Fully Integrated

I've been in a lot of discussions over the years with people who have stated that it would be very nice if I could simply please set my religious views aside and focus on the topic at hand. I understand what they're getting at. They are not interested in talking about religion, and they would prefer if my opinions were not unduly influenced by my faith and religious convictions. While I understand the sentiment, and while I am quite capable of discussing matters without citing chapter and verse, I must be honest and tell people that it is exceedingly difficult - and, frankly, a very unfair request on their part - for me to separate my faith from the rest of my life. Here's why.

For many people, their faith is a part of their lives. Religion is just one component of many, and because it is essentially a component, it is not terribly difficult to compartmentalize things. Religious faith becomes no different than any other area of interest, which can be set aside as needed. But for me, my faith is who I am. My primary identity is the fact that I am a Christian. To take that away would be to remove my heart, and it would fundamentally change who I am. You see, if Christianity is true, it has profound implications for us. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, it is true, but He is also very interested in the whole person, while here on earth. His mission wasn't only a heavenly one; it was earthly as well.

When a person believes in Jesus, he or she agrees to allow God to do a transformative work in his or her life (not that He would need our permission to do anything). God works onus from the inside out. Recall Jesus' words to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:25-26 - "25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." You see that Jesus is interested in the inner man, and out of that we will see evidence of that work in our lives. Here is the upshot of this truth: everything I do reflects my faith in Christ. Now, let's be real: I make lots of mistakes and I am hardly sin-free, but the way I think about parenting reflects Biblical principles of parenting. The way I think about relationships reflects Biblical principles of relationships. The way I think about government reflects Biblical principles of government. You get the idea. I am not as consistent as I would like to be, but who I am is bound up in my relationship with Christ. So when I am discussing important cultural issues, I try to be empathetic and put myself in other peoples' shoes, but at the end of the day, my beliefs and choices flow from who I am at he core of my being; and at the core is my Christian faith. This is what it means to be integrated - that what's on the inside (our beliefs) is the same as what's on the outside (your actions).

How about you? Who are you? What are your core beliefs that shape your opinions about morality, politics, sexuality, culture, relationships, etc.? Are you a fully integrated person?