Nauseating, Appalling, and Revolting.
December 1st, 2007
Why do we settle for mediocrity in anything? And more than that - why do we settle for mediocrity with our relationship with God?!
The only thing worse than not having a relationship with God is having a mediocre relationship with God. In so many ways - that’s exactly what the American Church has settled for. I’ve asked Christians, “How’s your relationship with God?” and I’m surprised how often I get a response similar to, “Eh, it’s going alright I guess.” That’s a perfect description of a mediocre relationship - and they’re fine with it!
When we settle for a mediocre relationship with God, he can’t stand it and he wants to spit us out! Most American Christians are living with mediocre Christianity. In Revelation 3 God spoke, “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.”
If you can’t live passionately for Christ, why do you even bother? Just stop! This sounds harsh, but I’m serious — and its biblical. If you won’t give your best for God, just quit - you’re wasting your time. It would be better for you to either be hot or cold - the worst is mediocre.
LORD HELP ME TO LIVE MORE LOUDLY FOR YOU!
DON’T LET ME BE MEDIOCRE IN MY PURSUIT OF YOU!
MAKE ME DISCONTENT WITHOUT YOUR CONSTANT PRESENCE!
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Good word, but isn’t this contrary to John 3:16 which says all you have to do is believe in Jesus, and you will have everlasting life? How is a believer rejected based on the quality of his relationship when he is, in fact, a beliver?
December 4th, 2007 at 2:23 am
John 3:16 says that God loved us so much that he gave Jesus to save us so that we didn’t have to die, but we could be saved. That seems like a contradiction but I don’t think it is at all - maybe if you only look at that one verse.
The more I read my Bible the more I’m realizing that scripture interprets scripture - looking at one verse here and there will certainly cause the appearance of contradictions because we aren’t understanding the context. But looking at scripture as a whole - we can see the bigger picture.
Let me address the specific possible contradiction mentioned. Jesus said you must believe in Him and have eternal life. What does it mean to “believe in Jesus”? Does that mean to repeat a prayer when you’re 5 years old and then have no regard for your relationship? I don’t think so. Nobody can back that up with scripture without taking it out of context.
“Believing in Jesus” I think is a bigger idea than saying a prayer and ignoring the rest. What about believing what Jesus said elsewhere (remember, scripture interprets scripture):
Matthew 7 clearly supports the idea I mentioned in my blog: “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” — these are people who did mighty things for God - yet God told them to get away, he never knew them. Read Matt. 7 to see why.
Or how about Revelation 3:5 that says Jesus will never blot out from the Book of Life the name of someone who overcomes. That certainly implies that he CAN blot out somebody’s name.
Or Matthew 7:13 that shows clearly that only a FEW find Eternal life - its not nearly as “open and shut” as we think it is!
I do NOT think the mediocre relationship is what limits someone from heaven - ITS THE SETTLING WITH THE MEDIOCRE RELATIONSHIP that does it. It’s not the quality of relationship, its the quality of the pursuit - if you’re not PURSUING, then I’d say there’s not much of a relationship anyhow.
There are PARTS of my relationship with God that are mediocre, or worse. But I’m trying. My pursuit is HOT. That just goes to show that “He who began a work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6 - this verse also shows that our salvation is not a once and forever thing - Jesus carries it on to completion!)
If that’s not what these scriptures were saying, I’m really not sure what they were.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
—SNIP!—-
Edit: I deleted a few comments here because they were getting way off topic of our personal relationship with Christ.
December 5th, 2007 at 11:53 am
i definitely agree.
i agree tht God calls us to be completely passionate. i don’t think that people would dispute that. but verses like in rev 3 make me uncomfortable. i have those days where i feel lukewarm. i have the days where i know that i am not completely and passionately following Jesus.
my question is this: is that a sign of mediocrity?
December 6th, 2007 at 9:04 am
We’re all human, and we all have our days. Sometimes we’ll feel on top of the world with God at our side…and other days we’ll feel more distant from Him than is comfortable. Just as Adam said, it’s the “quality of the pursuit”…and not “settling with the mediocre relationship.” If we see that we just aren’t where we need to be, and we continue down that path without regret, YES-it is a sign of mediocrity. But if we’re having an off-day, and it makes us fall to our knees to regain the fullness of His presence…that’s just beautiful.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
So how does one know when their relationship with God is an acceptable one? We should always want better, right? When there’s no ‘optimum level’, there’s always room for improvement. Shouldn’t we always feel like what we have isn’t good enough? Always strive for better? Because if we feel content with our relationship, that means we’re settling with what we have.
December 6th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
@Penny: how does one know when their relationship with God is an acceptable one? This first question sort of misses the point - its not your relationship that this post was worried about - its your PURSUIT in your relationship.
My response to every other question is: YES, EXACTLY! We should always want better. That’s thoroughly biblical.
Unfortunately, the mass of American Christians have been fooled into a mediocre pursuit of God, and they’re fine with it.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:42 am
You’ve spoken the harsh truth. Most Christians are only interested in a fire escape. They want to avoid hell but aren’t interested enough in Kingdom living to take the Bible literally for their own lives. So they never get to overcoming anything. However, scolding them into submission never works. Jesus’s strategy was to get the woman at the well thirsty for the water that would permanently quench her thirst. He led her to what she really needed. Make people thirsty.
January 6th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
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