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?