COMMITMENTS AT THE HEART OF INTEGRITY.

Commitment refers to the quality of being dedicated to a cause. Therefore, commitment and integrity
move hand in hand. A commitment to live a life of integrity aligns one with their value and allows them
to have clarity when they have to make a hard choice.

Michael goes on to state that integrated law practice exhibits three characteristics. He also refers to them
as commitments necessary to integrity because according to him, it is certainly possible to grow and
mature in those areas. He also states that no one will have perfect integrity in this world, although we
desire of course by God’s grace towards completion or perfect integrity in Christ. The common phrase
“No man is perfect” is actually a clear depiction of what the writer means. We all desire to be honest or
practice the aspect of integrity however, we all have flaws and we end up falling short of what God
expects of us as lawyers. Without the empowering presence of the holy spirit like Michael stated, we
can’t have consistency and fullness in certain areas of our lives especially where we tend to
compartmentalize or disintegrate in the ordinary course of our lives.

The writer also goes on to suggest three commitments which will manifest integrity and growth on the
road towards completion in Christ. He’s first point is that the life of integrity requires assent to the
essential unity of thoughts belief and action under the Lordship of Christ. This clearly shows that our
thoughts, beliefs and actions are one.

A life of integrity is one lived and perceived as a whole rather than as separate compartments. Some of
which are special to God. Life under the Lordship of Christ is in its essence unified. It is neither a series
of unrelated episodes nor a collection of compartments hence, If one choses to live a life of integrity, they
have to do it wholeheartedly and not divert from the course.

We are introduced to a verse which is Acts 17:28 which says “For in him we live and move and exist
“This verse vividly expresses our constant dependence on God for “he is the original fountain and
source of life as seen Psalms 36:9 hence we cannot compartmentalize our lives and still remain fully
submitted to him. We generally need a consistent approach to life and without him, this journey called life
becomes long and lonely.

Secondly, integrity requires a continual pursuit of life in and through community. Christians are called to
workout our callings within the intimate community of Koinonia fellowship in the body of Christ.
Koinonia is a Greek word which primarily means fellowship or sharing in common or communion. One
of the scriptures where Koinonia was depicted is Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the
apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer” Hence, Christian
fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life and believers in Christ must come together in love, faith
and encouragement and those are indeed the most essential aspects of Koinonia or fellowship.

Michael further states that as Christians, we should share in the reciprocal ministry of the diversity of
spiritual gifts, the confession of sins and the accountability of familial love. According to him, life in our
present community flows from community with God therefore, we can only fellowship with one another
if er are in fellowship with Christ hence without communion with God, Integrity may not be easily upheld
because we shall be distant from God and this will have an effect on our life and work as lawyers.