Mediocrity and the Christian

Is it a sin for a Christian to be mediocre? Well, the question itself brings some tension, does it not?

No one wants to be called mediocre; no one wants to be called average. We all want to be told that we excel in something. We don't need to excel in everything, but in one little thing, it would be nice to know and tell others that we are well above average in something, right? Is that not the way we all think? I will venture a guess that it is.

If that is the way we think then why do we accept this whole idea of mediocrity. As Christians we do accept this idea of mediocrity, and we go one step further - we strive for it. You doubt me? What if I used other terms like tolerance, acceptance, grace and love? Do we use those words correctly or do we use those words to be mediocre?

Am I being too harsh? Maybe, I am way out of bounds on this one? Let's see! A. W. Tozer states,

"You're a believer, you're saved ; you know that but you're ordinary and you have no outstanding abilities or qualities ; not distinguished by spiritual superiority at all ; just following the customary ways of the church. Now, I leave it to you whether it describes you or not but I have observed a lot and I do observe that as well as pray and I find that most Christians are mediocre."

Mediocre, the term, means of moderate or low quality, value, ability or performance. There is nothing excellent or good about being mediocre. Tozer goes on to write about the term,

"Mediocre’ is a word that we use a lot without knowing what it means and mediocre means ‘half way up between the valley and the peak. It doesn't mean half-way between earth and Heaven, it means half way between where we used to be and where we ought to be. Now that's where I would describe the average Christian."

Is Dr. Tozer also being too harsh and judgmental? What are we doing these days that is excellent? We want everything for nothing. We refuse to be held to standards. We can not be inconvenienced. We question everything if it is not the way we think it ought to be. We think we are right about everything. We want our own way. We want to be rescued. We do not want to be held to any standard. And, the list goes on and on...

Why is this? Dr. Tozer believes it is because we would rather be safe than anything else. He writes,

"Christians want to be safe. This generation is the weakest that I have known and the weakest probably that we have ever had since our forefather's landed at Plymouth Rock! Everybody's bleating about security! We're hanging onto the neck of Uncle Sam as a baby hangs to the neck of its mother, whimpering and bleating! We want security but there's no security when you have a cross on your shoulder, my friend."

Mediocrity is easy and simple; everyone can do it. The world is mediocre, but the Christian is not called to mediocrity. The Christian is called to excellence for that is what Christ is. There are many who will doubt Christ as Lord, Savior or Truth. He is all of these represented well in the body of a Christian striving imperfectly to be excellent. It is the Christian that should set the pace; it is the Christian that should be the standard. It is the Christian that should be the example to the world of real excellence.

In the closing, I need to mention Colossians 3:2 because it is a verse that commands us to "set our minds on the things above." Many of us, myself included, have disregarded this verse. But, if we think in the practical reality of what happens when we set out minds on things, we discover a whole new perspective on this verse. When I set my mind on losing weight... I lose weight. When I set my mind of reading a difficult book... I read the book. Can you imagine if every Christian set their mind on the things above in the same way that they set their mind on their golf game, their diet, their job, their recreation and the list could go on and on.... Would the Christian have to worry about mediocrity? I think not.

Mediocrity and the Christian do not mix well nor should they mix well. We have a great calling - one rooted in Christ and always in excellence. Blessings!