Comments on: Excellence vs. Extravagance in Technology

By: Excellence vs. Extravagance | Church Sports Outreach

Excellence vs. Extravagance | Church Sports Outreach — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:59:06 +0000

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By: Tim Briggs » Blogs

Tim Briggs » Blogs — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:09:04 +0000

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By: Nic Gibson

Nic Gibson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:50:53 +0000

This is a great comparative dichotomy. I think Excellence can often become a fixation with extravagance. I would not pitch that thought through 1 Cor 12:31 though. The use of the word Excellence there is a little arbitrary from a translation perspective. It just means 'best' or 'superior' way. And using it creates an informal logical fallacy in understanding excellence. All excellent christian ministries are loving and full of effort, but not all ministries full of effort and love are excellent. So I would definitely encourage you to push this distinction, but I would not use this verse to so it. I think you are absolutely right on to use this PASSAGE though. 1 Cor 13:1-3 mean exactly what you are saying: formal excellence without love is nothing. But then again, so is effort without love- in that martyrdom without love is covered in these verses also.

By: patrckb

patrckb — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:27:36 +0000

I think the key to an excellent web site is to think about a) who you want to reach and b) what do you want to say to them or provide for them. I've seen too many non-profits let any volunteer techie create whatever they wanted and called it a web site.

It's hard to do strategic planning for a web site. It takes a lot of effort.

But in the end, the planned out web site will be more USEFUL to the people who need it most.

By: Kevin Ring

Kevin Ring — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:11:49 +0000

I think you're right in defining Excellence as making strategic investments and decisions from a place that is motivated by love, done as though you are working for the Lord, and a good steward of the resources that have been given to you.

Extravagance should never be for its own sake; however, I believe that being extravagant in how we love is also a key part of Kingdom excellence.

We see this often in the parables, the father throwing a huge party to celebrate the return of his son, the King inviting the poor to his banquet. God's love is an extravagant love and we are called to show that in how we live (or how our organizations operate). Our extravagance can show that we adhere to a set of values that is radically different from the world's values – that love and service are our top priorities and we are willing to give everything because of it.

Maybe another way to look at it is: as a ministry ,what does your time, effort and investment in tools and technology say to the people you reach through those tools about how much you value them? For me, excellence is a willingness to look at every activity of your organization as an opportunity to serve and love by demonstrating that the people you serve are the most important thing to you.

By: sdesocio

sdesocio — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:19:37 +0000

Bravo. I think we have tricked ourselves into thinking we need thousand dollars solutions for everything.

By: Jake Johnson

Jake Johnson — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:48:32 +0000

Great reminder here, Tim. We are not to conform to the world's standards of excellence, but to transform our minds by the word of God. I fight the desire to look good in the world's eyes often in my work in the church. Thanks for reminding us that above all is love.

By: austinklee

austinklee — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:31:08 +0000

Tim, right on man! No need to spend thousands when a $50 theme will maintain the level of excellence you strive to uphold. Kudos to you for your stewardship of resources and for posting this!

By: joannamuses

joannamuses — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:04:28 +0000

Good thoughts. I've been pondering on similar lines lately. I've heard people involved with doing sound and lighting in church treat how much has been spent on the equipment as a badge of honour. Given that the quality of worship is an issue of the heart, rather than an issue of what it sounds like i can't help but wonder if the extravagance misses the point. I can't shake the feeling that maybe instead of more lights it would be better to direct it to other forms of honouring God like serving the poor or preaching the gospel.

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Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:44:54 +0000

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