I’m guessing that only hard-core baseball fans have ever heard the phrase, the Mendoza Line.
I heard about this term only recently. The Mendoza Line is a baseball term that refers to a player's batting average falling below .200, which is considered the threshold for offensive mediocrity in Major League Baseball. (1)
The term originated from a clubhouse joke between teammates Bruce Bochte and Tom Paciorek about Mario Mendoza, a shortstop who struggled to maintain a .200 batting average during his 9-year career.
The joke might have ended there, but according to Mendoza, his Seattle teammates told Royals slugger, George Brett, who was off to a slow start, “Hey, man, you’re going to sink down below the Mendoza Line if you’re not careful.” (2) With all due respect to Mario Mendoza, his batting skills clearly have become synonymous with a degree of mediocrity or even worse, subpar.
I’d like to relate the Mendoza Line to our Christian experience. Are we in danger of sinking down below the Mendoza Line…if we are not careful? What I’m trying to convey is, if the Mendoza Line is synonymous with mediocrity, or just barely getting by, then as a Christian, should I evaluate from time to time whether I’ve become content with the idea that mediocrity or just getting by is acceptable, thinking, “I just have to stay above the Mendoza Line?” Is it enough for a Christian to give God only the bare minimum?
Don’t misunderstand me, if one is doing their very best, God, and in most cases even we can accept that (I’ll put Mario Mendoza in this category). But if one has the ability to do better and is content with mediocrity that is a different mindset.
I like better the Apostle Paul’s mindset: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…it is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (3)
The words “with all your heart” indicate a thorough wholehearted, passionate, and even an enthusiastic approach in all that we do for the Lord. Paul says to “…do everything that way, heartily and freely to God’s glory.” (4) Paul wouldn’t be content with the Mendoza Line and neither should we! Glorifying God in all we do should be our priority. Paul again, jabs at our conscience: “when you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (5) These passages challenge us and protect us from being content with less than our best for God.
Let’s not be happy with mediocrity in living for God. Let’s resolve to give Him our best in everything we do, whether it’s at work, at school, our ministry for the church, our giving, or whatever! So, are we going to resolve to give God our best? I can’t speak for you, but my answer is a loud “yes!”
Bill Ochs is Wisconsin Conference’s Planned Giving and Trust Services director.
