The Grapevine
Number 109                                                                            
August 14, 2005
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

Two Standards to Choose From
By Jack Northart 

The term “double standard,” coined in the early 1950s, refers to any set of principles containing different provisions for one group of people than for another. A double standard may take the form of an instance in which certain applications (often of a word or phrase) are perceived as acceptable to be used by one group of people, but are considered unacceptable—taboo—when used by another group. 

For example, it is often seen as socially acceptable for a member of a cultural group to jokingly call members of the same group by an ethnically derogatory name. However, anyone outside this ethnic group is viewed as intolerant or discriminatory when he/she calls a member of the group by that same derogatory name. Double standards between men and women are also very common in many cultures, as well as among many religious organizations. 

But when it comes to the accuracy and integrity of God’s Word, we cannot have a double standard in which to live by. That is why it is so vitally important that we work and study God’s Word in order to rightly divide it.  

II Timothy 2:15

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. 

When we understand its great accuracy, then we can endeavor to live it day by day, and not just when we are around other Christian friends or members of our fellowship. 

Ephesians 5: 15-17

See then that ye walk circumspectly [Greek: akribos], not as fools, but as wise,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 

To walk is to live our lives. To walk circumspectly means to walk exactly, with the utmost accuracy. To walk exactly takes practice, no matter how long you have been around. We study God’s Word to know God’s Will, and then we consistently live it day after day.  

Even the most seasoned hitters in Major League Baseball utilize this method of study and practice. They endeavor to work their swing like participating in batting practice during Spring-training and before each game, not to mention practicing in the off-season. They study how other great hitters swing their bat. They study the mechanics, and they seek the advice of veteran players and coaches. They are always trying to improve their scores and percentages.

They keep themselves in top physical condition as well, which means keeping disciplined training going all year long. If they want to hit 30, 40 or 50 homeruns in a season, they have to do more than just show up for each game. It takes choosing an exhilarating and aggressive training regimen as a standard to live by. 

If we want to raise our level of “playing;” if we want to walk for God with the utmost accuracy, we too must make disciplined training a regular part of our lives. That doesn’t mean running 5 miles everyday, but it means studying God’s Word, and endeavoring to walk on it everyday. As we do so, we set a precedent, a standard by which to live by; no matter who is standing around watching. 

Psalm 18:33

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. 

The hind is a female red deer whose home is the mountains. The rear feet of the hind step in precisely the same spot where the front feet have just been. Every motion of the hind is followed through with single-focused consistency, making it the most sure-footed of all mountain animals. If she did not test that rocky incline with her front feet, the loose stones would cause her to slip and fall. 

God makes it so that we may learn to walk by the Word so that our “hind feet” will track with our “front feet (representing the Word).” Thus, where the Word has set the standard, we will also set our standard. As you stand upon what God’s Word says, you become what it says in your own life. 

I Corinthians 9:25

And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 

The word that is translated as ‘”temperate,” means to exercise self-control. It is a deliberate decision that each competitor must make before competing in the games. It includes their diet, the amount of hours they devote to sleep, physical training, studying the competitors, studying their own strengths and weaknesses, making adjustments and getting better as time goes on. There is no compromise if they want to be competitive. There is a standard of excellence and the corresponding effort that it takes to achieve and maintain it. 

To live by a double standard would appear to be a derogatory way to live as viewed by most people, yet that is exactly what happens. No one wants to appear to be a failure. Nobody wants to look like they believe in something that is wrong or untoward. So, without making any true genuine changes in certain situations, they put on a mask of sorts. In doing so, no one will really know what your core beliefs are all about; what your real standards are in life. Jesus confronted this very thing during his earthly ministry. 

Matthew 15:7-9

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

Here is the highest form of living by a double standard. They had all of the trappings of being pious and holy, yet they were complete hypocrites. Their hearts were far from God. However, they fooled a lot of people with their disguise. Their worship looked genuine. They went through all of the religious ritual. If we judged them according the flesh, we would have given them the stamp of approval. But Jesus said unto them, “In vain do they worship.” How did he know it was worshipping in vain? He explains it by saying that they were, “teaching for doctrine the commandments of men.” These were supposed to be the leaders of God’s people. They were supposed to be teaching them God’s Word, yet they took advantage of their position of authority by teaching wrong doctrine; teaching the commandments of men. It still goes on today. 

Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

There are many things going on under the guise of Christianity which are nothing more than having “confidence in the flesh.” To not have confidence in the flesh means that we truly have our confidence in what God wrought in Christ Jesus. We accept his accomplishments on our behalf. We identify ourselves with what God’s Word says, and not by anything else in this world. To study, to learn and to live God’s Word should be our standard practice. He is our Father, we are His children, and the “secret” to find out what that relationship is all about can be found in His Word.