Why Cheaters Think It's Ok To Cheat
One of the nation’s biggest news stories last week involved a college admissions scam that included several high-profile people, including at least two Hollywood actresses. A California man, Rick Singer, spearheaded a scheme to bribe coaches and administrators at such colleges as Yale, Stanford, Georgetown, USC, and other prestigious universities. The bribes bought these privileged High School students extra time to take the SAT and ACT, make fake athletic profiles, and substitutes to take their entrance exams for them. This has proven embarrassing for both the colleges and those breaching this most basic of ethical codes (via Foxnews.com, Madeline Farber).
Someone observed that there is a bit of irony and hypocrisy in all of this. We feel outraged at this glaring lack of honesty and ethics, but students who attend these (and other) universities have been taught for decades that there is no such thing as absolute truth and an objective standard of right and wrong. Should we really be surprised when people live out the implications of their world view? Remove a measurable, immutable standard, and anything goes!
Then there's the Bible, which lays down an ethical code that is universal and logical. Its rules are blind to nationality, economic status, gender, or age. And it shows no favoritism, leveling the playing field by placing greater expectations on those who have more (see Luke 12:48).
Our challenge is to live lives of consistency, showing forth the benefits that come from respecting and adhering to God’s standards. Jesus calls such modeling “salt” and “light" (Matthew 5:13-16).
We cannot keep others from being cheaters and liars, but we can show them a powerful alternative!
Playing Monopoly With Life
Did you know that every year more Monopoly money is printed than real money? When I first heard this, I found it difficult to believe. Then, after I thought about it, I realized that I had a lot more Monopoly money than I did real money!
Unfortunately, monopoly money is of no use in the real world. Not because of the inferior paper on which it is printed, or the cheap ink which is used to manufacture it, but because it lacks the backing of the United States Treasury. It is the authority of the government that gives greenbacks their value. If the Treasury Department were to decide to back Monopoly money, then things would be different. Until that happens, I’ll continue to be richer at play than in real life.
In the same way, when it comes to what is important in life, there is only one authority with the right to determine the value and meaning of things, and that authority belongs to God. Whatever God approves has real value and meaning. Conversely, whatever God opposes is counted as debt to those who live accordingly. We fool ourselves when we presume to have the right to decide what matters in life. Our puny pronouncements amount to nothing more than play money.
"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? (Luke 16:10-11).
Let The Badge Do The Talking
In one episode of Andy Griffith, a couple of farmers are selling on the side of the road in the city limits, which was against the law in Mayberry. Barney finds them selling and tells them they will have to move down the road outside of the town limit. The guys are much bigger than Barney and they scare him off. Later, Andy comes along and confronts the guys and they try to scare him off. But rather than retreat, Andy points to his badge and tells them that he is sworn to uphold the law that his badge represents. They leave, wanting no trouble from the law.
As we live and preach the message of the Gospel, it is important that we let the world know that we are not preaching our opinions or by our authority. If they reject what we have to say, it is Christ they are rejecting and it will be His authority to which they will stand responsible.
"For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake" (2 Corinthians 4:5).
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father" (Colossians 3:17).
Always remember that you are a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. When people question you, point them to the badge you wear.