THIS REALLY MATTERS TO GOD
Proverbs 11:20 NLT
The Lord hates people with twisted hearts, but he delights in those who have integrity.
What a powerful statement from God’s Book of Proverbs! God delights in those who have integrity, but hates people who conduct themselves with no integrity. Integrity really matters to God. It matters to God that we’re people of integrity, who will live consistent, upright lives, who are ethical and do what’s right even though it costs us dearly. While none of us is perfect, and never will be, we can still be a person of integrity.
As a Pastor, and the founder of Strong Disciple ministry, I recognize that nothing is more important than people’s trust. Trust must be earned. Being a man of integrity is the primary reason people will trust me or you.
Eight years ago, I was subjected to the most brutal, excruciating ordeal and injustice of my life. Things were said about me and done to me that were so evil, so corrupt, it cost me everything. These things were actually done by other Christians and Christian leaders. I lost my job, the churches I’d started and served for 32 years, and most of my friends. It was, and still is, deeply painful to me.
But here’s the thing I want you to know—I did not compromise or give up my integrity no matter what others unjustly did to me. It matters to me that you know and understand this.
Here’s the evidence of that indisputable fact—these three bear witness to integrity.
I had four different attorneys—three who were Christians and one who was not, all strongly advise me to file a lawsuit against those individuals who did this to me, and to file a lawsuit against the organization that did this to me, as they violated my constitutional rights and enacted a process that was completely unethical and unbiblical. They criminally defamed and slandered my good name, intentionally assassinating my character with despicable lies and false accusations.
I did NOT file a lawsuit! Why? Because of integrity. Because I wanted to honor God no matter what others did. God tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 that lawsuits among Christians are a travesty, a disgrace, that it dishonors God. My integrity mattered more than winning a lawsuit or gaining financial compensation for the tremendous suffering and injustice we endured.
I was offered a $96,000 severance from the organization that did this to me. I simply needed to sign a legal agreement that I would stay silent about all that happened, and acquiesce to the lies that were told.
I did NOT take the money. I literally left $96,000 on the table and walked away. Why? Because integrity matters! I could not in good conscience take money from a group of people that would do such an unrighteous thing to me and my entire family, or sign such a document. That’s integrity.
After 42 years of serving thousands of people in churches I started and the association of churches around the country I served, I have, literally, thousands of email addresses. I could have blind copied all of them from the very beginning of the ordeal, laying out charge after charge, raging against the liars, perpetrators, and collaborators. I could’ve started my own Facebook page with hundreds of Facebook posts, or started my own Twitter account with hundreds of posts screaming at the top of my lungs in outrage and righteous indignation.
I did NOT! Why? Because integrity matters to me. God hates those who cause division among brothers. I was not going to dishonor God and go to war with my brothers in Christ. That’s integrity. To be very clear, I am not inferring it is wrong to defend yourself or stand up for the truth.
I share all of this because it was the result of that integrity, that decision to walk away 8 years ago, that this ministry, Strong Disciple came into being.
I want you, my readers, supporters, and friends, some of whom I will never get the chance to meet, to be fully assured that integrity is extremely important to me.
“What would it profit a man to gain the whole world, but lose the value of his soul?” –Jesus
May we each strive for a life of integrity. Integrity really matters to God.
Helping you become a Strong Disciple,
Because of Jesus,
Pastor Mark Darling
