The STANDARD is HIGH!

 

My son-in-law , JEFF, would be proud of me today. The photo includes a great quote from WRESTLING GREAT - DAN GABLE. I don't know how many of you are WRESTLING PEOPLE, I have a particular household in my family that is OVER-THE-TOP in their support of wrestling.

I recently had a conversation about the standards a pastor must live by. To many it may seem restrictive and like walking on eggshells. I really don't take that view at all. I have "officially" been a pastor for three years and now I am nearing official ordination through the Church of God (Anderson). I remember nearly eight years ago really starting to think about moving from school teacher to pastor. One of the things God convicted me about right away was social media posts. It wasn't just about the posts, it was about the bridges I was tearing down while making those posts. As I was thinking about taking the step into full time ministry and REACHING those far from God, formally, I started to realize how damaging my actions could be to that mission. I made a commitment at that time to RAISE MY STANDARDS of conduct. Trust me when I say it wasn't some legalistic "THOU SHALT NOT" moment. I just wanted to do the right thing for the KINGDOM OF GOD.

Today I want to do the exact same thing as a senior pastor. 

I was reading Ephesians 5 and 6 this morning and it reminded me of this HIGH STANDARD:

"Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." (Ephesians 5:2, NLT)

"Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them." (Ephesians 5:10, NLT)

"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-20, NLT)

I just want you to know, I firmly believe in the PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS. What that means is this HIGH STANDARD applies to all of us! This standard of living is not just for a guy who is pastoring a church or leading a ministry. So ask the questions, Are you living a life of love following the example of Christ? Are you CAREFULLY determining what pleases the Lord and doing THAT? Are you living like a fool would live? Are you living thoughtlessly? 

Those are all questions you have to answer. One of the greatest critiques of Christianity is our hypocrisy are you contributing to that stereotype or fighting it with how you live? 

Let's work on this together and seek to follow the HIGH STANDARD set by our loving Savior, JESUS CHRIST!