvania) I’m a local celeb (ok, maybe just Lancaster County.) That’s what becoming a published author does for you – heaps on tons of local media coverage. At my first book signing last month, at least one dude asked me, “Weren’t you on the radio?” I very proudly replied, “Why, yes, I was!” (No, he didn’t buy my book…)

But with writing a book and getting media coverage comes speaking gigs and other public appearances. And suddenly, everything changes. Suddenly, you’re not as famous as Jared the Subway guy, but you’re more famous than the cable guy. A little notoriety is better than none, I suppose.

This also goes along with the territory when you’re a freelance writer. Eventually, people start recognizing your name. I was nearly dumbstruck the first time I realized that this was a new, huge responsibility. It was a harsh reality for a hothead like me to learn.

My dear friend and mentor, Shaunti Feldhahn, is a best-selling author and popular speaker. She lives a life of integrity, both onstage and offstage, running on the notion that who you are in private is the truest measure of your integrity. And long before my book was ever published, back in the days when I was so desperate for writing credits I worked 100% free of charge, Shaunti was already driving the point home with me. When people know your name, and associate you with Christianity, you have a responsibility and a duty to lead by example.

So while it was exciting to think that God wanted to use me in such a big way, it was also pretty scary. The next time I gesture to someone in a traffic jam – and by gesturing, I don’t mean a friendly wave – I might be gesturing to someone who just heard me give a talk at his or her church. Or the next time I’m huffy and arrogant with a flight attendant, I run the risk that maybe she recognizes me from television. And in doing so, I make a fool of Jesus and spit in the name of the gospel I claim to represent.

But you don’t have to be famous to run these same risks. You might be recognized from church, or as the guy or gal who was handing out bottled water at the park during the last Servant Evangelism Saturday. And I’m of the opinion that you shouldn’t have a fish or a Christian bumper sticker on your car if you’re short-tempered in traffic. Around here, WJTL is the big (and only) contemporary Christian radio station. I force myself to remember that I have the call letters plastered on my back window whenever I’m tempted to blow a fuse when somebody cuts me off. So, no, you don’t have to be onstage, on TV, or on the radio to be a role model. Who you are in “real life” reflects your integrity as a whole.

Am I saying we should fake our way through life? Only flip people the bird if your bumper is sticker-free? Only be obnoxious if you’re pretty sure no one in the crowd is familiar with you? Of course not. Being holy is a great challenge for me. I’ll be blunt – life would be a lot easier if I never had to think about it again. Sin is easy and holiness can be an uphill climb, I have repeat sins that knock at my door every day, and I’m pretty sure you guys do, too. How do we ignore the knock at the door and reach, instead, for the tiny window with the light bursting through it?

It starts with fierce determination. Only God can change our hearts and make our reflection more like Christ’s. But we can determine that we are going to keep our eyes peeled for the Devil’s dirty tricks, and keep our hearts and minds open to God’s teaching. We can determine that we are going to stand on God’s promises – that He is constantly in the process of making us holy (Heb. 10:14), and that if we resist the Devil, he will flee from us (Ja. 4:7). And how do we follow through with all of that? We make sure that what we put into our hearts and minds is godly.

We hold tight, get determined, honor God with what we consume, and in turn God honors our commitment by making us holy and new. It’s a win-win situation. So when we’re in traffic, stuck in a ticket line at the airport, or promoting a book on national television, we will be a true reflection of our Creator.

What a wonderful example with which to lead.

 
Julie Anne Fidler is the author of Adventures In Holy Matrimony: For Better Or The Absolute Worst (Relevant Books), is a staff writer at Infuze Magazine, and writes for a number of other publications on the side. She can be harassed at Julie@infuzemag.com.