I’ll never forget the time I was watching a documentary on inner city life and some man was being interviewed on the street. I forget the exact context, but somehow he had been on the wrong end of an accusation that challenged his manhood. When the interviewer conveyed what his ex had said about him, he proceeded to put on an air of self-righteousness, boasting, “I take care of my kids!” As the interview progressed, he continued crowing about completing his other responsibilities as a “baby daddy” (that term makes me cringe). Throughout the interview, it was apparent that this man didn’t want to just defend his honor; rather, he fully expected to be praised for doing the things that any righteous man does from a sense of duty.

Increasingly, people desire to be praised for doing their jobs. Now, I’m not talking about simple recognition for a job well done over some lengthy period of time. I’m talking about this same plague that begins on soccer fields, where they no longer keep score and everyone receives a trophy for merely participating. Aren’t sports trophies for the winners?…not anymore, it seems. People want to be praised for everything nowadays. This is a symptom of something much deeper, something insidious.

Jesus, personally, taught His disciples about this kind of errant thinking:

“Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’? He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”

— Luke 17:7-10

This parable is a wonderful view into the heart of Christ. It reveals that people ought not expect a special reward for simply doing what is their duty in the first place.

At face value, this issue seems benign. For example, some might argue that celebrating a man who actually takes care of his family will result in positive reinforcement, encouraging more of the same from that individual. However, if we begin inordinately celebrating all the duties in life, we are effectively resetting the bar. Celebration implies excellence, like when a child gets an “A+” on their report card. But, what about the kid who gets a “B” or a “C”, which is considered “average” (at least it used to)? If we lower the reason to celebrate down to the “average” range, then inevitably, the “new average” slides down correspondingly to a “D” or an “F”, which used to stand for failure.

If we celebrate “average” long enough, we end up resetting the “new average” to failure. In other words, eventually, it’s the acceptable norm to be what is rightly a failure. Our scale of values becomes perverted.

Furthermore, the problem with this issue is that it erodes good things surrounding it. It demoralizes and debilitates those in a society that are actually excelling. If everyone from “average” and above is being celebrated, what’s the motivation to excel? I speak in human terms, for learned believers in Christ understand that anything excellent in them is the result of God’s grace. Even so, the temptation exists to tolerate/accept the “new average”.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

— Colossians 3:15-17

The Bible commands us to be good spouses, parents, children, neighbors, friends, and lovers. We are thoroughly encouraged to marvel at the excellencies that God will accomplish in us as He sanctifies us over time. However, His baseline commands to be good slaves are just that - baselines (aka “averages”). Should we be celebrating faithfulness in marriage now that the rest of the world increasingly normalizes infidelity? Should we raise our glasses to a parent who actually supports their children? Should we praise ourselves for not taking advantage of our neighbors, for not swindling business partners, or using friends like disposable items? Lastly, should we be patting ourselves on the back for actually loving others more than ourselves? Aren’t all these things merely the baseline above failure? If so, then what’s everyone celebrating???…being good? Newsflash: You’re Supposed To Be Good!

We have to be especially careful of societal perversions like this one. We must use the Word, now more than ever, to guard against the infection of our Lord’s righteous perspective. May we fight being lulled by the “new average”, for even our own arrogant flesh will find it attractive. In the end, there’s only one Judge:

His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

— Matthew 25:21

Love in Christ,
​
Ed Collins