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The Concept of a
"Higher Standard" MP3
Have you ever heard someone utter the concept that some
people in God's Church are being held by God to a "higher standard" of
obedience or behavior based on their duties, position or ordination in
the church? I have oft times heard this with respect to the
ministry. Is this a true concept? Is it supported in
the Bible?
Clearly ministers have certain responsibilities specific to
preaching truth from the Word of God or being in close conformity to
scripture as the Bible says. However, I am unable to find anything
in that Word of God that speaks to different standards for different
people or positions in the Church of God.
The duties within a church organization differ. Some carry more
responsibility than others. However, THERE IS ONLY ONE STANDARD OF
OBEDIENCE AND BEHAVIOR WITH GOD AND THAT STANDARD IS HIGH. We are
not judged solely based on our position or duties in the church but
primarily on our status in the Salvation Process. Ministers are
not any different from anyone else in the Body of Christ in respects to
the Salvation Process. It is the same process with the same
elements within that process for all. Both minister and member
must keep the Law of God. They must both be active in repenting of
and overcoming sin. Both must take advantage of any opportunity to
invoke the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of Godly principles
[love, joy, forgiveness, compassion and honesty]. There is no
difference.
Some believe, I suspect, that this "higher standard" for ministers
implies they MUST be without sin at all times and that any known or
perceived sin on the minister's part disqualifies him from the ministry
on the spot. Such is not the case. I talk about this in my
Notebook entry on
Fallible Human Beings. Ministers are not without sin.
They will, from time to time, slip and sin like anyone else in the
congregation. Their responsibility before God in such a case is
the SAME as it is for any member in the church...repent of the sin and
continue to move forward in the Salvation Process. Notice some
verses...
Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is
no respecter of persons:
Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a
mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Deuteronomy 16:19
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons
2 Chronicles 19:7
Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it:
for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons,
nor taking of gifts.
Job 34:19
How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor
regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his
hands.
Romans 2:11
For there is no respect of persons with God.
Colossians 3:25
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done:
and there is no respect of persons.
1 Peter 1:17
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth
according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in
fear:
God judges us according to our works [whomever we are, regardless of
position] and is not a respecter of persons or their positions or
duties. Job 34:19 states it plain that whether we are princes or
not, rich or poor, we are the work of His hands and our judgment will
come from what we allow Him to do in our lives.
Do not allow anyone to tell you there is a "higher standard".
There is only one standard before God and it is high.
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