WANTED: EXCELLENCE.

There is a disease spreading through Christianity that is embraced, encouraged, and cultured to grow.  The symptoms of the disease are behavior problems, myopia, listlessness, and silence.  This virus is called mediocritosis.

Here is a definition of this pervasive disease:

MEDIOCRITOSIS:  A mental disorder that affects all functions of the body often causing the afflicted to become lazy, procrastinating, complaining, and generally fatigued.  The disease is fatal over a long term.  The spread of the disease is caused by a chemical change in the brain that allows the victim to suffer unaware while infecting others.

I know this sounds a bit contrived, but think with me about your experience as a Christian.  Are you lazy with your faith?  Do you put off things you should be doing and know you are doing because you just don’t have the energy?  Do you fashion every circumstance you encounter in life into a “Look at how this affects ME” scenario?

I recall a letter that Paul wrote to the Colossian church when he was speaking to those who were the workers, (3:23) “Whatever you do… do it with excellence, as doing it for God and not for men.”

Somehow we’ve not only gotten caught up in the mundane rat race, trying to make a way for ourselves and our families, but we’ve accepted that mediocrity is the answer.  This answer bleeds from our work lives into our faith lives and the result is lackluster Christian character that ends up running our church and running people away from faith in general.

God’s example is nothing short of excellence.  Christ Jesus’ example is nothing short of excellence.  We are called to be like Christ, so how is it that we accept, teach, and breed mediocrity?  If you are living a mediocre faith life, then you have failed to be obedient to God.

God’s will, if you recall, is simply to love him with all that you are out of every fiber of your being and to love others as yourself.  Muddling through life wondering when the next shoe will drop is a miserable existence that is not supported in scripture.  Christians have accepted the idea that if we cloister ourselves inside pretty buildings and design really cool, average worship services, that somehow people will be compelled to walk inside and join you.  Really?!?  Think about that for a minute.  Is that all church is about?

Excellence is what happens when you get out of the mold of mediocrity and actually begin to serve others.  God asks for our best, and we give him our worst.  Why not spend a day or two reviewing your walk of faith and asking yourself, “how can I do this with excellence?”

Excellence is an ideal that not only invigorates your life, but it compels people to ask you where to get that “attitude”.  Simply put, excellence is going above the norm to do something as you are presenting it to God.

A few days ago, I was informed that I would need to help my daughter work on a science project.  Naturally, my first reaction was one of dread.  I’ve been through school, I work all day, I’ve done my share of projects, I’m tired, and I don’t feel like doing it – all symptoms of mediocritosis (the chief symptom being myopia:  how this is all going to affect ME).

After wallowing in my dread, I opened my eyes and saw an incredible opportunity to not only spend some really cool time with my girl, but I realized that my reaction and my actions were teaching her more about life than any words.  I remembered Colossians 3:23 and decided that all things must be done as if doing them for God.

Good or bad, whatever I do or put my hands on has to be done with passion and intensity.  I live with the idea that everything… and I mean everything… is a reflection on me, my family, and my faith.  The last thing I want to do is shine a light on God that is dim, half assed, and less than what He deserves.

If you have known me since childhood, you’ll know that this new found way of life is quite far from where I was as a teen or young adult.  Mediocritosis will infect you and leave you worthless.  Excellence comes from keeping your eyes on God and working in all things for him and not yourself.

Excellence in faith means that you go the second mile when only asked to go one mile.  It means you speak your faith when backed into a corner.  It means that you spend time learning who God is by reading his word.  It means that you actually do something to help your neighbor rather than worrying about how you’ll be treated.  It means that you stop dreaming of things you could do and start doing them.  It means that you take the time to do everything in your life to the best of your ability without holding anything back.

Excellence in your church means that regardless of your task, you do it as if it was life or death.  It means that if you mow the grass, you make it as perfect as you are able every single time.  It means that whatever your role… you do as if it were the prominent feature of your congregation.

Excellence is a learned trait.  It takes energy to get you moving and it takes commitment to keep you moving.  Don’t buy into the idea that someone else is better equipped.  And don’t burden yourself with the idea that Excellence means running the whole show.  Excellence means that you give 100% of your efforts to whatever your hands are touching using the God given talents to complete the task – without complaint.

Mediocritosis is nearing plague status in the Christian faith.  I’m sick of watching people sit on the sidelines and complain about how the world is going to hell.  I concur… the world will go to hell if you don’t get off your butt and actually start living a life of Excellence.

May your prayers be that God show you where you’ve become mediocre at living your faith, and reveal to you how to change to a servant of excellence.

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About

Welcome, and thanks for dragging yourself over to Live|Bold! My name is Greg Arnold and I am pumped to see you here. This interactive online community is here to point every man toward the cross. Whether you have been a follower of Christ for ages, or you are just stumbling into this strange new world of faith, we have something of value to offer you. This online e-zine is a cross between a blog, a social network, a resource center, and a pulpit. My hope is to inspire you to live your faith on the outside and be a real man for God. We need you in the fight.