At What Price?

I am not a big fan of reality television shows. I barely know they exist, much less do I know the difference between American Idol and Survivor. About all I can tell you of the difference between these two shows is from the commercials hyping them. It seems to me the major distinction between the two shows, from what little I know, is that the contestants on American Idol do not get as dirty as the contestants on Survivor.

One contestant from Survivor who was recently voted off the competition is reported to have said, "I sure as heck was out there for a million dollars, I wasn't out there for my integrity." The contestant may have been honest in her reflections regarding her experience on the show. Sadly, however, her brute honesty is more reflective of our culture than most of us think about. The idea she would or could put a price tag on her integrity speaks volumes about the superficiality and shallowness of her values – this is true for any of us regardless of the dollar amount.

Outside of some form of gambling or some promotional give-away (neither of which, in my mind, qualifies as legitimate competition), few of us will ever have the opportunity to legitimately compete based on our skill and talent for a million dollars and become famous. So I am not being critical of the reality television show for either the competition or the rewards offered. What should be disconcerting to right thinking people is that we live in a culture which thinks nothing of putting a price tag on integrity and honors the compromise of values to achieve success.

Are we guilty? We may rationalize to ourselves that we wouldn't do it for a million dollars. The irony is we may sell our integrity for a lot less money. What about a few hundred on our taxes? The irony is that we may justify the compromise of our values on the basis of a seemingly more noble pursuit (success). What about cheating on an exam for a passing grade? The irony is we may abandon our integrity and compromise our values for something as trivial as lust and pleasure. What about illicit sexual behavior and/or substance abuse just to be accepted by your peers? One can have all those things (saving hundreds on taxes, success, and acceptance, etc.) but at what cost? Jesus will have the last word, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26) There are no regrets to be had only joy for doing the right thing and letting your light shine through your integrity and values. Can we say the same about compromising our integrity?