You all probably know by now that I love the sport of Track and Field. I have been privileged to coach four high school teams and each experience was rewarding and challenging. I love the sport of Track and Field because of the necessary discipline needed to be successful, and also because of the diversity that it celebrates.
Cross Country for instance is a sport where everyone runs the same race — the 5K, but Track and Field requires a diversity of talent to compete in all of the sports disciplines. A well rounded team will have sprinters, throwers, jumpers, long-sprinters, hurdlers and distance runners all competing in different events.
A 300 pound shot-put thrower is part of the same team as 115 pound miler. A 5’7 sprinter wears the same uniform as 6’6” high jumper. Win the mile and you score 10 points… win the discus and you score 10 points. Each event is as important as the next. If a team was made up of mostly long-sprinters, well… they might dominate an event or three, but they wouldn’t be a very good team.
Good Track teams are well rounded teams. Teams that seek the diversity necessary to compete in each event. They do different things… they might throw or jump or run… but as they strive in their individual disciplines they have a united goal of winning the Track Meet. The united objective is more important to a good Track and Field athlete than individual honors. Often times I have seen Track athletes sacrifice personal success by participating in events that might not be their strongest discipline — but it helps the team if they do.
You know, just like a Track Team is made up of a diversity of people — so is The Church. A Church needs to have people who are gifted in many different ways. Some are leaders, others are evangelists, teachers, givers, servers, encouragers, administrators or prayer warriors. Some use their gifts to minister to children… others adults. The Church is made up of many people who celebrate many gifts and passions, but yet have one united goal — the glorification and exaltation of Jesus Christ.
The Church seeks to be the body of Jesus Christ. Loving as Jesus loved… serving as Jesus served… forgiving as Jesus forgave… Jesus is the Head… and we the people are His Body called to fulfill His mission. God calls His people to unity in Christ.
Paul wrote… “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:1-4 NIV
Powerful, powerful teaching here about the Track Team… uh… body of Christ. We have a diversity of gifts… we might even have a difference of opinion on certain convictions… but we are called to be like-minded… one in spirit… of one mind… looking to the interests of others before our own. We are called to unity. Listen… unity is NEVER about conformity. God doesn’t expect us to all conform together in some mirror like template of one another. We are different… we think different… we might even have differences of opinions on secondary issues found in the Bible… but we are CALLED to unity.
The very next verse of Philippians 2 reads… “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 NIV Hey, I don’t care what event you participate in… suit up… we are on the same team… now let’s fulfill our purpose!
Leave a Reply