On standards we can't keep

"I have disappointed and failed to live up to the standard I expected of myself," the first-term governor told a packed press conference at his Manhattan office. "I must now dedicate some time to regain the trust of my family," he added, as his wife of two decades, Silda, stood by his side.

–Words of Eliot Spitzer, Governor of New York State, alluding to allegations of illegal involvement with a prostitution ring. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7288540.stm

How many times do we disappoint and fail to live up to the standards we expect for ourselves? That is perhaps the key thing that defines fallen man. Fallen man is not defined by the fact that he no longer knows right from wrong. His problem is that he knows right from wrong, but is hopelessly unable to walk in it. Everyone—atheist, Christian, or heathen alike—all set some sort of standard for themselves concerning the way they think they ought to live! The ironic thing is that people break the very standards they themselves create! I am not speaking here of God’s laws and perfect holiness which we obviously far fall short of, but something more simple—those artificial standards of righteousness we set up for ourselves.

From the mom who says she should never yell at her kids (and then does anyways) to the husband who says that he should always be patient with his wife (and then loses it), to the kid who has always said cheating was wrong (and then looks at his friend’s paper), to the governor who spouts the need for integrity….need I go on? I mean, really, if you yourself can’t think of a single circumstance of duplicity in your own life, then perhaps your thinker is out of order. We all do it on different levels in various circumstances.

What is the natural response when we find ourselves in a position where we have violated what we understand to be right? Well usually, the place I want to start is blame—I blame my circumstances, or the people who have influenced me, the helps that had been denied me, or the pressures that surround me! Sometimes (and this one can even look responsible), I blame my own weakness. That way at least it looks like I am facing up to my errors! In reality, though, I am simply hiding behind my humanity as an excuse for my shortcomings.

Another natural response is simply a sudden shift in standards. “Oh, well, I thought that was wrong before, but now because I have done it, and found so much pleasure in it—well…it can’t be wrong because it felt so right! Wow, I was so inhibited!” We have just justified something we knew was wrong. Maybe we’ll feel guilty about it for a while, but eventually it will begin to feel like normal behavior.

May I submit that this human behavior pattern of violating what we know to be right is a universal indication that mankind is broken? We are fallen people. We know what we ought to do and yet don’t do it! It is not complicated! It is just that we are broken! Men and women will face judgment primarily on the basis of this reality—their constant falling short of the standard they know to be right. In fact, we in essence judge ourselves. We know what is right, yet screw it up.

You get the picture here? The good news is this: God sent a Savior, Jesus. He fixes things. In fact, He fixes broken people. All who trust in Him, acknowledging that they have failed and need fixing get a special gift: they are no longer judged the way they deserve to be judged, and they receive new power that grows them toward actually living the way they ought to live.

Learn from our poor governor—learn from me—it’s impossible for you to live up to the standard you expect from yourself. If you think you are actually doing it, you probably are just blind to the duplicity of pride that permeates your existence.

Be honest about your shortcomings and look to the Savior for his forgiveness and help. It’s never too late and never to early to repent. It’s the sweetest gift you’ll ever receive, and it’s a gift you will have to keep tapping over and over again.