Standards

Written by cycleguy on July 16th, 2014

It should go without saying that Christ-followers should have higher standards.

What I don’t mean is a holier-than-thou-attitude. If you were sitting next to me at the moment I wrote those words you would have seen me shiver.

Nor should we ever give the impression we are above the fray. You know the old Hammer song: “Can’t touch this.” That is the quickest way to failure.

There is one standard we all need to work on. As a pastor, I realize I live under a bubble. A glass house so to speak. I know the danger of throwing stones. I am grateful for a wife and two daughters who never failed to remind me (in mostly subtle ways) that I am human. I am not into what I will call “pastor worship.” The very thought of that gags me and turns my stomach. The pastor has evolved from being a shepherd to being a CEO. I despised that evolution then. Still do. The church was never meant to be run like a business, and the pastor was never meant to be the “head” of that business. Frankly, and you can call me coward if you want, I don’t want to run everything. I don’t want carte blanche rights on all decisions.

And I certainly don’t want worshiped!! Please don’t PEDESTAL me. I’m thinking of the Old Testament story of the god Dagon found knocked off its pedestal and on its face twice because it was in the presence of the Ark (symbolized the presence of God). That god is me. That god is you. That god is any pastor who takes upon himself the mantle of preeminence.

Barnabas Piper (John’s son) has written an excellent article. Originally published in 2012 it has been republished here. I’d suggest you check it out. I’d also suggest you try to get it into the hands of your pastor (if you have one).

Meanwhile, cut out the “pastor worship.” If he is worth his salt, he won’t want it anyway. Plus he will say, “He must increase; but I must decrease.”  AND MEAN IT.

Thoughts?

 

26 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    I have seen the pastor climbing the ranks toward his goal of “celebrity pastor”. Such a dangerous path. It is one thing to have a magnetic personality and use that to draw people to God. It is another to effectively seek out attention to fill one’s ego. Sometimes the boundaries between the two sides are not so easily seen … until it is too late.

    • cycleguy says:

      Daniel, I am going to say this carefully: if you were here right now I could kiss you! YOU GET IT! Your comment is exactly what I am trying to say.

  2. Tami Grandi says:

    you already know my thoughts on that article! Love you!

  3. jeff says:

    I hope whatever I say does not get you as excited as Daniel did.
    I don’t think Christ followers need to have and based on my experience certainly don’t have any higher standards than anyone else.
    Trust me I will not pedestal any pastors, I am pretty sure I am not into pastor worship.
    I generally start with suspect and only a very few rise to respect.

    • cycleguy says:

      I promise I won’t react the same. Glad Daniel knows it is all tongue-in-cheek. 🙂 You do give a statement to a real problem Jeff. Tragically, many Christ followers don’t have higher standards. We should. I also think we would all do a lot better if we weren’t into pastor worship. Thanks, as always, for the candid comment.

      • Tami Grandi says:

        Can I be so bold to ask why you don’t think they should have higher standards? I don’t comment a lot here on my dad’s blog but I do read the comments so I know where you stand but I am just perplexed as to why I shouldn’t have a higher standard placed on me? As it stands- most people that I have come in contact with do have a higher standard placed which is why it seems the fall is louder and harder. I know I am not perfect and the bottom line is that I am a sinner. Does that mean I shouldn’t strive for that higher standard?

        I saw this on FB after the HL verdict came out a few weeks ago and it broke my heart to see both professing Christians and non-Christians bashing each other in order to feel good about themselves. As a Christian in that situation wouldn’t it have been more beneficial to hold myself to the higher standard and hold my tongue (which I did)?

        I don’t know, maybe I am reading too much into your comment?

        • cycleguy says:

          Watch out for PKs! 🙂 But it goes without saying that I agree with her. I DO believe followers of Christ should have higher standards, whether we like it or not.

        • Jeff says:

          I think everyone should operate at high standards. Being Christian is irrelevant to me. And being Christian, based on my experience, doesn’t increase the likelihood that someone has higher standards. I understand why maybe you think they should but I just don’t think being a Christian has anything to do with what standards a person operates on.

          • Tami Grandi says:

            Maybe a better question that I could ask would be for you to clarify what are “high standards” to you?

            • Jeff says:

              I think we probably would agree on what high standards are. The difference between us is whether believing in one particular religion or another or none at all somehow affects the standards a person adopts to guide their actions. I certainly don’t expect Christians to act any different than anyone else. And I am not at all surprised when they don’t.

              • cycleguy says:

                Sadly your skepticism is often warranted Jeff. I want to believe (and do) that Christ-followers do have a higher standard to maintain/live up to. I think it is sad your commentary can even be made.

    • Ike says:

      “I don’t think Christ followers need to have and based on my experience certainly don’t have any higher standards than anyone else.”

      Genuine conversion, (regeneration), will radically change a person. If there is no change…it doesn’t matter what they profess.

      “The gate is small”..(Jesus only)..but it also says “the way is narrow”. It’s not what a person says….it’s what he does. This is not a works salvation….but genuine conversion will work. Read Matthew chapter 7.

      BTW…if you go door to door in your town…you will find that almost everybody believes in Jesus. Matthew 7:21…”Not everyone who says to Me, Lord,Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Sounds to me that a higher standard validates genuine faith.

      • cycleguy says:

        Your comment is true Ike and should have an impact on someone who follows Christ. But when we come in contact with those who don’t, they only really have their daily contact past & present to judge by.

  4. Betty Draper says:

    Well said Bill, well said. Some may walk in their own glory here but face to face with Jesus all that self glory will burn to wood ashes. I beg the ladies of the bible study to be faithful to me, I so need it. WE need to love our pastors enough to be faithful iron to them. Great post brother.

  5. the Old Adam says:

    Nice one, Bill.

    And I do believe that you are more than likely every bit of a sinner that I am.

    At least I hope you are!

    For that’s who He came for…right?

  6. Pam says:

    I totally agree. My husband often says everyone in the church is a minister–his ministry gift just happens to be preaching.

  7. floyd says:

    I appreciate it, Bill. It is only in humility that we find the true heart of our Father. No person has ever earned or deserved worship. Look what it does to humans that gain it! It destroys them!

    The foot of the cross is level and glad you’re here with us… even if you are taller than most of us!

  8. I concur. I even have problems with the “pastor parking” space. It’s just a personal thing for me. When I’ve went to a church that has one I have asked them to remove it.

    • cycleguy says:

      I have problems with it also Matt and if I ever went to a church where there was one I would say remove it. On days when people will be there (Sunday for example) I park the farthest away I can…even on bitter cold days or rainy days.