Double Standards Anyone?
The LORD detests differing weights, and
dishonest scales do not please him.
– Proverbs 20:23
Come to God and he will come near to
you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
–
James 4:8
Okay, let’s all get our excuses out. “Everybody else
does it.” “Well, so-and-so did it!” “I was just going along with everyone
else.” “Well, it’s not against the law.” “I can handle it.”
Did you think of a few more? I’m sure you probably
did. When it comes to making excuses for our actions, attitudes and words, we’re
quick to justify ourselves.
Except there is no justification for doing something
we know is wrong, no matter how many people do the same thing. There also is no
justification for judging two people by two different standards.
We judge people we don’t know based on standards we
don’t uphold. We don’t see it that way, of course. We’re too high up in our
opinions to actually try and listen and understand another point of view. We
shut their voices out. We’re disgusted by their views. We’re so busy being “right”
that we can’t see how wrong we are.
Do you want to start a fight on Facebook? Just mention
President Trump’s past marital indiscretions. The defense that comes from good
Christians? Well, look at Bill Clinton.
Indeed, let’s look. Does one person’s bad behavior
justify the bad behavior of another person? No. It doesn’t. Nor does it justify
the sad fact that people who condemned Clinton – understandably – now make
excuses for Trump. It’s called a double standard.
We’ve used it for years in politics and in social
circles. Someone who is poor and an alcoholic is called every kind of name. No compassion
is offered at all. Someone who is rich and an alcoholic gets offered sympathy
and rehab and a hush-hush about it. News flash: An alcoholic is an alcoholic no
matter how much money is involved.
It’s why for so long children in middle-class and
upper-class homes were over looked when it came to abuse and neglect. We
assumed it couldn’t happen in “good” neighborhoods like our own. We judged
based on economics and appearance rather than fact and heart.
We do the same to justify our own behavior. Everyone
fudges on their expense accounts, so what’s the big deal? Well, it was just a
little white lie to make someone look good. It’s a cut-throat world and you’ve
got to “get” someone before they do the same to you. My child has worked hard
and deserves to be on the team, in the performance, or in the group. Besides, I
give a lot of money to your organization. That can go away, you know.
Does any of this sound familiar? You’d be furious at
anyone who did these things to you. Why do you think it’s okay to do them to
someone else? Where did we ever get the idea that it was okay to judge with a
double standard? Certainly not from God.
