Article October 28, 2013 Issue

Corruption-free

Kevin Graunke

A recent survey by the anti-corruption watchdog group Transparency International showed there is rising resentment worldwide against corruption. Two out of three people in the survey said ordinary people can make a difference in curbing corruption; in fact, they emphasized that “people power” is more effective than government and organizational initiatives in fighting corruption.

In light of what Christian Science teaches about our innate purity as the children of God, it’s significant that resistance to corruption is developing on an individual, rather than an institutional basis. Why? Because individual effort is both the necessity and assurance of spiritual progress and victory. Integrity and purity prevail as we give our individual consent and commitment to them.

Being pure, living a life of integrity, is far more than just being a good, benevolent, and respectful human being. True integrity is spiritual wholeness. To be whole individually—to live completely free of corruption—we need to understand the deep, God-derived basis of integrity. Exercising our God-given dominion over sin gives us both the wisdom and courage to act rightly. Our individual commitment to honesty is a guiding light; our spiritual commitment to purity is a saving light.