THE FATHER'S STANDARDS

We are a unique Fellowship in the earth, and one of the reasons we are unique is what we fondly call standards. Oh, not so fond? Well maybe we need to think about that a little before you decide to pitch the baby out with the bath water, especially in the light of the passing of the torch. Pastor Mitchell is dead, as I preached last week. Does that mean all bets are off? Let the games begin? Let’s think about it.

Jeremiah 35:18–19 NKJV

And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.” ’ ”

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL?

This is an interesting chapter in Jeremiah that warrants some careful consideration.

Jeremiah is given a word from God. He is to go to the Rechabites, sons of Rechab through Jonadab. These were Kenites, Midianites who allied themselves with Israel during the Exodus out of Egypt. Kenites inter-married with Israel, some famously. Moses married a Kenite wife and Jael married a Kenite husband.

Now Jeremiah has been told to go to these sons of Jonadab and bring them to the Temple and give them wine to drink.

Jeremiah 35:6–10 NKJV

But they said, “We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever. You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, nor have any of these; but all your days you shall dwell in tents, that you may live many days in the land where you are sojourners.’ Thus we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters, nor to build ourselves houses to dwell in; nor do we have vineyard, field, or seed. But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.

At this point we are tempted to ask, “What’s the big deal? Didn’t God invite them to drink wine? Doesn’t that legitimize it? What’s the big fizz?”

And what is this about not building houses, sowing seeds, planting a vineyard? What is wrong with all that?”

We will answer those questions in a moment, but we want to bring this into the present, for the same question is asked of us?

People often decry our “standards”. They call them legalism. Folks say they’re just human standards. They look at them the same way we might look at the Rechabites. “What’s the big deal?”

Now I want to make it clear from the beginning that our standards are not the basis of salvation, or the demonstration of a genuine walk with God. They are not.

First and foremost, they are ministry standards. That doesn’t mean that they are not helpful for the stock Christian who is not in ministry. Our standards for ministry are, in part, an issue of example…that is, being an example of behavior that will strengthen us spiritually. They will aid any Christian in holiness and consecration whether in ministry or not.

But they are not spiritual requirements for Christianity. We do not expect everyone to embrace them, even in our own churches. We think they would probably be a good idea, but they are not markers of salvation or characteristics of the spiritually elite.

Most of the Kenites who were in Israel had no problem building houses, growing vineyards or drinking wine, though it is thought by some that the wine probably had a much lower alcoholic content than wine today.

But the Rechabites had different standards by which they governed their lives. These were not requirements for all Jews, not even all Kenites. The Rechabites had their reasons that we will look at, but going to heaven wasn’t included in their reasons.

Having said that, we understand that ministry standards serve as a framework for spiritual development in an age of certain challenges to that development and as a means for leaders to furnish reference points to those who follow.

And so we have through the years set certain standards for those in public ministry…would-be pastors, bible study leaders, people in drama or music bands, Sunday School teachers and Children’s church workers, etc. Folks who represent our church and our faith. These are required of those in ministry, hence ministry standards.

This should not be surprising. The military has standards for hair cuts, dress codes, language used, equipment maintenance, when, where, and how time is spent, doing what!

James Wilson was telling me that his son went to apply for a job at Discount Tires. They told him no hair below the collar, no facial hair, no tattoos, closed on Sundays. Standards for a tire store of all things.

Paul had standards for ministry:

1 Timothy 3:2–7 NKJV

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

We have standards: new converts are saved for 6 months before public ministry, no movies, no TV, tithing, limited use of social networking, being in services, no booze, maintaining good relationships, pastors are clean shaven, though mustaches are ok.

Some of these reflect obvious Christian behavior. Some are more nuanced. Some are downright annoying. But believe me…our standards have been hard learned and hard won. We have reasons for each standard.

THE BIG DEAL

So let’s think about what lies under standards. It has to do with experience, Biblical principals, and testimony.

Consider the Rechabites position on wine. This is especially relevant given today’s escalating acceptance of sipping saints.

Biblically, the overarching principal is that alcohol is a bad idea.

The first mention (which is always significant) is Noah.

Genesis 9:20–21 NKJV

And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent.

The episode is not Noah at his best! The end result is Noah is shamed and Ham is cursed.

Next is Lot and his drunken incest with his daughters.

We have specific scriptural warnings:

Proverbs 20:1 (NKJV) — 1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29–35 (NKJV) — 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. 31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; 32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. 34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: 35 “They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?”

Proverbs 31:4 (NKJV) — 4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;

Interesting sidebar. Priests were not allowed to drink wine while on duty and Nazarites were forbidden wine. Standards come with the office. Ministry standards if you will.

Hosea 4:11 (NKJV) — 11 “Harlotry, wine, and new wine enslave the heart.

Ephesians 5:18 (NKJV) — 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Ans Paul warns in Corinthians and Galatians that drunkards will not enter the KOG.

Obviously there are scriptures that can be cited defending wine…not drunkeness, but drinking wine. A little wine for the stomach’s sake, Jesus turned water to wine, Prov suggests giving wine to the bitter of heart and the dying.

Our text could be cited. God told Jeremiah to give them wine. Was it a test? Probably. We’ll see the end result in a minute, but God tempts no one with sin and the context of the temple makes it even less likely that it would have been sin to drink it.

As you can see, a case can be made. Certainly Jonadab had a Biblical reason for his convictions and for imposing them on his sons, just as we have reason for our convictions and our standards.

What of experience? We don’t know the back story for Jonadab but we certainly have our own stories. Denny and the beer.

Romans 14:21 (NKJV) — 21 It is good neither to eat meat [offered to idols] nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

Excessive alcohol use is responsible for more than 95,000 deaths in the United States each year, or 261 deaths per day. These deaths shorten the lives of those who die by an average of almost 29 years, for a total of 2.8 million years of potential life lost each year. It is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and cost the nation $250 billion a year. And that is not taking into consideration all the damage done to property through drunken mischief.

With that in mind, what of testimony? One may say I only drink in moderation, but what about Denny? What about countless people who use the example of sipping saints to justify much more than a sip?

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (NKJV) 23  All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24  Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.

In the final analysis, in light of the collective evidence, though I might be able to justify it, alcohol does more harm than good and I can live without it. I’m sure Jonadab went through the same mental process to arrive at his standard for his sons.

What about owning houses and lands? Why would the Rechabites have such a position?

The first city was built by Cain, an interesting detail that is completely unnecessary in the genealogy in which it is found. But the connection to Cain, who is not a Biblical hero is suggestive. There’s a reason for the details in scripture.

The city of Babel didn’t go too well.

Genesis 11:4-8 (NKJV) 4  And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." 5  But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6  And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7  Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." 8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.

The Jewish exposure to cities had some fairly negative connotations. The cities of Egypt. Tarshish. Babylon. The Jewish experience of cities carried some heavy baggage.

Isaiah 5:8 (NKJV) 8  Woe to those who join house to house; They add field to field, Till there is no place Where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land!

Proverbs 14:11 (NKJV) — 11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish.

Notice the contrast between house and tent. That was deliberate.

Again, it isn’t hard to build a biblical case contrary to this. Earlier in Jeremiah we have a case in point.

Jeremiah 29:4-5 (NKJV) 4  Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5  Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.

Obviously it would be a much harder reach to try to carry this idea forward into our times than the case against alcohol, but we can observe that cities are definitely sin central! Put a bunch of people together and it isn’t long before you have crime, riots, and lots of strange ideas!!!

Furthermore, the idea of pilgrimage, sojourners (Jer 35:7 above) is a commitment not to get too attached to the world or the things that are in the world. Don’t sink your roots too deep because this is not your home.

1 Peter 2:11 (NKJV) 11  Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, Hebrews 11:13-16 (NKJV) 13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15  And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16  But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Does God not want us to buy a house or live in a city? I don’t think that’s the point. I know he wants us to embrace the spirit of the standard. Don’t let your roots go deeply into the soil of this world. We’re just passing through.

I am not trying to build a case against cities! I am simply pointing out that standards have a source. They are the consequence of well-reasoned analysis, Biblical theology, experience, and a concern for testimony.

FIGHTING FOR OUR FATHER’S STANDARDS

And so we come to the question of standards in our own spiritual journey and in our Fellowship. We have arrived at our standards in much the same way.

Listen to this:1 Corinthians 11:14-16 (NLT2) 14  Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 15  And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. 16  But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

This is the end of a 16 verse treatise on headship and covering. It addresses a bunch of things but Paul reaches this conclusion: Paul is saying this is a standard. We have no other custom. He isn’t saying men with long hair are sinning. He isn’t saying you can’t come to church if you have long hair.

I could care less! It is not our custom. But it was the custom of the early churches. Paul had his reasons. They were not ambiguous. Appearance tells a story. Otherwise, gangstas would wear Brooks Brothers suits. The smart ones do so they can’t be identified as gangstas. Right or wrong, your appearance telegraphs what you want to say about yourself. I’m cool. I’m hip. I’m a cowboy. I’m a professional.

With that in mind I want to address our standards, in a very limited way. We would be here all morning if we had to build a well-reasoned theology for each standard.

The first thing I want to say, and should be self-evident based on what I’ve said so far, is that we are not calling for mindless adherence to extra-biblical cultic practices. We are not saying that you should do it because we said so. There is a respect for paternal wisdom that is factored in, but that is a starting point, not the final rationale.

We have formed our convictions through years of spiritual warfare, defending our families, searching for keys to blessing and thriving. This has led us to various convictions. We expect you to do the same. You must form your convictions through well reasoned analysis, the Word of God, experience, and your concern for your testimony and impact on the lives around you.

That last issue is huge. Read Romans or Corinthians and it becomes clear that though your conscience may not be bothered by certain behaviors, but others will be. Remember Denny!!! Why even talk about love if you’re unwilling to sacrifice for someone else’s welfare?

Be that as it may, it is incumbent on you to find out why we have embraced the standards we have embraced.

Joshua 4:5-7 (NKJV) 5  and Joshua said to them: "Cross over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6  that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' 7  Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever."

If you don’t know, ask! The memorials are there to provoke the question.

Now some standards are more than just Fellowship standards. They are obviously not up for grabs. They are so clearly Biblical that they really must be lived as Christians.

The tithe, relational harmony, biblical morality. These are definitive Christian behavior.

But what about movies, and faithfulness to all the services, and what’s up with Pastors with no beards?

Again, these things are understandable if you approach them with well-reasoned analysis, Biblical perception, experience and a concern for your testimony…but if you don’t understand why we do some of the things we do, ask! Our standards all come from this process.

Get my sermon called Satan’s Pulpit, or Son of FUBU…a couple of good places to start. Maybe I’ll preach them again. Or if there’s anything else that you don’t understand about the way we do our Christianity, come and ask me! I’ll be glad to ‘splain it to you.

So what does our text say about all this? God says: “Because you have obeyed the commandments of your Father Jonadab…I am going to bless you forever! You will always have a place before me.”

Wow! God isn’t even saying, because you did all my commandments. He is commending them for doing all their father’s commandments!

Proverbs 22:28 (NKJV) 28  Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.

Now that P Mitchell is gone, we can do away with these old musty standards. Not so fast, Bubba. Some of us have some well-reasoned convictions about these things. Just as I preached a week ago, Moses is dead. Arise, go into the land. Nothing has changed. The plan remains the same. And we will still be a people who militantly pursue the KOG. Because we have obeyed the commandments of our father, we will never lack a man to stand before God forever.