What About Christian Standards?

Our culture is one of standards and is becoming even more standards based.  When I think about the function of standards in society I am very grateful for their existence.  Without them there would be increased chaos, pain, and suffering.  So, we have come to rely upon standards of business practice in the marketplace that will protect us and insure fairness.  there are standards of medical practice so that we can have confidence that when we are sick of have an emergency that the best practices available will be followed.  There are health standards that allow us to go to food delivery sources and purchase without questions.  Standards of privacy are what make counseling and law practices work.  What would we do without standards?

When it comes to Christian communities shouldn't there be reliable standards of behavior that will hold us together and identify us as followers of Jesus?  Wouldn't these standards protect us from those who would lead us astray?  Doesn't God have a high standard for us?  This last question reminds me of words that we sing as worship, "holliness, holiness, is what He wants from me...righteousness, righteousness, is what He wants from me."  So, I ask, what about Christian standards?

Scripture

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.... For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:17-20