We often want to talk about rules.
You have to do this.
You have to do that.
Don’t get me wrong, rules are good.
Rules are necessary.
But here’s the truth:
Most people live to bend, break, or get around rules.
Think about Adam and Eve.
They had one rule—just one.
Don’t eat the fruit.
But they ate.
It wasn’t that they didn’t know the rule.
It wasn’t that the rule wasn’t clear.
We just sometimes feel that a rule is there to be broken.
The real conversation shouldn’t be about rules—
It should be about standards.
You see, people want to live up to standards,
Not just follow rules.
And that’s what the idea
“It’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate”
Is all about.
You can preach all you want about what’s right,
But what you allow—
What you accept or overlook—
Speaks louder than any sermon.
We’ve all heard the phrase
“Practice what you preach,”
And while it’s good, it’s not enough.
What you tolerate also matters.
The standard you hold yourself to is important,
But the standard you hold others to
Matters just as much.
Especially in your family,
At work,
and in your church.
Rules may guide behavior,
But standards shape character.
They reflect what you will or won’t accept,
And that can either elevate
Or erode the integrity of those around you.
Consider this:
Your kids ask you,
“Do we have to go to church?”
Your response?
“We go to church because that’s what Christians do.
We go to church because that is what our family does.”
This isn’t about enforcing a rule—
This is about upholding a standard.
It sends the message that church attendance isn’t a negotiable obligation,
But a vital part of who you are as a family.
This idea plays out in every aspect of life.
At work, it’s not just about following the rules,
But meeting the standard of excellence.
If you want to be part of this team,
You rise to the occasion.
In the church, it's not just about teaching doctrines,
But about living in a way that models Christ-like behavior.
The Bible warns us about the dangers
Of tolerating the wrong things.
Galatians 5:9 says,
“A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”
It may seem like a small thing,
But tolerating even a little bit of sin or falsehood
Can affect the whole.
In 1 Corinthians 15:33, Paul warns,
“Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’”
Who you associate with—
And what you tolerate in those relationships—
Shapes your life.
Titus 1:10-11 speaks of silencing false teachers
Who, if tolerated,
Will lead entire families astray.
Standards aren’t just about you.
They’re about the community you build,
The family you raise,
And the example you set for others.
So yes,
“Practice what you preach” is important,
But remember:
It’s not just what you preach—
It’s what you tolerate.
Human standards are just another kind of rule. What we need is the liberty found in Christ, which is living subject to the Spirit of God. See Galatians 5. The Holy Spirit is indispensable for Christian living.