Whatever Happened to Integrity?

CBN.com - Have you ever pondered the fact that every individual makes thousands of decisions throughout the course of a day. Some seem downright trivial. What color socks should I wear? Should I have a banana or an apple for breakfast? Paper or plastic at the grocery store? Other decisions we make have a more profound effect on our day, our week, even our lives. But how many of these decisions are the right ones? Furthermore, how many are wrong? Which ones play a role in shaping our personal integrity?

I have been shocked and chagrined in recent weeks over the rash of horrible decisions being made by some the most notable coaches, political figures, and journalists in America. It seems as if every morsel of morality is seeping out through the cracks from those who on the surface are perceived to be men of decency.

Today, I wish to highlight two such individuals who illustrate this point.

Iowa State head basketball coach Larry Eustachy was forced to resign on May 5th for attending a fraternity part in January with one of his players. His ill fated journey of destruction followed a difficult 63-52 loss at the University of Kansas. Not only did the 47 year old Eustachy attend the party, he also consumed enough alcohol to become heavily intoxicated. In the process, the married Cyclone coach was photographed kissing several young female students as they kissed him back. He eventually left the party at 5am. Despite an appeal, Eustachy was unable to retain his job. However, he was awarded nearly one million dollars to settle up the remainder of his guaranteed contract.

Newly hired University of Alabama football coach Mike Price was fired just five months after taking over one of the most storied programs in the country. In fact, he had yet to coach a game. Legendary Crimson Tide coach Paul "Bear" Bryant must have turned over in his grave as reports surfaced that the married Price spent thousands of dollars while in Florida at a golf tournament. Unfortunately, he did not spend the money on dimpled golf balls or dimpled chads for that matter. Instead, the former Washington State mentor allegedly funneled his financial resources into cheap beer, strippers, and adulterous sex. When the dust finally settled in his Pensacola hotel room the next morning, $1,000 dollars in room service charges had been applied to his account by a mysterious woman who was not his wife.

The moral to both coaches sad sagas floating around the air waves and print publications in subsequent days was "Don't Get Caught." We did not hear a clarion call for clean living. We did not see a mandate for improved behavior in the sports world. What we witnessed was a further muddling of morality in the national spotlight.

Rather than clinging to what little shred of decency they had left and just diffuse themselves from the limelight, both coaches pressed their cases to their respective universities and anyone else who would listen. Eustachy appealed his status of employment and was eventually bought out of his contract. Price vowed to restore his reputation and his job by touting a long and distinguished 34 year coaching career; selectively forgetting that it contained one rather large blemish. In the process, he threatened legal action over what he characterized as inaccurate reports that led to his firing.

What do these men not understand? Have they forgotten that their primary role as college coaches is to be positive counselors and teachers of young men? Don't they realize that their beer soaked shenanigans transpired while representing tax payer funded state universities?

I applaud both institutions for their decisions to dismiss these men albeit at the expense of some serious contractual wrangling. But I have to wonder, did they rid themselves of these men for their apparent lack of morality or did they follow through to save face?

In a quick, unscientific study last week, I discovered the majority of people taking internet polls on the fate of Eustachy and Price believed both deserved a second chance before losing their jobs. In fact, one fan writing on a comment board went as far as to say, "he (Price) is a great coach and a good man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

What? If I am not mistaken he was not in the "wrong place at the wrong time" because he was forced against his will. Price was there because he made a personal decision and moral judgment to be in that place at the wrong time. This decision, whether he refutes its consequences or not, severely questions his character as a coach but more importantly as a married man.

I am a strong believer that these men should be forgiven for their transgressions.

The Apostle Paul writes in

, "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."

These strong sentiments illustrate how all Christians should approach the area of forgiveness. Crucial to this process is remembering to forgive just as Jesus Christ forgave us of all our sins.

However, I also believe people like Eustachy and Price need to be responsible for their own personal integrity. So often, we are quick to forgive those who have sinned yet no concrete plan has been put into place to facilitate a sinner's restoration.

The solution typically involves a quick slap on the wrist in the form of a reprimand followed by the sinners often hollow apology to those affected by their transgressions. For those able to turn their lives around based on this process I commend you.

Unfortunately, this is usually not the end all be all solution. What have they truly learned? More often than not, the guilty person learns to say all the right things but ultimately does not learn from his mistakes.

As Christians, we should do more than just forgive those who have sinned but we also need to put love into action. In other words, we must find a more effective solution to help those who have fallen.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines integrity as a strict adherence to a strict moral or ethical code, or, the quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.

Therefore, to be an effective influence on the fallen we must realize it all starts with how we live our lives. Noted theologian D.L. Moody once said, "Most people talk cream and live skim milk." In other words, we may be adept in the way we pray and worship but our true character is revealed by the consistency of faith we produce in our every day lives.

says, "He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known."

Choosing to reflect such positive values in our lives is a decision. Living a life of integrity involves a daily walk of truth and dedication to the principles that God has set forth in scripture. We are to live with our mind, heart, body, and soul completely dedicated to Him.

True Christianity is not a part to be played. Our words and deeds should speak the same language.

For as we traverse deeper and deeper into this century we will likely observe even more episodes of immorality in the sports world, politics, the workplace, and even in the church.

But remember, it is easy to forgive others but our actions are harder to forget.

 

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Material from The Transformer, study Bible used in this article.