Two Standard Deviations From The Mean:

I was asked to write a small article for a local church organization and I thought I would preview it here first.

Two Standard Deviations From the mean

Every year before the actual semester begins, my school offers (forces) a mandatory benchmark
over all the materials learned the year before. This is to ensure that you didn’t manage to forget
everything during those long summer months; hence eventually attempting to prepare us for the
board exams. The unique thing about this exam is that it is graded based on an average. As long
as you are within the average or two standard deviations from the average, you will pass.

So this year, true to form, I took the benchmark exam and waited with anticipation for the
results. I opened my email and was relieved to see a 65% (which was considered passing). I
jumped up—I shouted—I was extremely excited! I had managed to scrape by.

Later in the evening as the excitement settled, I started to think….I only mastered 65% of the
material….yet I was still glad that I was just as clueless as the rest of my class. It didn’t bother me
that I had forgotten 35% of the material or that ….70% or higher was considered conventional
passing. Just as long as I was like everyone else, I was satisfied. And MORE importantly, I
was relieved at the fact that I would not have to retake the exam. I then extended this to an
even bigger analogy…how many times was I happy being a “within two standard deviations”
Christian?

Often times when I look back on my Christian walk, I have been guilty of being satisfied with my
51% because my neighbor was sitting at 40%. I mean, there are a few who are high achievers.
But when you average all of us together, I am right there in the middle of the bunch. I am sure
this will let me scrape by past heaven’s pearly gates…or will it?

As I really begin to think about it, I am not so sure that this is what Christianity is about at all. In
fact, what I just described to you are some of the signs and symptoms of a lukewarm Christian
(as per Francis Chan). I am not guaranteed admission into heaven or even a glimpse of Jesus
because I am better than the next guy. Just because everyone fails does not mean Jesus grades on
a curve. You see, His blood is too precious for us not to be living according to our calling or for
us not to be striving for better.

Don’t get me wrong; sin is second nature to us. We are constantly fighting battles against the
flesh and there will be days when we will fail. The question is not whether we will fail or fall, the
question is whether we are okay with that or do we keep pushing for better - striving to beat the
odds. Remember, God looks at the heart. David wasn’t called a chaser after God’s own heart
because he was blameless and perfect, but because even after he failed he sought to be better and
to do better.

So today, dear brother/sister, don’t be satisfied with where you are because you’re “average”.
Strive to be better. For those of you who are not currently passing - don’t worry. There are still
opportunities to remediate or to relearn the material and take the exam again.

As Paul states, let us keep pushing and striving for the prize of the upward call (Phil. 3:14).

Thank you and may God bless.

Worship: The New Trend

A couple of days back a friend sent me this video and I couldn't help but laugh. It was funny but deep down I found it utterly ironic and was shocked at how it aptly represented what most youths find appealing in today's concept of worship.


"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

Watching this video brought some key things to light in regards to what today's youth are after in worship. I want to start of by saying that first and for-most ...worship is not meant to be cool or hip or the "in thing". I mean lets be serious do you think that it was because the disciples lacked marketing skills that they got persecuted?

Today, so many churches are succumbing to the pressures of making their church a more lively and cool environment to attract a younger crowd. It started with a change in wardrobe, wearing more casual clothes to church. Most pastors have given up the traditional suit and tie and racked their closet with jeans to make people feel that church is more comfortable and casual and less "formal". This in itself wasn't a problem, some people make church too formal, I agree. The problem arises when you start to make church too casual and start to take for-granted the holiness and reverence that God deserves. I have to dress up for school every day because I am representing the school and its apparent professionalism.  If I have to dress up for school, why wouldn't I want to dress more appropriately for church when I am in the presence of one who deserves more honor and reverence then my dean.

Praise and Worship has become a calculated method to draw crowds. Lets be honest, most people when searching for churches, search for two things: 1. How good is the praise and worship, 2. How is the message. Praise and worship has become a selling point rather then what it was meant to be, adoration to your father. It’s that cool rock band style concert setting where everyone in the audience (I say audience because that is what its becoming) is jumping and shouting in one accord in a darkly lit room. Who needs tickets when there's a church around the corner; every Sunday is a free concert.

Acceptance: this is another selling point for most churches these days. We accept everything. Everyone likes the idea that everything is okay and as long as you are showing up on Sunday no one will ask questions as to the apparent sinful life you're leading. I am not talking about past sins, God forgives, therefore, man should as well (churches need to realize this as well). I am speaking more about being afraid to correct someone because they will leave or not think that the institution of church is cool. Church is not meant to call out and cast out the hurting sinner, but the church at the same time has the responsibility to help their believers live a life that is pleasing to God. What is the point of church if there is no relationship between members. It was created so that believers could have a community in which they can face their problems together.

I am a huge fan of messages that are thought out and creative. I love it when pastors use props and commercial ideas to drive their point home. At the same time, I also like the message to have meat. Dear pastors, do not lose the content of your message in order to keep the congregations attention. More then interesting slideshows and gimmicks what they need is the true meaning of God's word that came from him through you.

None of these things are necessarily wrong on their own as long as the true intention of winning believers and not crowds is there. Dear Readers, I urge you not to get caught up in over commercialized Christianity but rather be filled with content and seek true worship. If you are currently attending a church that uses gimmicks and tactics to draw in a crowd, pray for them to truly be lined with the will of God.

Remember that true worship needs none of the above, only a contrite spirit and broken heart.

Happy Thinking