Scores

You may have seen the reports about actresses Lori Laughlin (“Full House”) and Felicity Huffman (“Desperate Housewives”) being caught up in a standardized test scandal.  At the time of this writing, Huffman had actually been arrested.  It seems (and as much as I criticize those who leap to conclusions in this space, I hasten to add — innocent until proven guilty) some people were paying for special consideration so their children could get good grades on their ACT or SAT.

This plan was more than just illegal and unethical.  It took college spots at good schools away from the groups that were to receive special assistance — largely consisting of ethnic minorities and the mentally challenged.

The idea of the rich and powerful succeeding at the expense of the underclass is as old as the hills.  So is the hypocritical clamor of those who condemn the action of “elites” while being guilty of far worse crimes themselves.  So I won’t go too far down that road.  I would, though, encourage you to adopt a much simpler attitude toward tests and scores — if in no other area, in the spiritual examination of 2 Corinthians 13:5.  And here it is.

Study hard.  Do your best.  Accept your score.  Make necessary adjustments.

Yes, your Judge (Romans 2:16) is merciful.  Yes, a perfect score is unattainable (Romans 3:23).  But that doesn’t mean we can pass with a failing score.  If we truly want to please God (Ephesians 5:10), we will listen carefully to the correction He offers. 

Better to pass the second time (or third, or fourth) than pretend like we passed the first time.