"Shades of Mediocrity"

But all my words come back to me
In shades of mediocrity.
Like emptiness in harmony,
I need someone to comfort me.

These words were written by Paul Simon as part of the song, "Homeward Bound," a Top Five hit from 1966. The phrase, shades of mediocrity, would be a poet's nightmare when he struggles to select just the right words with the appropriate shade of meaning to convey his message. Anyone who thinks writing poetry is easy should try to match Simon and Garfunkel on their early songs. An artist, whether with words or paint, desires that the final version of his efforts be of the highest quality. To be mediocre is but to fail.

Tom Wacaster, for a manuscript titled, "He only Is My Rock" (not to be confused with Simon and Garfunkel's, "I Am a Rock") quoted from an unknown source a marvelous passage describing King David (Build Your Hope on Things Eternal 208-209). Among other promises that David might have made to God is this one: "I will not…meander in the maze of mediocrity." The unknown author must have based that phrase on some observation made about David, but we do not know what specifically that was. But it certainly seems true. David would never have wandered around in the maze of mediocrity.

Definition

What does it mean to be mediocre? According the The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the word mediocre means: "Neither good nor bad; average, ordinary, commonplace." It comes from the Latin word, mediocris, which means "halfway up the mountain," in a middle state.

It is interesting to think of various Bible personalities and situations in relationship to this word. How many of those listed in Hebrews 11 that are heroes of the faith would one term as mediocre in their character or in their service? Would a mediocre Abraham have left Ur of the Chaldees? Would an average Moses have endured all the hostility he faced from God's own people? Would a commonplace Rahab have saved herself and her family from death?

Commandments

God's commandments do not leave any room for mediocrity. There is no command to: "Remember the Sabbath day an average amount of times during the year." God did not tell the Israelites: "Honor your father and mother when it's convenient." He never said: "You shall not steal—very often." How does an average person keep these commandments? Actually, Israel did keep, "You shall make no graven images" in a mediocre fashion—by making them. Consider how someone ought to keep Deuteronomy 10:12-13:

"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?"

Can anyone envision an Israelite saying, "I'm going to lend mediocre support to this commandment"? How can these words be approached on a half-hearted basis? The same could be said of the greatest commandment God gave, according to Jesus.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind…" (Luke 10:27).

Does obeying this commandment sound as though it might be performed in a mediocre manner?

Examples of Mediocrity

The following example was given by a prophet to King Ahab, who had let the cruel and arrogant King Ben-Hadad of Syria live. The prophet described the scenario in which a soldier was to guard a prisoner. However, while the guard was busy here and there, the prisoner escaped. What should be done? Ahab agreed that he should be put to death. Then he found out the application concerned himself. But he was correct. The guard was guilty of mediocrity, and death was the punishment for it.

What a wonderful congregation the Ephesians had! Jesus praised them for many of their good aspects. They tested men who claimed to be apostles and found them to be liars. They did not tolerate those who were evil. They had patiently labored for Jesus' sake and in His name. They had not grown weary in doing so (Rev. 2:2-3). With all of these praiseworthy characteristics, they were mediocre in one way: they had lost their first love and needed to repent (Rev. 2:4).

Being a mediocre Christian is not an option. Later, to the church at Laodicea, Jesus informed them that they were lukewarm and that He wanted to vomit them out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16). Lukewarm is a mediocre temperature. Probably, we have too many members in the Lord's church who are lukewarm today.

How else can it be accurately described when "Christians" do not care what occurs in worship? Handclapping? "Well, I don't particularly like it, but I won't say anything about it." Instrumental music? Same response. False doctrine? "Well, all of us probably believe something false." Is it any wonder that churches of Christ are becoming liberal and acting like denominations? Mediocrity is killing us.

The Way God Designed It

Someone might conclude, "You won't be satisfied unless all of us are fanatics." Say, there's an idea. Do the Scriptures describe anyone like that? A man called Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers and with a whip drove the animals and the profiteers out of the temple. He told them: "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise." What would cause such a radical response? "Zeal for Your house had eaten Me up." No wishy-washiness there. Our Lord possessed zeal.

It is evident in the Great Commission: He told His disciples: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). The word translated creature" has several definitions, according to Strong; it can mean "building, creation, creature, ordinance." The American Standard Version has "the whole creation." This command will not be fulfilled by lukewarm Christians, will it? Only the zealous will accomplish this task.

Another fanatic is the Apostle Paul. Mediocrity was never associated with his name. Of persecutors, he was chief. He led the way in imprisoning and killing Christians. When Jesus revealed to him the error of his ways, he became one of the foremost of the apostles. Paul exhibited for everyone to see the enthusiasm that all Christians should possess. Notice his relentless efforts to spread the gospel.

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself servant of all, that I might win the more.

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

To those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law;

To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some (1 Cor. 9:19-22).

That last line alone eliminates any shade of mediocrity in Paul. Paul was thoroughly committed to the preaching of the gospel because he knew men were lost without it. Christians simply cannot be ambivalent about spreading the gospel to the entire world. If some cannot personally go, then they can support those who are willing to do so.

It is by God's grace that salvation has appeared to all men. His grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. Christians live this way while looking for the glorious return of the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:11-13). And while we are waiting for that great day? Should we be lukewarm followers of the Lord, "meandering in the maze of mediocrity"? No, we need to be "zealous of good works" (14).

Matt Stutzman

Anyone can look up on the internet to find this information. Matt Stutzman was born without arms; no one ever discovered a medical reason for that occurrence, but it happened. One day he observed an archery contest, and he said to himself, "That's what I want to do." He went into a store to buy a bow and arrows. The salesman said, "How are you going to shoot it?" He answered that he had no idea, but he took it home and practiced until he became quite good. He went to the Olympics in London in 2012 (at the age of 30) and won a silver medal. When he returned, his home town (Fairfield, Iowa) threw him a parade. And he received several job offers.

Matt says, "I never see not having arms as a limitation." Of course, he shoots with his feet—and he holds the Guiness world record for the longest accurate archery shot—from 310 yards away. He says about being handicapped, "I want my kids to see that no matter what the challenge is you can overcome it." Of course, he is not just spouting theory; he is speaking from experience.

His attitude is reminiscent of what Rocky Bleier once told an audience in the Pittsburgh area: "The only limitations we have are those we place upon ourselves." He was not speaking theoretically, either. As a soldier in Viet Nam, he was hit with shrapnel in his legs. He did not accept the news that he might never walk again, let alone play football. He went through intensive rehabilitation and was able to do both. As a running back, he gained over a thousand yards one season and leaped for a pass that led to a Steelers' victory in Superbowl XIII. Settling for mediocrity would have never led to such spectacular results.

One more quote from Matt Stutzman is profound. He says, "At the end of the day, I just want to be the best in the world." Yes, he is serious. No one gets to be the best by settling for mediocrity. No one can be termed zealous who is satisfied with just being lukewarm.

Not every preacher can be the best speaker in the world; not everyone can be the greatest evangelist. Not everyone can write the most meaningful book or the best commentary. But what are our aims? Do we have, as a goal, to be the best or one of the best? Is there a desire to excel?

Paul didn't allow handicaps to deter him; he wrote letters from prison to brethren. He did not permit either abundance or poverty to inhibit him spiritually. He wrote: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13). He overcame dozens of obstacles—not the least of which was being stoned to death. He had miraculous help to overcome that setback; he always relied on the strength of the Lord.

Each individual Christian needs to ask: "Am I meandering in a maze of mediocrity? Are my main goals spiritual? Do I know the Bible? Do I apply it correctly? How many people do I plan to bring to Christ each year? Am I zealously pursuing heaven? Am I the best I can be?"