NO. 1100 - HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD!

No. 1100

Jim Davidson -- NEWSPAPER COLUMN

HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD!

The other day a lady who works for us in the Fudge Factory at Pickles Gap Village made an interesting comment to me. She said, when referring to another lady who formerly made fudge for us, “She does not come up to my standards.” Of course I knew what she meant. When someone is good at something and takes great pride in their work, they do not like to see someone else do any less, especially when they are making the same salary.
The word “standard” is an interesting one. According to the dictionary it means, “Any type of model, example, for comparison; a criterion of excellence: a standard of conduct.” In our nation today, this is so important that the United States Government has a “National Bureau of Standards” that sets forth the criteria for various weights and measures. Going all the way back to 1911, they have published four editions of a booklet that defines what these standards are. While a standard for weights and measures is one thing, a standard for a person’s conduct is something very different.
When it comes to a person’s conduct, there is one standard our nation has used going all the way back to our Founding Fathers, and this is the Bible. This was so important back in those days that Congress actually purchased Bibles to give to our citizens. The approval came in September 1782. If you would like to know more, just go to Google on the Internet and type in “When Congress endorsed and purchased Bibles” and you will find a number of articles that will confirm this.
What I have just shared is an introduction to something a lot of us are not living up to but could make a tremendous difference in our quality of life, both now and for future generations. There is little question that Christians are held to a higher standard, as well we should be. When we don’t measure up, like my earlier fudge-making example, it hurts the cause of Christ. To be sure, the media will let us know about it. This is because all of us who call ourselves “Christian” have a testimony for Jesus, whether it is a good one or a poor one.
I am here to tell you that when preachers or religious leaders like Jim Bakker or Jimmy Swaggart, or countless others, fall from grace, it does hurt the cause of Christ. Of course we all sin, as it says in Romans 2:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” By the same measure, we can all be completely forgiven by sincerely repenting and confessing our sins as it says in I John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Please understand this is not a Bible lesson I am sharing with you. Rather it is a heartfelt cry from a forgiven sinner and one who truly loves and cares about America.
As we all know from the recent national election, we have a divided nation. While it has been said thousands and thousands of times, Jesus Christ is the only answer to helping us heal the divide and unite us as a people once again. Either we all win or we all lose. It is that simple. To be sure, I always want to be on the side of “right” and I believe that to be, by loving my fellow man, even those I may disagree with.
As Christians, we are held to a higher standard and we can be sure that others are watching us. Let us live it and not just talk it. We are our Brother’s keeper.
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(Editor’s Note: THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY – Begin your day on a positive note – 365 days for $12. This will benefit the Bookcase for Every Child project. Go to www.apositivemomentwithjim.com to subscribe.)