What is a standard? Definition HERE (see definitions 3,4 &5). What would it be like, if one person made a foot 10″ and another person made it 12″. You certainly wouldn’t have a standard, but you would also be assured of absolute confusion and much anger would come of it. Should 16 oz. always be a pound, or would 14 oz. be o.k.? In fact, should an ounce always be an ounce? This of course presents a pretty obvious situation, and it is likely that nobody wants to change the criterion for measurements. The closest we’ve had is a push for the metric system in the U.S. The metric system still is a standard – it’s just centimeters and kilograms instead of inches and pounds.

But, there’s another type of standard, and that is a cultural standard or moral standard. What is acceptable or unacceptable behavior? What is a behavior that can be absolutely mandated or prohibited? Now we are getting into religion. Religion is a collective standard that is established by a group of people for the purpose of restraining bad behavior, and reenforcing good behavior. Often times is is headed up by a strong personality who dominates the thinking of the “collective”.

Religion can be reflected by small or large groups. Large groups would be Roman Cathholics, Protestants, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus as some of the world’s largest. Smaller, but still influential would be Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and Christian Scientists. From there, are many other representations of a less formalized type of religion such as environmentalism as one example. Some people even make a religion out of their political party.

This writer was in sales, and everyone said; “Don’t talk politics or religion with your customers!” That was likely wise advice from the perspective of making the sale and preserving the customer relationship. On the other hand, a sales person is dealing with large numbers of people and has a significant opportunity to sway minds, and the skill set to do so.

That aside, religion is the most controversial and contentious issue on the planet. Jews and Arabs have been at each other’s throats for thousands of years. Communists and Capitalists fight constantly. Democrats and Republicans fight constantly. Roman Catholics and Protestants have killed each other in the past. Muslims and Hindus fight in India all the time.

In each case, one side thinks their “standard(s)” to be better than anyone else’s. The result is conflict in the form of public humilliation, sanctions and ultimately war. One party always can justify their actions based upon their perceived self-righteousness. But, and this is a BIG BUT, are they righteous? And, if so, what makes them so? And, what is the best way to determine that righteousness and resolve the conflict?

There are only two ways to do that. One is objectively, and the other is subjectively. Subjectively, people “feel” a certain way, and therefore they must be right. This writer had a spouse with which there was a disagreement. This writer said; “Why do you say that?” The response was; “Because that’s the way I feel!” This writer said; “But I don’t feel that way, and so how do we reconcile our differences?” No response!

There was no response, because “feelings” require no thought, no standard, no principles – just feelings. Everyone has feelings, and as mentioned, they are not all the same. Feelings are “subjective” (self assessed). The alternative to “feelings” would be standards, principles and thought behind both of them. That would be “objective”, or outside of any of man’s “feelings”!

To go outside of man’s feelings, one has to look to non-man. Who might that be? History will tell you that leads to religion. It might be GOD, or god(s). If it is god(s) with a small “g”, then history is replete with those, and they all seem to have the characteristics of men’s personalities, whims and sins. If it is GOD with a capital “G”, then it is the GOD of the Bible which is thousands of years old and viewed by many today as just as relevant as the day of its writing.

The Bible is the only book and/or writing, in all of history that makes the claim that it is composed by the GOD who created all things. Needless to say, there are plenty of people who disagree with the Bible – not the least of which are today’s modern Jews, and many Christians as well. GOD makes the claim that He does not change. If so, then He meant what He said when He wrote the Bible, and nothing has changed apart from the elimination of ceremonial and sacrificial laws which have been abrogated in Jesus Christ who fulfilled them on the cross and theough His shed blood.

The Bible tells us to be Holy as GOD is Holy. It also tells us to be like Christ. Jesus says He fulfilled the law. He is also the author of the law, if you believe Him to be deity which most in Christendom do. The law is a standard for how people conduct their lives, both in relation to GOD (1st table of the law), and in relation to each other (2nd table of the law) which comprise the Ten Commandments – a summary of the whole law.

Now, if there is a GOD, then He must be Who He says He is. If that’s the case, then He has set up a standard for behvior for all men in all times forever. If that is true, and He loves His creation, then His standard is good for all men. But, man is a sinner, and that is true from the beginning right up until present day, and it will not change until Jesus Christ returns to judge. So, in the interim, how shall we live? Will it be by man’s flexible and inconsistent “standard”, or by GOD’s immutable standard?

Pensiamento Peligroso