God of the Mediocre

God of the Mediocre?

I thought I had seen and heard it all, but a recent survey by George Barna^{^[1]} really shocked me. This survey set out to discover the areas of spiritual life people feel most confident about and also those areas they feel they need help with. They polled Christians from all age groups and denominational backgrounds.

The first statistic that shocked me was that “a majority of adults consider themselves to be ‘average’ in most of the seven areas of spiritual life that were studied”. I wonder how you would rate yourself? If the survey is accurate then it is very likely that the majority of the readers of this article would also rate themselves as “average”. So is that what Christianity is all about? Just to be average? And average by what standard? My suspicion is that “average” by today’s standard would be bottom of the class by the Bible’s standard! Let’s have a look at what the scriptures require:

Jesus said: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:47). In the context, Jesus was not speaking about a judicial or theological perfection, but a practical perfection in all the areas of the Christian life. I know that the majority of readers will discount this as not meaning what it says but there is no getting away from it. This was a clear, unequivocal and unqualified statement by Jesus: He expects perfection!

James says: “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4).

Peter says: “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,” (1Peter 1:15).

Paul says: “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28) and “…that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15).

If the majority of Christians think they are average, when they are not, there can only be two reasons. Either they think more highly of themselves than they should, or there is a problem with the standard. I suspect that both are a problem. First, in an environment of self-esteem we are being brain-washed into thinking we are wonderful when we are not. Second, in the light of the all-pervasive promotion of “cheap grace” where God has no standards as long as we “believe”, it is easy to think that the biblical standards no longer apply and that everything is relative. Thus, compared to my neighbor I look quite good. However, the standard is not what is acceptable in society today or what the church expects but, it is what the Lord expects that matters and, that standard is very high indeed.

What shocked me more than the fact that most thought the way they practiced their faith was average, was the fact that these people felt that mediocre was good enough and that there was no room for improvement! Yes, when questioned as to what aspect of their spiritual life they would like to improve, 13% said they would like to increase their commitment to the faith, 12% said they would like to improve their Bible knowledge and 7% said they would like to improve their prayer life. Let’s get this straight: 87% of Christians think their level of commitment is good enough, 88% think their Bible knowledge is adequate and 93% feel they pray enough!

No wonder the church is in trouble! No, I checked. I do not have the figures reversed but I don’t blame you for thinking that. My guess is that the figure is reversed in God’s mind. In other words, God probably feels that 7% of Christians pray enough and that 93% need major improvements in their walk with the Lord!

So what does this all mean? It means that most Christians are in for a rude awakening on the Day of Judgment when they will discover what God’s expectations really are. It also means that many preachers are in serious trouble with the Head of the Church for lulling their people into a false sense of security that average, mediocre and lukewarm are OK! Christ says that He will spit such out of His mouth and that He has no time for those who are self-sufficient and cozy in their mediocrity.

The blessed ones are those who are poor, who mourn for their inadequacy and who hunger and thirst for (more) righteousness! (Matthew 5:3-6). When you apply Matthew 5 to those statistics, less than 10% of those who say they are Christians fall into the group who are “blessed”!

Oh, but we should not be so negative and down on ourselves. May I remind you of Paul who, after a lifetime of powerful ministry, miracles, unmentionable revelation, unparalleled giftedness and many trials said:

“That I may know him… If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:10-14).

Oh Lord, shake us from our complacency and lukewarmness. Create within us a hunger and thirst for more of You, more of Your Word, more of your Presence, more of your Anointing, more of your Blessing and more of your Suffering. Help us to see ourselves the way you see us – as we really are; wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, except we find in You our total sufficiency for every moment. Create within Your people a divine discontent with being average and a desperate desire to have more of You and to be more like you. – Amen.

Anton Bosch

antonbosch@sbcglobal.net

3310 W Magnolia Blvd

Burbank, CA, 91505

Tel 818 846 5520