i suppose most people will tell you “Of course i have standards!” But watching their lives it seems more probable they have what i call mobile standards, meaning their standards change day by day or even disappear altogether when something or someone comes around they whole heartedly want. To me, that means they have standards alright until it suits them to have no standards, or, their standards are subject to their whim, and that makes them no standards at all then.
Everyone in the world, and, i suppose every living thing in the world, is always choosing, as was mentioned in a previous program. But our ability to choose is based on our ability to discern the differences between our choices. That discerned difference is based on some standard in us which we got from somewhere and someone.
i heard a talk given at a conference a while back in which the speaker was saying they did a study concerning the ability of women to tell the difference between different nail polish colors. They picked 5 different colors of pink, that difference was based on the manufacturers labeling, they removed the labels, and asked a panel of women if there was a difference. All the women said there was no difference in the five samples. When the experimenters placed the labels on the appropriate bottles, suddenly, the women re-decided, saying, “Oh yes, i can really see the difference now.” Clearly, the ability to choose depends on our ability to discern differences, and they didn’t see the difference until someone told them there was a difference.

What is God’s idea of discernment and by what standard do we base our discernment? And my standard is not necessarily your standard. Godly discernment becomes and is absolutely essential. Discernment, in the sense of Strong’s H998, as used in Isaiah 29:14 means to have clear spiritual and moral insight and is the faculty that helps a person distinguish between merely human standards and those that actually reflect God’s righteousness.
We need to see clearly that when a standard looks good on the surface but is rooted in pride, fear, tradition, or self-interest rather than truth, we are not far from missing God and going astray. Discernment goes right along with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Knowledge gives you the facts.

Understanding (Hebrew: binah) gives you insight into those facts — what they mean and how they connect. Discernment is the sharp, active use of that understanding, and is the ability to distinguish, weigh, and judge rightly in real situations. To me, the best way to get discernment is to read your bible, know what God has to say above any other voice in the earth, and align with Him above all things. Align is a key word there, and yes, i purposely used the word “align” so we could take a little rabbit trail.
Let’s take a moment to recognize the difference between outward conformity to your church group and inward alignment with the Lord and what is right. So, as i understand it, outward conformity is when a person’s behavior, speech, or appearance matches an expected standard, but their heart, motives, desires, or true convictions do not. Sort of like people whose orthodoxy, what they believe, and their orthopraxy, what they actually do don’t match. They do the right things or avoid the wrong things because of external pressure, habit, fear of consequences, desire for approval, or simply to “look the part.” They talk like their friends, believe the same things, and act like everyone else just to get along and “belong”. The truth is i’d bet most people who are active outward conformists are still disconnected, very lonely and acting like other people has not made them to actually connect and belong at all. The external person matches the outward standard but our internal person does not. It is compliance without transformation and it is a misery.

Inward alignment is when a person’s heart, motives, values, and desires are genuinely brought into agreement with the standard, especially a righteous, God-given standard. The outward actions then flow naturally from that inner agreement.
It is not merely “doing the right thing,” but being the kind of person for whom the right thing is consistent with who they are. We do the right thing because it’s who we are not because we are holding tight to some moral code.
Without discernment, people can cling tightly to standards that feel godly or biblical while completely missing the heart of righteousness. With discernment, those same standards cease to be mere rules and become living expressions of what is truly good, just, and pleasing to God. In Judges 17:6, the idea is that everyone did according to their own standards of what they considered was right and wrong, good or bad. It says, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

This is Outposts, a semi-live broadcast from the late night, cascading banks of the Ockluhwahhah River, where the trees gently lean over the rivers edge, and every evening is pleasant.
i trust you are well this evening, settled back in your easy chair, and yes, i have wondered if anyone would own an “uneasy chair”, although i’m quite sure more than a few are uneasy in even their best chairs.
It’s a beautiful evening, so enjoy the cool jazz and ponder our contemplative conversation concerning “Standards: Where do you get yours?”, and we shall return after a moment of repose.

Mankind has produced countless variations of standards and sometimes even standards about the standards. It is becoming increasingly clear that many of the leading voices in this world system want everyone and everything to become stable, predictable, and measurable. But according to what standard of stability, predictability, and measurability? And who decides that these voices are the “top thinkers” in the first place—by what measure are they considered “top”?
We see the same pattern in medicine. Doctors routinely speak of the “standard of care” for illnesses and other conditions—meaning the accepted and approved way of treating the problem. Yet more often than not, the side effects outweigh the benefits. Still, the “standard of care” continues to be promoted as the proper course. This suggests that the so-called standard is not a true measure of what is best or most effective. When we are told, “This is the standard of care,” it often simply means, “This is what we always do—whether it actually works or not.”

In our society we have devices that display and apply previously established standards—for example, thermometers, tape measures, voltmeters, clocks, and even some baby bottles marked in Imperial, U.S. customary, and metric units on the same bottle. Beyond these physical instruments there are economic standards, measuring standards, surveying standards, weight standards such as Avoirdupois (16 ounces to the pound) and Troy (12 ounces to the pound), standards of grammar, and so on, ad nauseam.

These measuring systems and Standards come in many different forms, yet the underlying truth is that units of measurement are essentially arbitrary. That is a big surprise to me. In other words, people invent them and then collectively agree to use them. There is almost nothing inherent in the universe that dictates an inch must be a particular length, or that a mile is inherently superior to a kilometer as a measure of distance. Over the long course of human history, however, such standards have gradually evolved—first completely for the sake of convenience and later out of practical necessity— and i say “practical necessity” so that communities of every size and nationality could share certain common benchmarks for trade, construction, science, and everyday life.
In our striving for standards to live by we’ve even come up with government run institutions which are responsible for being the bottom line for standards, like the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Food and Drug Administration which provides standards for medical devices, drugs, food safety, or how about the Department of Defense (DoD), which has extensive military and technical standards, and that’s just a few here within the United States.

A musical group tunes to the same frequency standard, if they didn’t, everything would be chaos. Even though lot of people really resent rules and standards, and i can understand why, but if there were no particular standards, we would still be in the stone age. But, in a way, our society has become so inundated with standards about standards with standards about how to keep the standards, a lot of folks have simply begun doing what Israel did — “and every person went into their own house and did what they felt was right in their own eyes”. Some have actually declared there is no real truth except for what they want it to be. Honestly, that sounds more like an attempt to justify any crime or cruel thing someone may want to do.

If i took a fearless moral inventory of my neighbor, i would be passing and failing them according to my idea of what is right and wrong. They may not appreciate my standards at all. Besides, it’s not my job to make sure other people get it right, it’s their job to take their own inventory and take action to be straight with the Lord. Romans 14:4-5, “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”

And then…. there are our personal standards, and boy howdy, now the idea of standards gets very hazy, totally subjective, and extremely difficult to see. As example here’s a few of my personal standards:
• Honesty in speech and dealings, even when it costs something, Proverbs 12:22
• Keeping promises and commitments, Matthew 5:37
• Showing up on time and being prepared, Proverbs 21:5
• Maintaining boundaries and not over-extending yourself, Proverbs 4:23
• Acting the same way when no one is watching, Proverbs 11:3
• Not compromising core values for short-term gain or approval, Mark 8:36
And that’s just a few. As you can tell, got those personal standards from the Bible and did not just snap my fingers and they materialized, soooo….
What are your standards? Where did you get them? i’ll be right back.

The standards of this world are truly dizzying. Everyone seems to be searching for some basis of agreement, yet we consistently find ourselves in disagreement and it seems so many people just want to fight. It’s baffling. We are so easily offended that defensiveness has become our default posture, leaving the human race looking like a collection of contrary people, and sadly, i’m inclined to agree. As one well-known author observed, “It would seem the stupid ones are overly confident in their own minds, while the brilliant are full of doubts.”

Standards spin like leaves in a storm,
each one claiming the ground is firm.
We reach for common ground
and find only the edge of someone else’s certainty.
Offenses arises quick as your next breath,
and we armor ourselves against the next word.
So the race becomes a chorus of “no,”
voices raised not to understand but to defend.

i believe we all want harmony but can’t seem to agree on our means of unity. Oh my, what will we do, what will we do? Maybe the question, What CAN we do could be a good place to start?
Isaiah 59:19 “So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard….”

i’m confident that in today’s world we need a better standard of how to live and act, other than the standards and definitions according to the whim of men, bureaucrats, and twisted thinkers. Today’s world certainly has very fluid standards and mobile boundaries, so we absolutely shouldn’t be willing to define right and wrong by such worldly subjective standards. We need a more sure standard, not what but who does not change, is reliable, consistent and repeatable, does not lie, and loves us enough to not only help us, but He IS our help, hope and redemption.
Contrary to confused objectors, the media, and the voice of a self-defining, self-declaring world, the gospel of Jesus Christ, King Jesus himself ARE the standard. Christ Jesus IS the personification of the right standard upon which the whole house is built. Again, rest assured Jesus is the RIGHT standard, the standard of all standards by which the universe is measured. Isaiah 11:10, “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a standard and a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”

For many people today the media has become the great discipler, shaping the perspective of people to see the world more powerfully than family, school, or church once did. News reports are frequently accepted at face value as the truth—and sometimes they genuinely are. Yet the question remains: how can we reliably distinguish what is true from what is not in their reporting, when so much of the same media has repeatedly demonstrated that its highest operating standard is not a consistent commitment to truth, but the simple need to attract attention and make money?

We need something, someone more believable. We say it is God, but is it really? If we really really believe the Lord is truly who He says He is, it should be a radical game changer. Is God your bottom line? Think about it and be honest, brutally, the unvarnished truth please. We can’t keep lying to ourselves and be surprised when we eventually don’t know which way is up anymore. If we can’t be honest with God and ourselves above all else, how do we expect to be honest with the rest of the world?

Previously i asked the question, “Is God your bottom line?” So now i’m asking how can you tell, what’s your evidence?
While you’re thinking about that, here are 10 of my personal evidences that in my life, God is my bottom line:
• When pressure hits, i turn to Jesus first. Not to people, plans, opinions or my own reasoning.
• Over the years my standards bend to His word, even when they cost me comfort, reputations or possibly even relationships. Yep, that one is hard.
• i’ve learned to be willing to lose things or people without losing my peace. That’s character only God could have worked in me.
• Believe me, obedience matters more than outcomes. We do what’s right in God’s sight whether we think it works or not.
• i diligently examine my motives and i’ve learned to be willing to change. That is one we simply must consistently do, and be honest! No one said it was easy, but it is imperative.
• i’ve learned to criticize less and praise more. i’ve learned that God’s approval is the only one that counts.
• i’ve learned to allow conviction which leads to quick repentance, and to stop with all my typical delays and excuses.
• i’ve learned i can actually wait without panic. Trust His timing and not to get swept up by my own urgency.
• i’ve learned my quiet life points beyond myself to Jesus and people can sense it.

Jesus Christ is the standard and example, the pinnacle of all things a human should be. He is the standard – not in size, not in age – but in moral, ethical and principal character. God is not just a belief we hold — He is the foundation everything else rests on. Many preachers, and multitudes of professing people are engaged in a relentless pursuit to find out just how many imperfections and infidelities, and how much inward wrongness is allowable with a quote/unquote “safe state” in Christianity. They’re always measuring how bad is too bad and how good is good enough. How bad can it be before they’re not ok anymore? Oh but how few, very few, are bringing out the “Fair Gospel standard”. And what is a “Fair Gospel Standard” you may ask? Here it is: a fair Gospel standard is one that is measured by the Gospel itself — by who God is, what Christ has done, and what the Spirit produces — rather than by shifting human opinions of what seems “godly,” “biblical,” or “acceptable.” It is “fair” because it does not play favorites or invent extra requirements, and aims at inward alignment with God’s righteousness, not merely outward conformity to rules that feel religious.

“Our Standard is Christ” because Christ is the only standard …and listen now, this is not a marketing slogan— it is a commitment. God holds everyone to the same light of scripture and the same need for grace. Jesus set the standard for how we are to live with others, how we deal with ideas and concepts, understand the world, love and forgive, set personal goals and boundaries, and focus on what matters in life. Any other standard would be secondary to this high calling for every believer. Philippians 3:14 “ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” In attempting this discussion about what standards are important to us, i think we should also be willing to explore another question: what other standards could there be? My own, yours imposed on others, Corporate America is always trying to make themselves the standard for their employees and that’s just messed up. Any other standard, other than Jesus, that we might consider is insignificant in comparison to “Our Standard is Christ.”

As believers in Christ and those who live in His Name, we hold the Bible to be the truth; we believe Jesus is who He says He is; we believe God and the Bible are the bottom line for our morals, principles, ethics, conduct, and character, cover-to-cover, from beginning to end. We have met the Lord and by our profession, we accept Jesus Christ as our standard.
Everything Jesus did with others reflected the nature of God – from the work He did alongside Joseph as a carpenter’s apprentice – to preaching the Sermon on the Mount. From conversation over a meal, struggling with fatigue from the business of the day, and to the way He developed relationships – it was all about showing and living the nature and love of God.

Every outward action in the life of Jesus grew from an inward spiritual strength, and so, for Him and for us, we can’t focus on the outcome without linking it to the indwelling of God in our heart, soul, and mind.

Psalm 118:8-9, “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”
Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.”

With Christ, not wise men or this world, but Jesus as our standard, and our allowing God to direct our path, rest assured He will bring us to our best … and then propel us beyond what we think is achievable or possible. J.C. Ryle said, “The standard of the world, and the standard of the Lord Jesus, are indeed widely different. They are more than different. They are flatly contradictory one to the other.”
Friends, nobody cheats and succeeds by trying to possess worldly standards and Godly Standards both. You cannot play both sides. You cannot love, like Jesus said in Luke 16:13, both God and the world.

Jesus Himself is our standard, the bread and butter of our faith. i think i’m encouraging everyone to consider carefully by what standards you live, not to propagate a war, but to encourage us all to take God seriously in all accounts and by all means. Our calling is to resolve a conflict not win an argument. i suppose for those who would ask, “What exactly is your point”, i would ask the question, “Is He God or not? And if He is, then act like it!” That may seem pretty pointed, but it’s a very relevant question and statement for the days we live in where we’re overwhelmed with choices and most of us can’t hardly tell the differences between one option and the other. Christ is a distinct and obvious standard, and the gospel is very simple. Is He God or not? And if He is, let’s act like it.
Think about it!

Thank you for listening! i hope you’ve enjoyed the contemplative conversation and cool jazz in the middle of a chaotic world.
This has been Outposts, a fine establishment in the crook of the river, at the end of Old Field Road. i’m Social Porter and this program has been brought to you by Living In His Name Ministries, Hill Top Garage, Ed Zangerle at Zangerle’s Farrier service, Rev. Mark Fox in Mars Hill, Kevin, Perry and Tommy of the Mebane Freedom League, Williams Painting, and Trinity Bakers, where there’s always something good in the oven.

By what standard do we base our discernment? Let us have our harmony within the Body of Christ by choosing Christ as our standard of unity. Give God all the Glory,
“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
And at that, i’ll say good night and be blessed, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.