There are a LOT of issues at work here. But contrary to my typical pattern, I’ll give my “bottom line” answer first. (Aren’t you blessed?)

Ultimately success/failure in the ministry rises and falls on God honoring HIS WORD, which usually even supersedes the vessel He uses to communicate that word. Another way of saying that is this: If a person hears the gospel, the Bible can work its business independent of the messenger. God’s Word is Truth. God’s Word is alive and powerful. God’s Word will not return void, or empty. No matter how “good” I am, I’m not worthy to disseminate God’s message, but the reality is that He has chosen me for exactly that. Paul calls this concept “treasure in earthen vessels,” i.e. picture gold and jewels in a clay pot. The container doesn’t measure up to the contents, but nevertheless, it is the vessel God has chosen. So, to paint it in the extremes, a “bad” Christian can see souls saved just like a “good” Christian can, not because of their intrinsic holiness, but rather because they are sharing a true and powerful message with the ability from the Holy Spirit to change lives. You can’t base everything on results alone. Classic example is Moses in the O.T. He wanted water from the rock, and he got water from the rock. The problem was that his method (i.e. striking the rock) was the exact opposite of what God had commanded (i.e. speaking to the rock.) God gave the results, but it didn’t mean He was happy with Moses. Check out Numbers 20:7-12 for the full story. People can be saved despite areas of disobedience, not to their credit, but to God’s. He is able to even use flawed defective people in the spread of His word (a fact for which I am frequently reminded to be grateful.)

So what’s the point of personal holiness? If God can bless me anyway, why bother with standards? Well, remember that our holiness has to do first and foremost with our desire to be in fellowship with God, not with our expectation of results in the ministry. We aren’t holy/have high standards so that we are more effective in ministry, but rather because we want to be as much like our Heavenly Father as possible. “Be ye holy for I am holy, saith the Lord,” not “Be ye holy so you can win more people to me than the unholy kid up the street.” It was the Pharisees that missed this concept, by putting all of their attention on their comparison with others, and putting God on the back burner. They honored Him with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him (Mt. 15:8). So, what this means is, I want to do right and have Bible standards for the purpose of being like Christ, regardless of the perceived obedience/disobedience and results/lack of results I see in others.

Now the wild cards remaining in this answer are still in the details of what we mean by “biblical standards.” You know as well as I do that good Christians often disagree over issues such as personal dress, music, entertainment, etc. To make the automatic assumption that anyone with lower standards than me is a liberal, and anyone with higher standards than me is a legalist is dangerous indeed. I do need to concede that someone’s standards may be different than mine without necessarily being wrong. They may have lower (non-sinful) standards because they have great discernment and willpower against sin, and can withstand temptations I cannot, or they may have higher standards than me because they have particular weakness that need protections that I do not require. There is a measure of diplomacy that should accompany my declaration that my standards are the only Biblical possibilities. Some flexibility may be permissible.

However, at some point, a line is usually crossed, and I cannot in good conscience support/defend another person’s standards. For example, I wouldn’t agree with using a rock concert to spread the gospel. People may get saved (see earlier paragraph) but the association and connotation of rock music is against everything I believe God represents. I think presentations like that, as well as most “contemporary” worship philosophies ultimately give a false impression of who God is. People are told to “come as you are,” and “God is tolerant of everything,” and although the specifics of the Gospel message is accurate (and thus they get saved,) they fail to reconcile the holy nature of God. You can’t read about God in Leviticus, for example, and believe that God is big on “come as you are” worship. So you have a whole generations of legitimately saved Christians who only know part of God’s character (His love.) There is a depth and dimension to God that they don’t see, because no one shows it to them. Admittedly, many in our camp are erring on the opposite side of the fence. We sometimes see so much of “holiness” that we fail to appreciate “grace,” but that’s another discussion.

My point is this: God does not have a double standard. He asks us to conform to His holiness, and that means a rejection of self and worldliness. That is the standard to which we are each called to comply. However, the compliance is for our fellowship with Him, not just our service to Him. He can bless “carnal Christians” (read the book of First Corinthians sometimes and see all the things God IS doing in their midst as far as spreading the gospel, spiritual gifts, etc. despite their obvious problems) with results if He chooses, not to condone/commend their work, but to honor His Word.

So hang in there. Keep your focus on God, and have the standards that facilitate a vibrant walk with Him. That fellowship will be your blessing. And keep sharing the gospel. God WILL honor His Word. Be real, and that will go far with that Kwik-Trip cashier.