Page 68 - Christ and Culture Textbook

Study Section 12: The Pursuit of Excellence and Culture

12.1 Connect

In keeping with the goal of spiritual growth and better levels of maturity, we often find the
Bible calling us to flourish or shine in Christian character. The pursuit of Excellence is a
expedition for character for which there will be little or no progress without it. Without
pursuing excellence our culture will take over the Church. Christians will become bland and
lukewarm (Rev. 3:15-16). The desire for excellence fuels our fire and keeps us from just
drifting away from our convictions. Our culture tells us that if we are to be successful and
honorable people, we need to pursue excellence in every arear of our lives. But the Bible tells us that we
to honor God and be a blessing into his kingdom, we need to pursue excellence. To some the pursuit of
excellence has become a stumbling block to knowing the Almighty God. People always ask me what I do,
but they don’t ask me the most important question, that is why do I do what I do? There is nothing
wrong with Christians pursuing excellence for God’s glory.

12.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to discuss ways of pursuing excellence for God’s glory in ungodly
culture.

2. The student should be able to explain that Man exist for God and he needs God.

3. The student should be able to discuss Christians virtues that we need to pursue in order to represent
God well in our culture.

12.3 What is the goal of Christian life in the fallen world?

Clearly from biblical perspective man's purpose is to glorify God.

For the believer then, success is when God is glorified above everything else. The
goal of Christian life should be God's glorification. Anything that does not honor God is not
worthy of our pursuit. The New Testament tells us to do absolutely everything for the glory of
God. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Co
10:31). God can be glorified through our vocation and work. In every occupation, our Bible beliefs will
affect how we do our work. The differences between believer and nonbeliever are motives and goals for
their practices.

Non-believers will pursue excellence for themselves, but Christian must pursue excellence for God.
Many of us struggle giving glory to God because we have allowed our pursuit of excellence define us.
God has gifted us differently and He desires to see growth every area of our lives. When we stop
learning we will eventually stop growing. There so many distractions in the world today that can make
us lose focus. We need to keep growing and keep fighting until to the end. If we cease to live out the
truth, we proclaim we will be hypocrites. We must remember that world is watching us whether we
know it or don’t. Therefore, all moral compromise is not and will never be required for the believer to
successfully relate to his or her culture.

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