Page 69 - Christ and Culture Textbook

God demands ministerial integrity and excellence. Christians are required to have the moral/behavorial
code that will set them apart. This truth is clearly presented in I Corinthians 10:31: "Therefore, whether
you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Even more pointed is Romans 11 :36 :
"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."

What is the Foundation for Excellence?
We are called to everlasting devotion and loyalty to God. “Keep your behavior excellent among the
Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good
deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Pe 2:12) God is the ground for all
true excellence. Because God is excellent in everything he is and does, including his motives and
judgements. We can pursue excellence because of him. God is calling us to excellence. (2 Peter 1:3, 5)

Christians are called to Pursue Vocational Excellence
1. Diligence: serving God with excellence will bring glory to Him.
2. Courage: seeking God’s approval (Galatians 1:10)
3. Passion: what are you driven by?
4. Restraint: Self-control is not optional, but it is required.
5. Creativity: Do your best in everything.
6. Eloquence: Pursuing effective communication for God’s glory.

Christians are called to Pursue Moral and Relational Excellence.
Specific New Testament teachings about moral virtue make particular reference to the context of a
watching world. The following qualities form the basis of a life-view for contemporary evangelicals
interested in making an impact on the world.

1. Blamelessness and purity (Phil. 2:14–16). Here the appeal is to shine like stars in the universe.
No inner-directed piety is addressed here; rather, it is a penetrating image of witness in a
“crooked and depraved generation.”
2. Good works (1 Pet. 2:12). Doing good puts the lie to charges of wrongdoing. Peter’s
eschatological perspective (e.g., “glorify God on the day he visits us”) formed the basis of moral
appeal. It also gives a hint of evangelistic purpose in the world. Paul urged believers to “do good
to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10).
3. Unspiteful living (1 Thess. 5:15). Retaliation of any kind is forbidden. Evil generates evil.
Believers, by God’s help, are to break the cycle by not paying back wrong for wrong. Paul was
aware of the much larger context of society in urging kindness toward wrongdoing by the use of
the words “and to everyone else.” The “each other” grouping refers to the church, while
“everyone else” refers to outsiders.
4. Reputation (1 Tim. 3:7). Here the appeal is directed to leaders in the church. The use of the word
“outsiders” places unusual emphasis on avoidance of public disgrace and entrapment by the
devil.
5. Humility (Titus 3:2). Humility is an outward virtue to be shown to all, not just to the inside
cluster of the faithful.
6. Love. While believers are to show love within the circle of the church body, the great thrust is
outward. This “royal law,” as James called it, was simply “Love your neighbor as yourself” (James
2:8). Combined with the many verses that urge love of one another and even of enemies, this
all-encompassing command speaks to a Christian ethic that transcends a narrow application.
Believers are to be recognized by their love (John 13:35).

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