What? There are Standards?

The other day Norma Jean and I was watching the Canadian version of CBS headline news when another story appeared about the company Astronomer.

By now everyone knows their CEO, Andy Byron was caught in a romantic embrace with his HR Director, Kristin Cabot, on the kiss cam at a Coldplay concert. Both are married to other people.

“I’m tired of seeing this,” Norma Jean remarked. Maybe you are too. But would you please read one more post from another perceptive?

The news flash was that Astronomer had released a statement about the affair and Byron’s resignation. It read in part. “Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”

The statement was met with a sarcastic quip from conservative columnist, Cal Thomas, “There are standards? Who knew?”

In answer to the request “define standards”, ChatGPT responded, “Something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model, rule, or criterion. Then added this example, “She maintains high moral standards.”

Standards involve honor, honesty, and integrity. They incorporate our values, principles, and mores. They speak to a code of conduct. Of decency. Goodness. Right and wrong.

But what is the basis of Astronomer’s standards? Who gets to determine what standards a company, culture, or society will accept and embrace? What is the source of our standards?

In Thomas’ column he referenced a speech by the late Fulton J. Sheen at a prayer breakfast where he lamented that moral, martial, sexual, financial legal and political standards were crumbling. He then asked, “How do you define a football field?” Answering his own question, he said, “By it’s boundaries.”

His point was obvious. A sporting contest has rules, regulations, and boundaries. It’s true on a basketball court, a football field, or a soccer field. You have to play within the boundaries and adhere to the rules. That principle is true in life, in morals, and in marriage. It’s true spiritually.

In recent blog post my good friend, preaching colleague and fellow blogger, Roger Shouse, offered this significant insight regarding standards and the aforementioned scandal.

“Without realizing many have admitted that there is a moral code of decency among us. They’d hate to be labeled as believers in God, yet by their words they acknowledge adultery is wrong. What is interesting is that adultery is not against the law in this country. So what makes it wrong?

“It’s just not right, people would claim. It’s breaking promises and vows stated at a wedding. It’s deceitful. And, all of that points to a moral standard. If there is no standard, then the couple caught on the jumbotron have nothing to be ashamed of. If there is no standard, while be embarrassed, ashamed and hide?”

“Why the moral outrage if there is no standard? It’s wrong, because there is a moral standard. We are not animals. We are created in the image of God. Where are people standing up and saying, ‘What this top exec did was fine. There is nothing wrong with what he did. He didn’t break any laws. He can do what he wants.’ Nope. No one is saying that. There is a right and wrong. It seems that everyone knows it.”

Moral standards are enunciated in the Bible. Why the Bible? Because it is God’s revealed Word. Yes, there is a God. Jesus is the Son of God. And the Bible is the Word of God.

Jesus claimed “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18-20). He stated that His authority came from the Father (Jn. 12:48-50). And He further promised the apostles He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them into all Truth (Jn, 16:13). He did. The Spirit did. And the apostles wrote it down for all the world to read (Eph. 3:3-5). To follow. And to become our moral, ethical, and religious standard. To establish the boundaries for righteous living.

So, the apostle Paul would affirm in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

This inspired document tells us that adultery, fornication, and homosexuality are sins (1Cor. 6:9-11). They violate God’s standard. They go beyond the boundary. The text also says that idolatry, drunkenness. and stealing are sins. That’s what the standard says.

The wise man correctly observed. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Prov. 14:34). Why? Because it involves an eternal, divine standard.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman