“Be the standard.”
All throughout society we aim for perfection. We aim to not only to succeed, but to triumph. Hardly ever does anyone just want to be standard. These short words that carry no value to others, inspire, encourage and drive Baylor as a whole.
To many other schools that do not quite understand Baylor and its traditions or methods, most people would read that phrase and question why Baylor has a motto that does not seem to hold much weight.
However, in the eyes of the Bears and their football team, this simple phrase is a constant reminder of how high the bar has been set. Back-to-back Big 12 Championships are now the baseline for the players and their goals must now extend beyond just winning the Big 12 Championship.
In academics, Baylor has also grown, much like the football program. After having the largest incoming freshman class in school history, more than 4,000 students, Baylor is obviously reaching new heights and setting new standards.
However, multiple dorms are being revamped and are possibly going co-ed all across the nation. Under-age drinking is present on almost all college universities and considered normal now. Young college students are now paying money to go see movies like “Fifty Shades of Grey” that seem to feature primarily sex and abuse.
This world has definitely changed and it seems that Baylor is making similar changes to conform.
Romans 12:2 states, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Just the other day, I cheered at one of the home Baylor men’s basketball games, I heard two young freshman boys at the top of their lungs yell the “F” word.
It didn’t astound me that it was hollered just one time, but it was habitually thrown from their mouths like a new chant.
As a yell “leader” at Baylor, I turned around and asked them to politely not use this word in public at a game where children and families came to watch their Baylor team triumph, and one boldly questioned, “Why?”
I am not sure where my fury had spouted from, but in that instant I fired back, “Because we are Baylor. We have class. We do not yell curse words across the court or field. That is not who we are.”
We are called to be different. We are called to stand out before peers and other universities to be the “faith-based forerunner” of other institutions. We are to be the standard, set an example and live it out.
As students of a Christian university, we are called to do the same. As this earth changes and rules flex, we must remain firm in the grounds of our beliefs to stand fast in God’s calling. We are to “be the standard,” set an example and live it out.
Christ was scorned by almost everyone during his lifetime. He befriended lepers and prostitutes.
He learned to love those that hated him and refrain from sin because He was doing as God has called us as people to do.
He did many things to show the love of God and to glorify Him by walking in a path of righteousness. He was the standard, He set an example and we must live it out.
Dane Chronister is a junior journalism major from Dallas. He is a reporter and regular columnist for the Lariat.
