Stupitegrity

I know the title is not a word; I made it up. It represents my feelings about the "stupid" concept of "integrity." I shall explain. Being stupid is like being ignorant except that it's willful. There are times when one must choose to be ignorant of the consequences of one's actions. Practicing integrity of character can frequently bring on that situation. There are times when integrity demands the submission to certain rules or standards when the results are unknown. This is "stupitegrity."

Case in point: I bought a car from a private party and the Secretary of State wanted to know what I paid for it so the transaction can be taxed.  (I will reserve the rant about the Governor getting between private party sales for now.) I have been in this situation before, and I had a conversation with the nice lady behind the counter. She said politely that neither she nor the Governor cared what I paid for the vehicle; she just needed a number to report for tax purposes. Knowing that six percent of my answer would be going to Lansing, I really struggled with my answer.

My through-the-Bible reading schedule has me in the Gospels right now, so I am continually having those WWJD moments. “Hand me that title,” Jesus says. Looking at it he asks, “Whose name is on the document?” “The State of Michigan,” I respond. “Then render unto Snyder that which is Snyder’s, and unto God that which is God’s.” Then he turns away and leaves me to do what integrity demands… stupitegrity.

I might easily “get away with” saying I paid five hundred for the five thousand dollar car. But here’s what haunts me: when I ask God to bless the cattle in my fields, which in today’s world are Fords and Chevys or Deeres and Mahindras, can I honestly expect a blessing when I have not been obedient? I do not believe in the “Christian” version of karma which so many preachers shout about these days. Do good and your cars run great; do bad and get mechanical difficulties out the wazoo. I do however believe that I cannot live with myself if I “cheat” Caesar and expect the best from God. Stupitegrity.

Or on a far more serious level, a Christian marriage involves the expression of certain vows. When two love birds go all google-eyed and promise to love and cherish and all that, "for better or worse... etc," they have no idea what integrity might demand of them down the road. Too many marriages crash and burn because of a lack of integrity – they don’t take the vows seriously. Burn my toast once too often and you’re outta here, Baby. But I think of the guy who watches his wife descend into early Alzheimer’s or MLS or whatever and he stays by her side cherishing, honoring… that’s stupitegrity.

And there are encounters like this every day. You may call me simple, naïve, or even stupid, but this is what I think it means for a believer to have integrity. I recall reading something else Jesus said: “If you’re honest in small things, you’ll be honest in big things; if you’re a crook in small things, you’ll be a crook in big things. If you’re not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store? No worker can serve two bosses: he’ll either hate the first and love the second, or adore the first and despise the second. You can’t serve both God and the Bank.” (Luke 16:10-13 The Message) Stupitegrity.