Why Such A Fuss Over Standards!!

[John Atkinson]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Unfortunately, people in strong "standards" churches are not usually allowed to do that. It doesn't matter what God says to them, it only matters what the rules of the church are. That is what you will do, period. And your kids will do that, too, even if it's not your own family's conviction.

At the risk of being labeled a liberal, I must agree. In the strong outward standards preaching churches, thinking is verboten. And when you force force force a kid to line up to a bunch of arbitrary rules... when they get old... they WILL depart from it.

My kids went to a youth conference recently.... a huge building FULL of youth. Three sermons - three sermons about standards. No joke. That is ALL that was preached. Splits, short sleeves, short skirts, nail polish..... yadda yadda yadda. I was so frustrated I could have cried. A whole building full of youth, in a very precarious time of their lives, and you can't use this time to truly draw them closer to the heart of God?

Now that is a crying shame.

For one, though I have no problem with the standard standards, it is the PASTOR'S job to teach, and even he needs to do that with wisdom and gentle leading, not with a pulpit hammer. And not based on his personal likes or dislikes of red clothes and etc...Not the job of a conference preacher.

And we wonder why so many do grow up and bail from the movement the minute they can.

There is a difference between having (and even preaching) standards of morality, character, behavior and modesty, and just plain legalistic bombardment.

Seen too many places where a man of God can preach about the victory we have in Jesus and the power of the cross and people sit like moss on a log. Then the first time someone mentions television or lipstick they shake the walls...