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Is That Standard Really What God Requires?
I recently read an article on dress standards, in which one of the basis of the standard was honoring the convictions of our leaders. It caused me to think back to a church I spoke in several years ago.
As I talked with the pastor, he expressed some real frustration. He had a number of faithful men, but it was his belief that no one who was not wearing a suit should be allowed to take an active part in the services, and his men refused to wear a suit and tie. He refused to allow them to collect the offering, lead in prayer or teach classes. As a result, no one was taking any part in the service. As pastor, he believed he had that authority.
James 2:1-9 deals with that very situation. James tells us that if we refuse to allow one who is not dressed as well to have part in the service, placing the better dressed in those positions, we have become judges of evil thoughts. In verse 9, he states further that we are committing sin and are convicted as trasnsgressors. The problem in that church was not the men, but the pastor, who was setting a defective standard.
Many churches used to use I Corinthians 11:3-15 as a standard why men in their church should not be allowed to have long hair, and in some cases to demand that women not attend church without a hat. Paul lists a series of reasons why these things ought to be a specific way.
Unfortunately many never seemed to connect verse 16, which says, "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." Literally, Paul, speaking by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, says that this is not to be a point of contention. The Apostles hold no such standard, despite all the things against it, nor do God's churches. The implication is that a curch which demands such a standard is not under God's leadership.
Paul procced to rebuke the church such contentions in verses 17 and 18. Verse 19 stresses that such contentions make it obvious who is really pleasing to God, indicating an unspiritual attitude on the part of those causing the contention.
From these two passages, it is clear that our standards are not to be based on the convictions of our leaders, but on the Word of God. II Timothy 2:15 instructs us, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Careful study of the Bible will result in standards that God approves, even though they may not meet the convictions of church leaders. Church leaders convictions may not, and frequently do not meet God's standards. It is far more impotrtant to please God than to please my pastor.
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