Mediocrity Vs. Excellence

In the early 1980s, Franky Schaeffer, an American author, film director, screenwriter, and the son of Francis Schaeffer, a theologian, wrote a scathing book, Addicted to Mediocrity: Contemporary Christians and the Arts. He argued that for centuries, Christians excelled in arts, whether building monumental cathedrals, composing masterpieces, painting memorable ceilings, or sculpturing beautiful statutes, but all of that died in the twentieth century, and we are flooded with silly t-shirts, bumper stickers, and one-line slogans. He wrote, “Whenever Christians, and evangelicals in particular, have attempted to ‘reach the world’ through the media — TV, film, publishing and so on — the thinking public gets the firm idea that, like soup in a bad restaurant, Christians’ brains are best left unstirred.” Nearly three decades after him, Andreas Köstenberger wrote Excellence: The Character of God and the Pursuit of Scholarly Virtue. He argued that excellence is a virtue of God, and Christians should reflect the same in their works.

Centuries before these men, Peter talked about excellence three times in the opening sentences.

“He has called us to his own glory and excellence (areti) . . ., therefore, add to your faith excellence (areti), and to excellence (areti) knowledge.” (2 Pet 1:3–5)

This term, areti, rarely occurs in the Scriptures but shows beautiful imagery.

“God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His excellence (areti) covered the heavens, and his praises filled the earth.” (Hab 3:3)

“He will be covered with excellence (areti) as he sits upon his throne.” (Zech 6:13)

“I am YHWH God. This is my name. I will not give my glory or my excellence (areti) to others, especially to carved images.” (Isa 42:8)

“Let them give YHWH glory and proclaim his excellence (areti) to the islands.” (Isa 42:12)

“My people whom I formed for myself will proclaim my excellence (areti) to the nations.” (Isa 43:21)

“I will remember always the mercy of YHWH – his excellence (areti).” (Isa 63:7)

In the NT,

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is beautiful, whatever is excellent (areti), and whatever is praise-worthy – think of these things.” (Phil 4:8)

“You are a select race, kingly priesthood, a holy nation, and people of his special possession to proclaim his excellence (areti) of calling you from darkness to his glorious light.” (1 Pet 2:9)

God had gifted his “god-ness” to his people and called them to partake in his glory and excellence (areti), and therefore, Peter said,

“Hasten with all intensity to add to your faith excellence (areti), and to excellence (areti) knowledge, and to knowledge empowerment, and to empowerment perseverance, and to perseverance reverence, and to reverence familial-affection, and to familial-affection love because when you have them and multiplying them in abundance, you will not be ineffective but effective in your confession of Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet 1:5–8)

Nothing speaks volumes about our confession of who Jesus Christ is and what God has done for us than us doing everything in our care to 100%. Whatever gifts, talents, work, or ministry we have, we must excel in them – our excellence, not mediocrity, tells others that we reflect our heavenly Father’s and Lord Jesus’s god-ness, glory, and excellence.