Jule 27, 2009
A few years ago I was at lunch with a guy I was getting to know. We were talking about a number of things – one of which was his faith. He shared about his relationship with Jesus. He was a Christian, but not really plugged in anywhere. He wanted to walk with Jesus, but didn’t really want to be part of the church.
A question crossed my mind, “Can you really be a Christian and not be part of the body of Christ – the church?”
I started thinking about sports. If a guy said to you that he was a hockey player, but wasn’t on a team, would you think he really was a hockey player? If he said he was a football player, but wasn’t on a team, is he really a football player? You see, hockey is a team sport. Football is a team sport. Baseball, basketball – team sports. It is impossible to be a player if you are not on a team. You may have all the skills of a player, but you really can’t be part of the game if you are not on a team. By their very nature they are team sports. You can’t do them alone. If you think you are a player and aren’t on a team – you’re fooling yourself.
Following Jesus is a team game. Jesus came to birth a body, a family, an army, a royal priesthood, a holy nation – the church. If you are not part of the team – the church – you really are not in the game. Sure, you can have issues with other guys on the team. Sure, the coach that the owner has asked to lead the team may get on your nerves sometimes. You may get a little frustrated by the position you play. You may get tired of showing up to practice. Whatever. When you’re on a team you don’t always get things the way you want them – there is a greater good. But only on a team can we be part of something bigger than ourselves. We each have a position to play. We contribute to the strength of the team. In team we find synergy – where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Following Jesus is definitely a team game, it’s not an individual sport.
I Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Strength and courage,
David MacLean