We all encounter corruption in our daily lives, at a micro and macro level. Many of us have faced the subtle requests for a simple Chai-Paani, which literally means “tea-water” but serves as a euphemism for everything from small bribes to outright demands for money. Institutional and structural corruption in India is widespread, affecting various aspects of society.
Unfortunately, the casual attitude that pervades public life often leads to compromises in work processes and productivity. Mindsets governed by sab chalta hai (anything goes) and ho jayega (it will get done somehow) contribute to systemic inefficiencies and ethical lapses.
Corruption on a Global Scale
The 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) confirms that corruption is a global issue. The CPI ranks 180 countries, ranking them from highly corrupt (0) to very clean (100). According to data from 2023, India has a score of 39 and ranks 93rd in the world. A decade earlier, India scored 36 and ranked 94th out of 177 countries. It shows little progress over ten years.
The Root of Corruption and Compromise
Nepotism, familism, and tribalism perpetuate corruption in India. It often enables the upward mobility of one’s own people at the expense of more deserving individuals.
Such a culture of compromise and corruption is not limited to government institutions. It extends to corporate environments, ministries, and even family dynamics. No sphere of life is immune because, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9)
Corruption is not just an external issue. It is an internal one, embedded in human nature.
As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn writes in The Gulag Archipelago, “The line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years.”
His words highlight that corruption is not just an external issue. It is an internal one, embedded in human nature.
A Call to Holiness and Integrity
What does this mean for a Christian community living in the context of corruption in India? How are we to respond as people whom God calls to holiness?
Peter exhorts believers: “. . .but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). He echoes the law for God’s people whom he set apart from surrounding nations: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Lev. 19:2).
Jesus lived in a time of institutionalised corruption.
Anticipating human weakness, God instituted systems like the Jubilee Year and Sabbath Year to protect the marginalised, who often suffer the most from corruption and compromise (Lev. 25:1-7).
God wanted Israel’s obedience to these laws to reveal his character to the nations (Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:26). Similarly, as followers of Christ, filled with God’s Spirit, our commitment to integrity should be a testimony to the watching world (1 Pet. 2:11-12).
Jesus and Corruption
Jesus lived in a time of institutionalised corruption—under the Roman Empire and the compromised Jewish religious leadership. He remained uncompromising in his integrity, while challenging distorted standards of righteousness (John 2:13-22). Rather than adhering to external rules alone, he emphasised the motivations of the heart. He condemned corrupt leaders who exploited ordinary people (Matt. 15:6-7, 16-20, 23:27-28).
Our integrity is not just about personal morality but about representing God’s kingdom.
Yet when he faced corruption in his journey to the cross, he did not resist it. Instead, he bore its cost for the sake of his people (1 Pet. 2:21-25). Through his sacrificial death, he inaugurated God’s kingdom, where corruption and compromise have no place (Isa. 5:15-17, Luke 1:51-55).
Living as a Kingdom Community
What does this mean for us today as representatives of God’s Kingdom in our nation? How should we live in a society marked by corruption?
- Live as Ambassadors of God’s Kingdom
God calls us to imitate Christ, reflecting his character: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:14–15). - Embrace Counter-Cultural Standards
The values of God’s Kingdom often run counter to societal norms. We must grow in our understanding of biblical integrity and align our lives accordingly (Rom. 12:1-2). - Be Prepared to Stand Out
Living with integrity in a corrupt world will make us stand out, sometimes uncomfortably so. However, this distinctiveness offers an opportunity to share the hope that enables us to live differently (1 Pet. 2:12, 3:15-18; Matt. 5:16). - Count the Cost of Integrity
Jesus paid a price for his integrity and we must prepare ourselves for challenges as well. A life without compromise is difficult but necessary—not for personal gain, but to advocate for those who suffer under corruption (Luke 14:28-30, John 15:18-20). - Find Strength in Community
We are not alone in this journey of integrity. A cloud of witnesses has gone before us, as well as the present community of faith encourage us to persevere: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). - Rely on God’s Strength
Ultimately, we cannot live a life of integrity on our own. Our strength comes from Christ, who bore the cost of our corruption and walks with us. He alone is incorruptible (2 Cor. 5:15, 21; Heb. 7:26).
In a world where corruption is the norm, God calls his people to live differently. Our integrity is not just about personal morality but about representing God’s kingdom. By following Christ’s example, we can stand against corruption and compromise in India—not in our own strength, but through the power of the One who overcame it for us.
