Matthew 16:18
There is quite a bit of news on the �net� this week. Being one who follows world events very closely, I�ve read �Blondie� every day. I�m waiting to see if Dagwood really will open his own sandwich shop.
Another event I�ve been following, not real closely but with interest, is the Word Basketball Championships. I played college basketball one semester at the first college I attended. (O. K. I was allowed to watch the games from the player bench!) I also coached youth basketball for one season when I was younger.
I have found much in basketball that will parallel the life of the churches which Jesus founded.
That last sentence is very important. When I was a teenager a group of us would flock to the local park and play basketball from dawn to dusk. We were even known to shovel snow and ice off the outside courts so we could play! But, in no way were we ever considered to be a �team.� We were just a bunch of guys getting together to play.
There is just no such thing as a �basketball team� unless that specific group has been authorized by some sort of authorizing body. Likewise, no group of persons are a church unless they have given fidelity to the Lord of the Universe. A large group may meet in a large brick building with a bell on top, they may sing songs and collect monies for charitable purposes, they may even have social gatherings in the name of their group, but they are not churches unless they are established by Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 16:18 Jesus said, �And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.�
So, what is this �foundation� upon which the churches of Jesus Christ are built? It isn�t Peter. The word �Peter� refers to a small stone; the churches are founded upon a �rock,� which means a large rock. In a sense Peter is just part of the larger rock. This should be true of every Christian.
The foundation rock of the church is the confession of Peter. �...Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.� (Matthew 16:16b) The true foundation of the honest churches of Jesus is the confession and faith that Jesus is the Promised Sin Bearer. This confession included the faith in the true divinity of Jesus. This confession will lead the individual church member to follow the �game plan� of the churches as given in the inspired and preserved Scripture.
There is no �try outs� for the �team� of the church. One must show up and accept the �uniform� of faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus as a means of salvation. Following the �play book� of the Heavenly Coach will lead one to unite with a group of like minded believers and submit to the ordinance of baptism - which is part of the Great Commission.
As a �team member� the Christian should then be taught. This is also part of the Great Commission. Doctrine is not for the cloistered Christian who lives in an ivory tower of academia. Doctrine is the �children�s bread� for the Christian. God intends for this to be a strengthening food to our spiritual bodies just as the �training table� will prepare the athletes for the rigors of his chosen sport.
During his imprisonment for the Gospel�s sake, Paul said, �Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.� (Philippians 1:15 through 17)
One of the reasons we need sound doctrine is so that we can defend our positions as children of the Heavenly Father. If we do not know what we believe, then we do not believe it! Even though our local congregation may teach it, it is not our belief unless we understand and accept the truths so taught.
This is part of our defense. But, our defense must never be offensive as Christians. Paul speaks to that point in those verses above.
This is one place where my analogy breaks down. The basketball team will be coached to score points from their defense. They will try to pressure the other team into mistakes so the ball can be taken for easy lay ups at the other end of the court.
I have known Christians who love to debate. They love to �score points� over their �adversaries.� I know; I�ve been one of them. But, it is wrong. We, as Christians, are not called to �score points.� We are called to be used of the Spirit to lovingly draw people to the side of the Savior. When we become competitive, we tend to become abrasive. Christianity is a message of love, not of conflict. That the Savior died in time so that others might live in eternity is a message of the all consuming Love of God. We need to learn our doctrinal points so that we can be in closer fellowship with, and understand more of the majesty of, our Heavenly Father. This fact should draw us closer to Him so that we will display His attitude of love.
If the love isn�t there, the fellowship just might not be either!
The basketball team will often use a zone defense. This is the defense where a player will guard his specific area of the floor against all who come into that particular place. This requires great teamwork. A good zone defense is a group of people who are working together, each fulfilling his own responsibility.
What a lesson this is for the members of the local body of Christ. If, for instance, I am a Sunday School teacher, I am not the preacher. I should not try to assume that holy office. If I am a member of a class, I need to be prepared to discuss the lesson. Whether one�s responsibility is prayer warrior, preacher, giver, encourager, whatever, we all need to work together to allow the church to fulfill her mission to spread the Gospel in the area where she resides. The local church will also, through various mission programs, seek to spread the Gospel message into all the world.
Some teams also play man to man defense. This means that each one must find and take his special responsibility. When I went into a game as a player, the one I was replacing always told me who he was defending. I needed to know just what my responsibility was so that I could fulfill it. Knowing was not enough; I also had to perform.
Find your niche, find your job, find your responsibility as a member of the local body.
Every so often a team would also call a �time out.� Sometimes this was just done so that we could rest as players. Sometimes it would be to get specific instruction.
What a picture this is of the need for a daily �quite time� for the Christian. We all need to get away, alone with Jesus, for a time. Study of the Scripture and conversation with the Author of that Word are quiet times we need to make us better Christians and better members of our churches.
Sometimes a time out would be called because the other team was making a �run.� We needed to break their rhythm. That need for quiet time is also a time to petition the Spirit so that our efforts will be fruitful on His behalf.
Defense is important. But the good basketball team will also practice offense. If a basketball team can not score, they will not win very many games. There are several different methods which can be utilized to teach an offense to a basketball team.
Almost every coach will have at least several �set plays.� These plays are designed to be run in a certain manner with a specific player taking the shot. Just because one player is designated as the �shooter� in these plays does not overlook the importance of each of the others players. They must each perform their functions or the play will not work as intended.
Once again, this points out the need of every single member of a local assembly to remain faithful in his, or her, responsibility.
There is also what I like to call the �Free Wheel Offense.� In this, generally, each of the players has a specific location to which they are accountable in the offensive scheme. The object is to set screens and try to free up another player for an open shot. Each player, however, is seeking to score when he finds himself open.
Likewise, every Christian should support other Christians in the work of evangelizing the world about them. So also should each Christian be ready to respond when he finds that the Holy Spirit has given the opportunity for witness.
There is also the �clear out� play. In this, when the other team is playing man to man defense, every player except one will stand to one side. The remaining player will then have only one defender to get past in his drive to the basket.
Sometimes one person has to stand up and be counted upon. This is true in basketball. This is also true in Christianity. How much we need to be committed and prepared so that the Lord can count on us to fulfill the need!
Even when this method has been used, the score still counts in the team�s column. It is not simply the score of the individual. Neither does the Christian do things for his own personal glory. We work to give glory to God.
Most teams also have a �go to� guy that they can trust when they need the basket the most. This may be the pastor in a church. This may be the church secretary. This may be a Sunday School teacher, or a deacon board member. This may be someone who is regular in supporting the church. The important thing is that this will be someone who has dedicated their life to God in such a way that God, Himself, will call upon them in the time of need. God knows that He can trust this person�s prayer life and submissive work ethic.
With this done, there will be someone who is in charge of the team.
If any team is to win, there must be only one person in charge of the team. That person is the coach. If any church is to move forward in the spiritual battles which beset us all, there must be only One Who is in charge. That person is God. Denominational leaders may exert great control. Elder driven churches may answer, in many things, to the elected leadership. The pastor is responsible for leading the churches into the things of God. But, bottom line, the only true church leadership must flow from the Throne of God.
On a basketball team the coach will decide who plays and who sits on the bench. The coach will decide which persons he wants on the floor at any given time. The coach decides which plays, if any, he wishes to be used. The coach decides what defensive scheme is to be followed. The players are responsible for following his dictates and wishes.
It is the same in the churches of the Living God. God raises up and replaces. God decides who is usable and who is not. God has already given us His �play book� in the Scripture. The Holy Spirit will guide us in the use of the freedom of action this holy writ allows us. Bottom line? Our fidelity to God is not dependant upon what we do, or do not do. Our fidelity to God is dependant upon listening to His Voice and following His guiding hand. If He calls us to the bench, that is where we go. If He sends us into the fray, that is where we go.
Many teams have a floor leader. Oftentimes this person is referred to as �a coach on the floor.� Normally it is the �point guard� which is given the responsibility to lead the team on the basketball court. This will be the person designated to lead the team while they are in the midst of playing the game on the floor. This person is chosen by the coach. For another to attempt to usurp this position is doing so at detriment to the team.
This �floor leader� has some real authority over the players while the game is being played. But, his authority is only that which has been delegated him by the coach. Even in this situation, the coach is still the one in charge of the team.
This is a picture, albeit imperfect, of the pastor of a church. It is the duty of the pastor to study the Word, as is the duty of all Christians. It is the duty of the pastor to pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit, as is the duty of all Christians. But, it is also the duty of the pastor to teach the local church, as an organization, and to lead them as they encounter the works of Satan and the world of men. The pastor�s duty is great. Never underestimate the burden of a called pastor of a local congregation of the people of God. But, even the pastor must realize that he has no authority except as given by God.
Now, on with the game. If we are God�s established church, following God�s instruction, we cannot fail. No matter the score, may we realize that the final tally is not complete this side of the Throne of Grace.