Is moral excellence an end in itself? Should it be a person’s highest goal to achieve moral purity?

Ancient philosophers talked themselves dizzy trying to define virtue. They often saw it as a rigid idea—a truth that should apply equally in every case—so they constantly tried to perfect their understanding of it. But the concept remained elusive. The plane just kept circling, never quite touching down on the runway. Why? I think there are two reasons: 1) Because they looked only to themselves and the societies around them for this knowledge, and 2) because they thought that virtue was life’s ultimate end.

That approach might sound perfectly natural, but Christians see two problems in it: 1) Virtue doesn’t come from within humanity, but from God. 2) Virtue isn’t an end in itself; it’s the fruit of a life lived for an even higher purpose.

Some of the Greek sophists lived within a century or two of the prophets. But the prophets saw the world through a very different lens. They understood, “that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23). They realized that searching for virtue within humanity leads us astray, so they taught people to seek God “that HE may teach us HIS ways and that we may walk in HIS paths” (Isa. 2:3). They understood that virtue—whatever is just, noble, and excellent—isn’t defined by man, but by God.

And that helps us to understand why arete is not portrayed as the goal of faith in God: it’s the fruit of faith in God—something we “add to our faith.” In Deuteronomy, Moses repeatedly emphasized loving God first, and then he turned his attention to serious teachings about keeping God’s rules. The greatest command is not, “Obey God’s laws,” but rather, “You shall LOVE the Lord your God.” The fruit of THAT will be our obedience to his commands (Jn. 14:15). 

Moral excellence is not life’s ultimate purpose. It’s the fruit that grows out of a heart that actually, completely, lovingly, humbly trusts in God. Life’s purpose is to love him, and only from him can we find out what arete really is anyway.

- Dan Lankford, minister

In most areas of life, we’re looking for the sweet spot – that point of perfect balance. As employees, we don’t want to be overworked or underworked. As parents, we want to be in control without being too controlling. We want to be financially responsible without turning into Ebenezer Scrooge. We want to eat healthy, but also enjoy some indulgences. In so many ways, we’re seeking to find that sweet spot.

Sometimes the same is true when it comes to spiritual matters. In 2 Peter 1, Peter advises us to add “arete” or “moral excellence” to our faith, but doesn’t that pursuit require some balance? Can’t chasing excellence easily lead to burnout and exhaustion? Where is the sweet spot as we seek to add “arete” to our faith?

I think we should mention that the Bible endorses the idea of rest and respite. Jesus provides a great example of this. He made of habit of withdrawing into the wilderness alone to pray (Luke 5:16). Not even the Son of God thought it right to work Himself to death. Still, I wonder if the issue isn’t finding the sweet spot between excellence and exhaustion, rather it is properly understanding what sort of excellence is under discussion.

Often we measure excellence in terms of good deeds done, work accomplished, things achieved. That’s not exactly the kind of excellence Peter is talking about. “Arete” is moral excellence. “Arete” is virtue. So, Peter is not talking about the stuff you do, but the person you are. He’s not talking about how big our bank of good deeds ought to be, rather he is talking about the kind of character we ought to build. He’s not talking about how busy you are this week, but who you are this week.

Adding “arete” is not about finding the balance between achievement and exhaustion.  We’re not looking for a sweet spot, nor are we trying to work ourselves to death. Adding “arete” is about deciding that in every possible way I am going to strive to attain the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

- Jonathan Banning – minister at Temple Terrace Church of Christ

When I was a teenager, I spoke like a teen, I thought like a teen, and I reasoned like a teen. That era of my life sorely lacked purpose. I just “went with the flow,” doing whatever seemed exciting, fun, or rewarding at the time. I didn’t think often or very seriously about how my choices would affect others or where they would ultimately lead me in life.

But when I became a man, I put away teenage-ish things. At least, I’m trying to.

One of the hallmarks of maturity is learning to live with purpose, on purpose. And if we’re going to add arete—moral excellence—to our way of life in the sight of God, then we must embrace a purpose more dependable than our own ever-changing whims and wishes.
The Bible gives us this wisdom in several ways.

When Barnabas first spent time with the saints in Antioch, he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord “with steadfast purpose” (Ac. 11:23). And in the rest of the New Testament, we can see that they did! Antioch was a sending church. They commissioned, encouraged, prayed for, and supported missionaries that went all across the north coasts of the Mediterranean to teach about Jesus. They did what Barnabas taught, and many heard the Good News as a result.

This wisdom is woven into several of the metaphors used to describe God’s people, the church: a field (1 Cr. 3:9), a temple (2 Cr. 5:1), a priesthood (1 Pt. 2:9), the branches of a tree (Rm. 11), and household pots and containers (2 Tim. 2:20-21). Those things all serve a purpose beyond themselves. Branches bear a tree’s fruit. Pots and pans are made for specific uses. A priesthood serves their god’s/God’s pleasures. Et cetera. All of them serve an end, just as our existence serves an end: to give God glory.

The time for living life by whims and wishes is past, brothers and sisters. We should never expect that sort of thing of ourselves, even in our teenage years. Those who live with excellence will seek to know, understand, and fully embrace the purpose of glorifying God to motivate us to excellent Christian living. That’s the kind of arete that succeeds in spades and that doesn’t grow weary as years go by.

- Dan Lankford, minister

Sometimes victory is the greatest enemy of excellence. That seems counterintuitive, but it’s nonetheless true. Often, our success does not lead to more success, instead it leads to complacency. I’m sure this phenomenon pops up in many different places in life, but I see it most often in athletics. 

I see it in the team who wins the championship one year but misses the playoffs in the next because they just don’t have the same drive and hunger to win it all. I see it in the phenom who finally makes it to the big leagues but stops working because they feel they have “arrived.” I see it in the player who is awarded that enormous contract and then never plays hard again. Sometimes victory is the greatest enemy of excellence. 

Might that also be true when it comes to spiritual things? I think that’s a temptation for all of us. We use our spiritual success as an excuse to slouch back into spiritual complacency. What’s that look like? Maybe a little like this…

“I conquered my temper, my worry, my lust, etc. Now I can just coast to the finish line.” 

“I built a beautiful marriage and raised good kids. My work here is done!”

“I helped convert my dear friend. I worked on them through my teaching and my example for years and they finally responded! I’ve done my duty in evangelism.” 

“For the past two decades I’ve been that person who made every visitor feel welcome, I’ve opened my home liberally, I’ve been a picture of hospitality. Time for someone else to take up the mantle.” 

These are not small things! These are tremendous spiritual victories! Yet, if we’re not careful, victory becomes complacency. Adding “arete” to our faith means that we continually press on toward excellence despite our accomplishments. It means that, like Paul, we forget the things that are behind and press on toward perfection. It means we refuse to allow what has been done to distract us from what still needs to be done (Philippians 3:12-14).

- Jonathan Banning, Minister — Temple Terrace Church of Christ

Peter implores us to add “arete” to our faith—as a runner strives with all his might to finish first, so too should we strive in our faith (I Corinthians 9:24). We run like we want to win! Still, we must admit that sometimes our lives are not characterized by moral excellence but moral mediocrity. We have our moments when we slack off or give half-hearted effort. We run not like those who want to win, but as if we’re content to simply finish the race somewhere in the middle of the pack.

Why does moral excellence become moral mediocrity?

Jesus tells us in Matthew 13 when He explains the Parable of the Sower and the seed that feel on the thorny ground (Matthew 13:18-23). If you read carefully, you’ll notice that the fate of the thorny ground is different than the fate of wayside or rocky soils. The seed that falls on the thorny ground doesn’t die like the others—it just never bears any fruit. That is a picture of moral mediocrity. It’s a picture of the Christian who fills their pew every Sunday and has their picture in the directory but has no positive effect on the kingdom.

Jesus informs us that disciples settle into moral mediocrity for this reason: “the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22). Do you see what Jesus is saying? The word of God is calling you to strive for moral excellence. Through the word, the Spirit calls you to transform your life in extreme and radical ways so that you can bear fruit for God, but worry and wealth choke the word—they hold it back, restrain it, suffocate it, prevent it from having its intended effect on you. In a fertile heart, the gospel makes breathtaking changes, but the weeds of wealth and worry render the gospel impotent. Those consumed with worry or inflamed with the desire for abundance will always fall short of “arete.”

So, this week let’s ponder these questions… In what way is worry keeping me from fully obeying the Gospel? In what way is my desire for abundance holding me back from total devotion to Christ?

- Jonathan Banning

When I get dressed for work or for church, I typically do one final check in the mirror before leaving home. I’m looking for any collars that are turned the wrong way, belt loops that have been skipped, a fly that’s unzipped, or any buttons that I missed. I don’t need to be dressed to the nines for anybody’s attention, but I want my appearance to exhibit a degree of excellence.

I think that’s a decent comparison to the kind of excellence that ought to characterize Christian living. Not that we’re seeking attention, but that we simply do life properly. Peter’s formula for spiritual growth (2 Pt. 1:5-9) puts that ideal as the first addition to active faith in God. He uses the word arete, which can be defined either as “excellence” or “moral excellence.” Obviously, this speaks to the quality of our moral behaviors—that we avoid cussing, drunkenness, gluttony, and greed. That we aren’t careless with debt, divisive or manipulative, arrogant, sexually provocative in dress or behavior, or into immoral types of entertainment. And yet, it speaks more than that. The word is used in only four places in the New Testament: two of them refer to our Christian way of life, and two of them refer to the “excellencies” of God himself. That speaks to excellence as a character trait unto itself.

As sons and daughters of God, we ought not be clothed with haphazard habits, lackluster efforts, and milquetoast commitments. Instead, we clothe ourselves with the character traits of Christ (Col. 3:12-14) and we wear them with excellence. So whether in school, work, the arts, or even sports; we give our best efforts. We give God our most sincere and skillful worship. We manage our households, finances, and place in society well. We hold our Bible teaching and Bible learning efforts to a high standard. Et cetera, et cetera. The Christian life isn’t defined by carelessness, laziness, and slovenliness. It ought to be a living example of continual excellence.

So the next time you go out into the daily grind, take a good look in the mirror and do a check on the whole of your life: Am I living a life of arete? Am I living a life that is clothed with excellence?

- Dan Lankford, minister

One of the reasons why we experience paralysis by analysis is our intense fear of regret. We don’t want to miss something or make the wrong choice. We don’t want to start a project the wrong way and wish we’d done it differently later on - so we don’t start at all. We don’t want to choose to eat at a mediocre restaurant (looking at you Chili’s) only to realize later that we should have eaten at Outback - so we sit in the car with the engine running trying to think of all the restaurants in town. We don’t want to make a bad choice. We don’t want to waste our time. So, we freeze.

Again, the same is true when it comes to spiritual growth. Sometimes it’s hard to determine what area of my spiritual life should take priority. We want so badly to make the best choice that we end up making no choice. Our fear of regret leaves us paralyzed and spiritually stunted. That’s what makes this little passage in II Peter so helpful. In it, Peter calms our fears about regret. He instructs us to add to our faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (II Peter 1:5-7), and then he offers a little reassurance...

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - II Peter 1:8

I think that’s a wonderful little piece of confidence we can carry with us. If we focus on adding and increasing these seven qualities we can be sure that we will always be useful and fruitful in the kingdom. “Seven-Quality People” always make their mark on the kingdom. Peter adds even more reassurance a few verses later,

“Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.” - II Peter 1:10-11

That’s why Dan and I are encouraging you to focus on these seven qualities this year. Peter guarantees that Christians with these seven qualities are useful, fruitful, and will undoubtedly receive an eternal reward.

- Jonathan Banning

Paralysis by analysis. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the term you’re familiar with the experience. It happens when life presents you with such an overwhelming number of options that you are left effectively frozen, unsure of how to move forward. Like when you are beginning to embark on a huge project, but you aren’t quite sure how to begin... or when you want to start a diet, but there are so many options you aren’t sure which to choose... or when you and your spouse want to grab dinner, but you can’t decide where to eat... That’s paralysis by analysis.

I think that can happen to Christians when we think about the prospect of spiritual growth. We are called to constantly grow in Christ (Ephesians 4:13). We are called to press on toward perfection (Philippians 3:14). We are called to observe all the Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). If you’re anything like me, those commands leave you feeling overwhelmed. Where do I even begin? What should I aim at?

New Christians wrestle with that. There is so much change that needs to take place, what should I tackle first? More established Christians struggle with that, too. They have that intense desire to serve Jesus in every way, but they are bombarded with applications every week from sermons, classes, elders, and podcasts. It’s hard to sift through the advice and focus on a path. Older Christians deal with this, too. They don’t want to settle in but the marriage is solid, the kids are grown, and their faith is strong - sometimes it’s hard to know what else needs doing. Maybe that’s where you are. You want to grow this year, but you just feel a little overwhelmed and uncertain about where to start. Perhaps we could let Peter offer us a little direction.

In II Peter 1:5-7, the apostle zeroes in on seven qualities, and encourages every Christian to add these qualities to their faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. In 2025, Dan and I want to dig into those seven qualities. We want to talk about why they are so important and how we can cultivate these qualities and cause them to flourish within us.

- Jonathan Banning