SALT, Z-360’s student leadership team, is being called to a higher standard. (Just for the record, I’m in favor of the motion.) Of course, this means that the students will be expected to not listen to secular music, to avoid movies or tv shows that display immorality, and to not cuss. Standard youth group “higher standard” items.
I’m sure the call wasn’t too different many years ago. Youth groups were called to give up dancing and card playing in the call to a “higher standard”. Maybe they gave up “Golly” and “Gee”. Girls and boys alike were encouraged to dress up more–girls in longish skirts, guys in ties. Standard fare, you know.
But when I think about being called to a higher standard–I wonder if our high standards aren’t, well, a little low.
I mean, imagine if a youth pastor (or a normal old pastor) called his people to this kind of standard:
- to always let others go first in line (Romans 12:10)
- to never honk your horn or get upset when someone cuts you off (Romans 12:17)
- to always follow the speed limit exactly (Romans 13:1-5)
- to NEVER become indebted to ANYONE (Romans 13:8)
- to let yourself be cheated (I Corinthians 6:7)
- to follow through with what you’ve promised in the past (II Corinthians 8:10-12)
- to take captive every thought that is disobedient to Christ (II Corinthians 10:5)
- to not walk in lewdness (raunchiness), contentions (arguments), outbursts of wrath, and envy (Galatians 6:19-21)
- to never speak corrupt (twisted) words (Epehesians 4:29)
- to not tell dirty jokes (Ephesians 5:4)
- to obey your parents without begrudging–every time (Ephesians 6:1-3)
- to pray regularly for the body of believers–and especially for missionaries (Ephesians 6:18-20)
- to never be conceited (Philippians 2:3)
- to never complain (Philippians 2:14)
- to never worry (Phillipians 4:6)
- to stop “stretching the truth” and telling “little white lies” (Colossians 3:8)
- to recognize and esteem those who work among us (I Thessalonians 5:12-13)
- to work in quietness and earn our keep (II Thessalonians 3:12)
- to regularly pray for all who are in authority (I Timothy 2:1-2)
- (for women) to learn in silence (I Timothy 2:11)
- to provide for your family members who are in need (I Timothy 5:8)
- to not listen to gossip (I Timothy 5:22)
- to not answer back to your parents (Titus 2:9)
- to not pilfer (even a pen or a paper clip) from the office (Titus 2:10)
- to never speak bad things about anyone (Titus 3:2)
- to entertain strangers (Hebrews 13:2)
- to remember prisoners AS IF WE WERE CHAINED WITH THEM (Hebrews 13:3)
- to visit orphans and widows in their trouble (James 1:27)
- to never discriminate against ANYONE–black, white, poor, rich, clean, smelly, cool, uncool (James 2:1-9)
- to not make plans without taking God’s plans into account (James 4:13-16)
- to confess your sins to another believer (James 5:16)
- to have a good reputation among the world (I Peter 2:12)
- to be courteous (I Peter 3:8)
That is just part of the standard which God calls His people to.
On 02.04.09 – 9:26 pm
mangsta2 said:
I find it ironic that all those things are infinitive phrases…… and that they must be kept infinitely, and for infinity……. lol!
But I have to agree with your statement. I’ve recently read a book about standards in the world today: “Do Hard Things”. It’s a realllllyy good book about standards and expectations of teens today.
On 02.05.09 – 8:12 am
Casandra said:
I agree with this post. It is hard, sometimes it feels unattainable, but God calls us to “be ye perfect as I am perfect” in several places in scripture. Yes, it is hard, but with God nothing is impossible. Jason preached last about much the same thing, how God’s commands are not burdensome, how they come with a little bit of pain and a long time of reward. (As opposed to doing things the world’s way which brings a little bit of pleasure with a lifetime of pain.)
On 02.05.09 – 8:39 am
Super B’s Mom said:
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your comment on Becky’s blog (Boys Rule My Life) regarding homeschooling. Very insightful. God bless!
On 02.07.09 – 8:53 pm
Matt said:
I think that listing out standards for us to follow seems to do exactly what the Pharisees did to the commandments. They made a fence around the law so that they wouldn’t even come close to breaking the commandments, but then you’re entirely focused on did or did I not meet this standard. Good ol’ Jesus said, “The most important one, is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31).
Following those standards is entirely impossible but does that mean we shouldn’t try? No. It is the faith that leads to imitating Christ who is the standard by which all others are set. We need to keep in mind that the standard has already been met in Christ and because it’s been met in him and we are bound to him (through the word & sacraments) that we now have a new Adam that has met the standards.