On Friday, my wife and I went to a high school football scrimmage. This was not a voluntary activity (my son is in the marching band), but was interesting. The "game" was terrible.
The teams were terrible. At one point, they came out and lined up on the wrong side of the ball after a punt. There were penalties on almost every play. There were fumbles and drops and obvious mistakes. It was, to put it simply, an ugly game.
But, then, it was a scrimmage. It was a practice game (and, boy, did they need practice). It was filled with mistakes and problems. It was a scrimmage.
I wonder how we think about our Christian lives and, especially, how we think about the lives of others. I think most of us think of ourselves as involved in a scrimmage, but we expect everyone else to be on their game.
As for others, we are so harsh in our judgments. When they fail, we are angry. We are so disappointed if they are caught in a lie. We are so angry if they are involved in a fight or take some absurd theological position or go to the wrong movies. We watch them like we are fans at a Super Bowl, expecting top-flight play. We see their sins as being like fumbles by high-paid players.
But our lives are scrimmages. We make lots of mistakes and expect people to understand. We are hurt when someone judges us because we lied or because we cheated or because we said something foolish. "They are too judgmental," we say. "Why should they judge me?" we demand.
I think it is time we turn this around. From my perspective, everyone else is in a scrimmage, doing their best but making mistakes from which they will learn. I am to be patient with them. 1 Thess. 5:14. Their mistakes are supposed to bring my understanding and kindness, not my condemnation.
But, as for me, every day is game day. I expect to do the right things, not the wrong things. I don't want to make mistakes. I want everyone who is watching to see a top-flight performance.
As for me, in other words, I will expect to live at a high level of spiritual life and to grow from what mistakes I make. As for others, I will be patient and kind and understanding.
Even a scrimmage can be a very interesting experience.
The teams were terrible. At one point, they came out and lined up on the wrong side of the ball after a punt. There were penalties on almost every play. There were fumbles and drops and obvious mistakes. It was, to put it simply, an ugly game.
But, then, it was a scrimmage. It was a practice game (and, boy, did they need practice). It was filled with mistakes and problems. It was a scrimmage.
I wonder how we think about our Christian lives and, especially, how we think about the lives of others. I think most of us think of ourselves as involved in a scrimmage, but we expect everyone else to be on their game.
As for others, we are so harsh in our judgments. When they fail, we are angry. We are so disappointed if they are caught in a lie. We are so angry if they are involved in a fight or take some absurd theological position or go to the wrong movies. We watch them like we are fans at a Super Bowl, expecting top-flight play. We see their sins as being like fumbles by high-paid players.
But our lives are scrimmages. We make lots of mistakes and expect people to understand. We are hurt when someone judges us because we lied or because we cheated or because we said something foolish. "They are too judgmental," we say. "Why should they judge me?" we demand.
I think it is time we turn this around. From my perspective, everyone else is in a scrimmage, doing their best but making mistakes from which they will learn. I am to be patient with them. 1 Thess. 5:14. Their mistakes are supposed to bring my understanding and kindness, not my condemnation.
But, as for me, every day is game day. I expect to do the right things, not the wrong things. I don't want to make mistakes. I want everyone who is watching to see a top-flight performance.
As for me, in other words, I will expect to live at a high level of spiritual life and to grow from what mistakes I make. As for others, I will be patient and kind and understanding.
Even a scrimmage can be a very interesting experience.