The Community Standard

Early tablet of the ten commandments

We don’t talk about it very much, but there is an idea that has assumed a central place in our culture. This idea is the “community standard”. In essence, it is what we, as a society, generally accept as appropriate behaviour. It used to be a consensus of the majority. And that is what it should be.  But…..I fear that it is becoming whatever idea that the vocal minority is selling this year.

Examples of the current “community standard”:

Graphic depiction of murder on our TV…..during prime time…..in front of school age children. 

Thinly veiled sex depicted between unmarried adults on our TV…..during prime time…..in front of school age children. 

Teaching the LGBT agenda in our schools and on our TVs.

Outlawing God and the Bible in our schools…….and, more and more, in our progressively “woke” business community, universities, and media community. 

Allowing Planned Parenthood to kill 3000 children a day …….every day.

The death penalty.

Tolerating urban homeless camps often populated by the addicted and the mentally ill without helping them.

A ridiculously low minimum wage that will not support a human being in our cities.

And many many more.

There are problems with the “community standard”:

It is no longer a majority consensus……..it is a reflection of the loudest voices shouting in the public square. 

It changes constantly……..and it is not improving. 

It reflects our appetites……..instead of what is morally right or wrong.

Like the frog in the frying pan, we slowly get used to it. Ideas that were once clearly wrong,  become tolerated, then become normal,  and finally become noble. Any one who complains or resists is assaulted…….first verbally and then physically. 

And worst of all……..it has become the code that we live by.

Is it any wonder that our society is in a state of progressive decay? This is most evident in the undeniable failure of our big cities.

And then there is the Bible. It is clear. It is constant. It is the owner’s manual……..written by our creator. It once served as our community standard……but no more.

Examples of the “Bible Standard”

Love God 

Love your fellow man

Don’t lie

Don’t steal 

Don’t murder

Honor your mother and father

Sex is for husbands and wives 

Don’t covet

Rest on Sunday 

Some will say it is narrow minded. I will concede that it is more restrictive and less fun in the short term than the “community standard “.

But can you honestly say that the community standard is building a better society than the Bible standard would……..if we only followed it? Can you honestly say that the community standard is improving our cities?

Portland, San Francisco, Chicago, New York……..these cities are the poster children for the “community standard” at work. And it is ugly.

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land”.

God, ESV…….a quote from 2 Corinthians……..recently taken down by facebook for violating the “community standard”.

It is says a lot about our culture……….when our creator is excluded from the public conversation because he doesn’t follow……….the “community standard”.