IMHO one of the most damaging things to the “spread” of the life of Christ is what I will call double standards. You know it another way: “Do as I say not as I do.” “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” “Practice what you preach.”
You get the idea. It hurts to see someone say, “I’m a follower of Jesus” then do something totally contradictory to that life. I cringe, for example, when I hear an artist/actor/musician thank God for an award or a good event but have lyrics that are disgustingly vulgar or live a life contrary to God’s Word.
I’m speaking of myself as well. Way too often my life and words or actions do not match. I was reminded of this as I read Proverbs 20 this morning:
“False weights and unequal measures- the Lord detests double standards of every kind.” (v.10)
“The Lord detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.” (v.23)
Twice in the same chapter. A reminder of how God despises duplicity. While the picture is of the person who has a scale calibrated to his advantage, the point hits home to me as well. Don’t live a double standard. Be who I say I am. Be the Christ-follower I profess to be.
“Father, help me to live an honest life-one where words and actions match.”
You see it all over secular society — being told (or ordered) to follow the rules and watching leaders flagrantly believing (and showing) it doesn’t apply to them. It’s heartbreaking when it happens in the church, too. And it does happen.
It “fries” me when I see it in society. It really grieves me when I see it in the church. You use the right word Glynn: heartbreaking.
“You will know them by their fruit.”
May my fruit be succulent so that others taste and see the goodness of my Lord.
That is a good prayer Diane.
The Proverbs have a way of pointing out the obvious, while at the same time, convicting the heart on where I need course corrections. –Double standards, applying expectations of to others that I fail to apply to myself.
It bothers me when I see politicians or those in power abuse that power or apply standards to the mass that they fail to apply to themselves… but I can’t say I am surprised. I can’t expect non-Christians to hold to the standards of the Bible… And if I am to be completely honest with myself… I struggle maintaining that standard.
–but that is the point isn’t it–
Jesus didn’t die for me because I was able to hit the standard… He died for me because I couldn’t.
Bingo! Your comment is spot on Ryan. I am not surprised by the double standards of politicians but saddened by my own. And thankfully Jesus died for me.
I detest the hypocrisy we see all around us, Bill, in the many cases of “Do what I say, not what I do,” or “Fine for me but not for thee.” As Christians, we can’t afford to be duplicitous because we would be failing Jesus and His message of hope, love and grace.
Blessings!
As do I Martha. It is ugly. And as followers of Christ we most definitely need to be honest and above board.