Playing To Win

I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.
John 17:14-18 (NASB)

Many times in sports, a coach will pepper his fiery speech with a phrase along the lines of, "You're playing to not lose. You should be playing to win." An interesting perspective to say the least. The coach sees the athletes in a defensive, timid, and self-defeating state and sees how that style of thought hinders the athlete from completing their own goals (usually winning) and playing to the best of their abilities. In essence, they've taken themselves out of the game, by not playing up to their potential. You see, coaches ask us to shift our perspective from the consequences of a potential loss to something much better: the rewards that can be reaped with a win. This changes the athlete's entire perspective and even the confines of the game itself. For now, the athlete looks ahead to what can be gained, instead of what can be lost.

Now what would this look like in the life of a Christian? I'd say playing to not lose, could be easily described as living in a plastic bubble of attempted moral living, all the while shunning those who might contaminate your self-possessed "righteousness" in hopes that it (your attempt at righteousness) will save the day. Many would use a Chiristanese cliche of "in the world, but not of the world" as a crutch upon which to lean when arguing this point. Many would feel that "in the world" means living here on this terrestrial ball, and "not of the world" would mean avoiding all contact with those who didn't believe the same as us, for fear that they may "infect" us, and instead choosing to spend time solely with other Christians. Case in point, those who choose to live apart from society for fear of being drawn society's predisposition to sin, and instead exchanging a life amidst "the lost" for a life spent in piety. Well I've got news for you. We've all been infected, there's no avoiding it; and yes, it's fatal. We cannot avoid sin, because our very nature, is that of a sinner--a being who is prone to sin. So obviously Jesus did not mean that we should avoid contact with non-believers out of fear that we might sin. No, He of all people would know how enslaved to sin we are, for He is the very One who died in order that our sins would be forgiven and set us free from the bonds of sin!

What Christ is talking about is that we are plant ourselves in the midst of mankind. That is being "in the world," for "world" is referring to humanity, not the earth. "Not being of the world" simply means to live differently than the rest of humanity. For when we are given the same set of circumstances and opportunities as everyone else, and yet, choose to live differently, we are living "not of the world." This, my friends, will draw attention to Christ's Name, and bring further glory and honor to Him.

So now that we know that playing "to not lose" isn't going to cut it if we sincerely desire to advance Christ's Kingdom here on this earth. What does playing to win look like? Simple. We go and join God in the Harvest. For Jesus said in John 4:35b (NASB), "Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white [ripe] for harvest." We are to join Him in His work of harvesting souls. For a practical application, reflect on the potential travesty of a farmer who won't harvest his bumper crop for fear that he might dirty his hands, all the while ignoring the mud and manure on his hands from his other farm chores. Every time I turn down an opportunity to minister to someone for fear that I might be made "unclean," is ludicrous. By doing so, I become the farmer in my previous statement. For I, my very self, am unclean. What's going to happen? Am I going to get "more" unclean? No, I am as unclean as they come, and my tattered morality demands reparation. The only problem is that I can't pay such a large debt. It is only by Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the grave that my sins are forgiven and my debt payed in full.

Since we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Christ's victory over death guarantees us an eternal win (spending an eternity with Him in heaven), let's play like it and earnestly seek to win souls for Christ.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB)

You were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:8-17 (NASB)

For the Son of Man [Jesus] has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Luke 19:10 (NASB)

Are we more afraid of hell than we are in love with heaven?

True Religion

"True religion is a very practical thing if we do not adulterate it." -C.T. Studd

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 (NASB)

"Men will wrangle for religion; write for it; fight for it; die for it; anything but live for it." -C.C. Colton

"No Religion." A common phrase among the Christian circle. Many claim to not follow a religion, but a relationship. This all good and well. For it is not the religion but the relationship that saves us. I believe that we can't earn our salvation, for we all have sinned. Therefore, we are saved by faith alone. Religion cannot and will not save us. For Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." Therefore, I believe in an all-powerful and all-encompassing grace extended to everyone by Christ through His death on the cross and succeeding resurrection from the tomb after three days. But how will we look any different from the rest of the world if we refuse to live differently? How will we magnify Christ in our lives if we don't put into practice the changes that he has commanded must take place in our lives? Those changes are the basis of our religion. Those changes are what make us different, and in turn, draw others to Christ. How else could we magnify God without making these necessary physical changes in our lives? Much more important, how could we even resist these changes with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us? The answer is religion according to Christ, for Jesus Himself laid the foundation of Christianity. Why do you think Jesus gave us many commands when He was here on earth? Just for fun? Just for us to blow them off? Of course not. He expected us to follow them for His sake and to magnify His Name. If we have a relationship with Him, He expects us to obey Him. This obedience out of love for Him is our true religion. Though just as importantly, we must not allow our own personal biases and judgments to alter Christianity or all is lost. It is as Georgia Harkness once said, “The tendency to turn human judgments into divine commands makes religion one of the most dangerous forces in the world.” We must not attach ourselves to the Gospel. We must conform to the truths of the Gospel, not conform the Gospel to us.

Many times, those outside the faith do not see the open arms of Christ portrayed in me, instead they see me, as a Christian, using the church as an exclusive society. Shame on me. I have taken the Gospel and conformed it to myself. I have made it the constitution of my social club, rather than divine mandates for the way I should carry myself. I have used the Gospel as a shield for the Church to repel against outsiders instead of an extension to the lost. The Gospel's (and religion's) purpose is to aid and not condemn. I should build bridges with the Message of the Gospel, not walls. Though if one would ask an atheist about Christianity, the first answer to be had, would be one of exclusion and condemnation. It is as Voltaire describes, "Of all religions, Christianity is without a doubt the one that should inspire tolerance most, although, up to now, the Christians have been the most intolerant of all men." Therefore, I must practice the religion of love that reaches out to the lost, the very same that Christ described incessantly and explicitly while He was here on this earth. I must speak Christ's Truth, and do so in LOVE.

Also, I wonder why is it that the Christian circle (predominantly younger Christians) are quick to disown Christianity as a religion? Again, I repeat that the religion is not what saves us. Jesus made this clear again and again, yet at the same time, He gave us commands He asked us to live by. So why are we so quick to shun religion? Are we content to settle ourselves as infants in Christ rather than growing and maturing as Christians? I think so. I speak from personal experience when I say that it is much easier to be content with the thought of an insured eternity and to look no further for instruction or work. I would compare it to having a lazy faith. I am ashamed of the audacity that I have to accept a gift with no comparison, free grace, yet show no appreciation of the gift's value nor show love to the gift-giver! Even in a society as distorted as present day America, it is seen as rude to disregard a gift received, and those gifts can never be compared to the gift of free grace. For we will never even be able to comprehend the sheer magnitude of so great a gift, much less be able to compare it another. Therefore, I implore, let us take hold of the gift given to us and run to God, seeking to obey Him and love Him more each day than the last.

I leave you with scripture, for Truth lies in scripture and not my musings.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” -Matthew 22:36-40 (NASB)

The Sermon on the Mount- Matthew chapters 5-7

Saved by Grace, Living by the Spirit- Romans 8:1-18

Dedicated Service- Romans 12:1-21

The Necessity of Love in Religion- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 (NASB) [Emphasis added]

Christian Conduct- 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

My Hope Rests In My True Home

The more time I spend in this life, the more I wish that it was over. Now I'm not saying that I want to end my life. My life is not mine to take. It was given to Christ long ago. It is His decision and His alone. What I am saying though is that this world has a deadly cancer that has permeated it to the core--sin. This sin continuously multiplies, corrupting and infecting everything in its reach. This cancer has left a bitter taste in my mouth. As a Christian, I have been promised that one day, I will be able to trade in all this infection from sin for a unencumbered eternity. Simply awesome. How great it will be on that day. To hear my Lord and Savior say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." To feel the relief that my own personal struggle with sin is no more. That is what I long for, to be able to spend an eternity without the burdens imposed by the world and my very own earthly nature. Burdens such as earthly desires, stress, and sickness will be forgotten. Haste the Day, oh Lord, when my faith shall be made sight.

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. -C.S. Lewis

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. -Hebrews 11:16 (NASB)

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. -Isaiah 65:17 (NASB)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new " And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." Then He said to me, "It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost." He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. -Revelation 21:1-7 (NASB)

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. -2 Peter 3:13 (NASB)

What tranquility will there be in heaven! Who can express the fullness and blessedness of this peace! What a calm is this! How sweet and holy and joyous! What a haven of rest to enter, after having passed through the storms and tempests of this world, in which pride and selfishness and envy and malice and scorn and contempt and contention and vice are as waves of a restless ocean, always rolling, and often dashed about in violence and fury! What a Canaan of rest to come to, after going through this waste and howling wilderness, full of snares and pitfalls and poisonous serpents, where no rest could be found. -Jonathan Edwards