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Integrity: How I Lost It, and My Journey Back
INTEGRITY...it is a potent entity and it has the power to control, change and alter circumstances along life's perilous path. It is an awesome tool responsibility...it is an easy thing to lose when taken for granted.At the core of each individual is a code of values or ethics by which all things are measured, and that is the sum of INTEGRITY.An important and inspiring message on integrity can be found within these pages. This book will serve as an inspiration for all and give insight to those who have wondered. It is a sobering thought when we begin to consider the state of our own integrity.How do you survive and rise above it all? How do you put the pieces of your life back together again? How do you restore your integrity? And where do you go from here? These questions, and many others, are answered in this book.
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 11, 2020
I read this book after Bakker's book 'I got it wrong' as I wanted to hear what Dortch had to say on the whole PTL saga. He gives a lot more insights into the issues at PTL, and is also much more honest about his mistakes. There is one chapter in the middle of the book that is pure gold as he reflects on how God has met him in the valley, and that we love the God of the mountain but actually knowing that God is the God of the valleys when we are in life's valleys is a far more important lesson to learn. He outlines how we can lose our integrity in different ways, for him - the path downwards came through staying quiet rather than speaking out, which he calls consensual integrity. His wife's love and faithfulness to him over the period was truly inspiring...
September 25, 2023
I selected this book during my research on narcissistic leaders in the megachurch. My intent was to learn more about the phenomenon of narcissism and its impact on organizations. Although I encounter this mindset in the founders of PTL, the stories that Dortch provided regarding the machinations that took place during the fall of PTL, notably in the actions of such leaders as Jimmy Swaggart, John Ankerberg, and Jerry Falwell, Sr. demonstrated narcissism more directly. According to Dortch, Falwell grossly misrepresented his plans for PTL in taking over after the fall of Jim Bakker. He was actually only after the network of PTL for his own ministry.
Dortch provides detail, including a number of legal documents, on the story of PTL, from Bakker’s involvement with Jessica Hahn to the misrepresentation of memberships at PTL. I certainly have disagreements with Dortch on his continuationist approach to the sign gifts of the New Testament church. I cannot speak to the accuracy of his accounts, although he clearly owned his actions in this sad story, even sharing his experiences in prison.
The most useful part of this book for me was the chapter titled “Integrity.” Acknowledging the presence of arrogance that can subvert integrity, the author gives the following script for the truly repentant individual who seeks to recover integrity: “I was wrong. I have sinned! What I did do, or what I didn’t do was wrong, and I am sorry. Please forgive me” (p. 316). Dortch suggested that we are never more right with God than when we admit we are wrong. He also emphasized the need for a select group of people to whom we are totally accountable. In discussing the types of false integrity that can masquerade as genuine integrity, he introduced selective integrity, demonstrated in the statement, “If others do it, it’s wrong; if we do it, God understands” (p. 320). Dortch suggested that the real test of selective integrity is “whether or not people are enraged by a particular deception or a distortion they have learned” (p. 326). Truth is not selective. A second type of integrity is judgmental integrity, where we are hypocritically accusing others of actions that we may indeed be practicing. Dortch suggested that we can guard against this by realizing, like the apostle Paul, that “such were some of you” (1 Cor. 6:11) and practicing confession (1 John 1:9). His final challenge to this topic was consensual integrity, suggesting that we become enmeshed in this mindset as we selfishly seek to avoid involvement in such actions based on the personal cost we may experience. We may even experience a loss in money or prestige from the very person we should be confronting on their actions.
In summary, even with the areas where I may take issue with the author, his closing thoughts on how integrity can be compromised are worth consideration.
Dortch provides detail, including a number of legal documents, on the story of PTL, from Bakker’s involvement with Jessica Hahn to the misrepresentation of memberships at PTL. I certainly have disagreements with Dortch on his continuationist approach to the sign gifts of the New Testament church. I cannot speak to the accuracy of his accounts, although he clearly owned his actions in this sad story, even sharing his experiences in prison.
The most useful part of this book for me was the chapter titled “Integrity.” Acknowledging the presence of arrogance that can subvert integrity, the author gives the following script for the truly repentant individual who seeks to recover integrity: “I was wrong. I have sinned! What I did do, or what I didn’t do was wrong, and I am sorry. Please forgive me” (p. 316). Dortch suggested that we are never more right with God than when we admit we are wrong. He also emphasized the need for a select group of people to whom we are totally accountable. In discussing the types of false integrity that can masquerade as genuine integrity, he introduced selective integrity, demonstrated in the statement, “If others do it, it’s wrong; if we do it, God understands” (p. 320). Dortch suggested that the real test of selective integrity is “whether or not people are enraged by a particular deception or a distortion they have learned” (p. 326). Truth is not selective. A second type of integrity is judgmental integrity, where we are hypocritically accusing others of actions that we may indeed be practicing. Dortch suggested that we can guard against this by realizing, like the apostle Paul, that “such were some of you” (1 Cor. 6:11) and practicing confession (1 John 1:9). His final challenge to this topic was consensual integrity, suggesting that we become enmeshed in this mindset as we selfishly seek to avoid involvement in such actions based on the personal cost we may experience. We may even experience a loss in money or prestige from the very person we should be confronting on their actions.
In summary, even with the areas where I may take issue with the author, his closing thoughts on how integrity can be compromised are worth consideration.
August 24, 2023
Such truthful openess
Honest, open book detailing Rev. Dortch's journey back to God's will for his life. Intriguing, interesting book. God is good.
Honest, open book detailing Rev. Dortch's journey back to God's will for his life. Intriguing, interesting book. God is good.
February 6, 2017
It has a slow start. Lots of references to people and organization that I never heard of since it was a popular show in the 80s and I wasn't living in the US then so I wasn't familiar with them. However, about a third of the book, it becomes really interesting and makes me think about my own integrity.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews