Friday, May 15, 2020

Crack Players

Kipling began the description of a polo match by mentioning that one of the teams was "a team of crack players instead of a crack team; and that made all the difference in the world." I know little about polo, but I think that I understand his point all the same. In team sports, having the best players gives no assurance of victory. A team with moderately talented players will often defeat a team of highly gifted players. Teamwork is often victorious over talent.

The biblical writers tell us the same thing.

Paul reminds us that the church is a body; and that a body is made up of many members, but these members must think of the body not of themselves. The eyes must look out for the welfare of the whole body, not just the eyes. The mouth eats for the good of the whole body, not for its own enjoyment. The feet never go anywhere without taking the rest of the body along (see 1 Corinthians 12 for his actual wording).

Jesus emphasizes how we treat each other as central to our success in evangelism. It is not some hot new strategy that we need for convincing the unbeliever. It is a new attitude toward one another. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:34-35, ESV).

The Wisdom literature had hinted at a similar concept. In Psalm 133 we read, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1, ESV). And in Ecclesiastes we are reminded, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Eccl 4:12, ESV).

Attempting to be a Lone Ranger Christian is as likely to succeed as an attempt to manufacture round squares. I would rather herd cats, or drive a car with square wheels, than to shepherd a church of individualists.

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