Standards

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

1. God sets the "standard" by His Word then leads His children by His Spirit

2. No. If a pastor has preferences or things he believes are helpful to one's walk he can share those and explain his reasoning. But he has ZERO authority to REQUIRE something that Christ does not. We forget it is Christ who is the HEAD of the church, not the pastor.

3. The simple answer is no, but really this is a nonsensical question. A better question would be "Is compliance to mandatory standards legalism"? Or "is compliance to mandatory standards a perversion of the gospel"? In which case I'd answer yes and yes.

Abiding Now, you started this thread, don't stay on the sidelines.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

standard

noun stan·dard \ˈstan-dərd\

: a level of quality, achievement, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable

standards : ideas about morally correct and acceptable behavior

: something that is very good and that is used to make judgments about the quality of other things

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standard



1. Who sets the standards in a church?

2. Can "extra-Biblical" standards be required of church members

3. Is compliance to mandatory standards fair?

1. I believe that God sets the standards for His Body.

2. Sure they can. Church members are able to simply leave that church if they don't agree with what's being taught.

3. Fair? Was Calvary fair? Is there anything about this Christian walk that is fair? What is fair in the context of Christianity?

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

Holiness is a complete lifestyle shaped by the Holy Spirit of God. No God, no holiness! I was discussing with my wife tonight about the pressure put on traditional OP ladies to loosen up on their dress standards. During her youth, my wife was teased and bullied for her values. Professing Christians from other denominations were often the bullies.

I have respect for those who still hold high standards. They don't gain recognition of men for it. If you disagree with someone's standards then please show them the same courtesy you expect them to show you. I hope that the people who say, "just follow the Spirit," are doing just that, and not using it to justify their choices. God will one day judge our hearts and the truth will be revealed no matter what our stance is on standards.

Many times the people holding the higher standards are not the legalists that they are made out to be. It is often the people who argue against standards because the scripture isn't explicit enough. I am thankful for my wife who holds to her values despite the persecution for it. I don't want to ever persecute someone who does something sincerely for my Lord Jesus.

GS - why is it that the OP expect the woman to suffer "persecution" for her "high standard" .... and the men get off without any of the same?

And by the way - I certainly don't look down on ANYONE who holds a higher dress code than me, if they do it with humbleness of heart. I admire that! However, one who keeps a dress code with a "holier than thou" attitude does not receive respect at all.... I respect the attitude with which one employs their personal convictions more than the actual application of their conviction.

[allstate1]

Its been my experience that appearance standards are used as gauge to judge ones "spiritually".

[allstate1]

A statement I have heard hundreds of times " she must be backslid she cut her hair and has on pants".

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by allstate1

Its been my experience that appearance standards are used as gauge to judge ones "spiritually".

No doubt. You can be greedy, gossip, hold grudges, have a bad attitude, and just be a miserable person to be around. But if you dress a certain way you considered holy (and typically self deceived to BELIEVE you are holy). And if you are a "worshipper" then you REALLY know God.

I've seen too many correctly dressed worshippers (of both sexes) who bore no more fruit than a tree in the middle of the winter.

Clean the inside first.......

[allstate1]

Being raised in UPC and having a rather large youth group I witnessed how quickly the youth that were forced to attend learned to get away with things as for as the ministry was concerned. The girls just made sure they always had on skirt or dress no makeup and never cut hair. The guys well they just would put on a little jig show during service. Then there was about a dozen like myself. Forced to attend but just didn't try to hide behind dress or a fake little jig guess which group was always getting preached to and constantly being badgered to "pray through". Guess which group had teen pregnancy. Caught with drugs or alcohol etc etc. I'm not saying 100 percent of that group but I can say 100 percent of my group did not!!

[Jermyn Davidson]

I think that extra-biblical standards that have scriptural foundations are ok. I also think that it is ok if a person doesn't follow them-- as long as that person doesn't sin in the process.

The whole purpose of standards is to help people not sin so easily.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I think that extra-biblical standards that have scriptural foundations are ok. I also think that it is ok if a person doesn't follow them-- as long as that person doesn't sin in the process.

The whole purpose of standards is to help people not sin so easily.

How can an "EXTRA" biblical standard have a scriptural foundation? The reason it's called "extra" biblical is because there is no support for it in the Bible.

[allstate1]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

I think that extra-biblical standards that have scriptural foundations are ok. I also think that it is ok if a person doesn't follow them-- as long as that person doesn't sin in the process.

The whole purpose of standards is to help people not sin so easily.

Example please?