Webster defines the adjective "average" as being about midway between extremes: not out of the ordinary: common. As a man I used to pastor put it, "Not being any closer to the top than you are to the bottom." Sadly, I believe that is a fair and accurate description of the "average" Christian, as well as the "average" church. (I suppose if there is one thing we can claim, it would be the fact that we are living up to our name and recognition.)
I don't know how you see it from your point of view, but I am convinced that most Christians and churches are average. We are about midway between the two extremes. We are not sold out to the Lord, completely committed to the relationship that He desires, nor are we so cold that we have no desire for Him. We are just ordinary and common. Most Christians and churches in our modern society are very much the same when you remove the facade that we so desperately try to uphold. We are simply no closer to the top than we are the bottom. We have developed a "take it or leave it" attitude when it comes to the things of God. We are "average" in our attendance, in our zeal, in our commitment, and even in our service. I think it would be safe to say that we are pretty "average" in every aspect of Christian life in general.
As you read this you might agree with what I have said and even wondering what is so bad about "average." After all, if we are looking at a scale of 1 to 10, most would be about a 5. You could actually argue that you are at least doing better than somewhere close to 50% of the rest. To that I would have to agree, but we must take the time to consider things from a biblical perspective. We are foolish to assume that Christ is even remotely pleased with "average." In fact, "average" makes our Lord sick! Consider what He said to the church in Laodicea:
Rev. 3:14-16
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; [15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Clearly Laodicea was an "average" church. They were not hot, but they weren't cold either. They were somewhere comforatably in the middle. Jesus described them as "lukewarm."He declares that He wished they were either cold or hot, but since they were lukewarm, He would spue them out of His mouth. That reveals a disdain for that which has been tasted.
The danger of being "average" is that you are comforatble and see no need to improve. If we were cold in our relationship with Christ, we would likely be uncomfortable. I fear that most today are merely lukewarm or "average."
Being average is certainly easier than being on fire for the Lord. There are fewer commitments and expectations. My pastor has said many times, "Any old dead fish can float downstream, but it takes one with some life in him to go against the current." I pray that God will convict our hearts and move us from our complacency and ease of settling for "average." Aren't you glad that Jesus wasn't an average man. Aren't you glad that He didn't have an average desire or commitment. If He had been average, we would yet be in our sin. We don't serve an "average" Savior and He deserves more than "average" from us!
By the help of the Lord I hope to preach on "Rising Above Average" on Sunday morning. I want Fellowship to rise above average and be fruitful for the Lord!
Preacher Chris
I don't know how you see it from your point of view, but I am convinced that most Christians and churches are average. We are about midway between the two extremes. We are not sold out to the Lord, completely committed to the relationship that He desires, nor are we so cold that we have no desire for Him. We are just ordinary and common. Most Christians and churches in our modern society are very much the same when you remove the facade that we so desperately try to uphold. We are simply no closer to the top than we are the bottom. We have developed a "take it or leave it" attitude when it comes to the things of God. We are "average" in our attendance, in our zeal, in our commitment, and even in our service. I think it would be safe to say that we are pretty "average" in every aspect of Christian life in general.
As you read this you might agree with what I have said and even wondering what is so bad about "average." After all, if we are looking at a scale of 1 to 10, most would be about a 5. You could actually argue that you are at least doing better than somewhere close to 50% of the rest. To that I would have to agree, but we must take the time to consider things from a biblical perspective. We are foolish to assume that Christ is even remotely pleased with "average." In fact, "average" makes our Lord sick! Consider what He said to the church in Laodicea:
Rev. 3:14-16
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; [15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. [16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Clearly Laodicea was an "average" church. They were not hot, but they weren't cold either. They were somewhere comforatably in the middle. Jesus described them as "lukewarm."He declares that He wished they were either cold or hot, but since they were lukewarm, He would spue them out of His mouth. That reveals a disdain for that which has been tasted.
The danger of being "average" is that you are comforatble and see no need to improve. If we were cold in our relationship with Christ, we would likely be uncomfortable. I fear that most today are merely lukewarm or "average."
Being average is certainly easier than being on fire for the Lord. There are fewer commitments and expectations. My pastor has said many times, "Any old dead fish can float downstream, but it takes one with some life in him to go against the current." I pray that God will convict our hearts and move us from our complacency and ease of settling for "average." Aren't you glad that Jesus wasn't an average man. Aren't you glad that He didn't have an average desire or commitment. If He had been average, we would yet be in our sin. We don't serve an "average" Savior and He deserves more than "average" from us!
By the help of the Lord I hope to preach on "Rising Above Average" on Sunday morning. I want Fellowship to rise above average and be fruitful for the Lord!
Preacher Chris
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