Don't Let the Pigskin Hinder Your Gospel Witness

One of the best things about living in the South is the prominence college football has in culture. It has been said that there are really only two times of the year in the southeast-football season and getting ready for football season. Here in my home state of South Carolina, Clemson and The University of South Carolina dominate the headlines from late August to the holiday season.

I must add a word of confession here-I am a born and bred South Carolina fan. My mom has pictures of me at five years old wearing my gamecock pajamas (no I am not going to post a picture). I can recall growing up having a distaste for anything orange (I still do not like orange M & M's. They taste funny.) Whether you root for Clemson or South Carolina, it was instilled at an early age to loathe the opposing team's colors, university, mascot, fight song, and everything associated with it.

Growing up, I went to a great deal of Clemson home games. My dad's company always bought tickets and they would take business clients. As a perk, I got to tag along. Even though I am a South Carolina fan, I still have some good memories of going to watch Clemson play.

With the advent of social media and the Internet, you now have fan blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. to interact with people across the nation and around the world. Many times, I see on game days some good natured ribbing between friends and family members from opposing teams. Often, I see anger, virulent attacks, and slanderous comments from people who support a wide variety of teams-Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama-I could go on and on.

As football season has officially started, I began to think last night about how my passion for football-namely South Carolina football, could have a negative impact on my gospel witness.

Paul said in Ephesians 4:29 (ESV):
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

While it is perfectly fine to passionately support your chosen team, I wonder what would happen if we all committed to praying what Paul said in Ephesians 4:29 before we engaged our brothers and sisters from opposing teams.  Do not misunderstand me. There is nothing wrong with joking and ribbing friends and family who know you and appreciate it. However, to someone else, it could be a stumbling block. I myself have been guilty of this in the past.

So, wear your team colors proudly this season-win or lose. Remember to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. Most of all, remember that the gospel of Christ trumps all other allegiances, and dictates how we interact with others.

Best of luck and enjoy the football season!
Bryan

The Changing Face of Ministry

As you well know, life is about transitions and changes. I just celebrated my 40th birthday this month. My daughter started 1st grade and my son began 5th. Next year, Zachary will be entering middle school, which is already giving my wife anxiety attacks! In other words, nothing in life ever stays static. Things are always moving, changing, transitioning-whether we want them to or not.

What is true in life is also true in the church. No matter how much we want things to stay the same, the reality is in a rapidly changing culture, the church must transition in order to meet the ministry needs that are around us today. Whereas in the past people came to church out of sincere faith, duty, or sometimes obligation, today people have no problem leaving church out of their lives. In other words, in past generations, we programmed church events and activities with the "come and see" approach. Now, the church must leave the confines of the building and seek out those who need to hear the gospel.

This means church ministry has to take on a totally different look and feel than in past generations. The church has to take ministry to the neighborhoods, schools, and businesses around them. Pastors and staff have to take on a community service mindset. This means establishing relationships with principals, business leaders, and community leaders to discern what the legitimate needs are in their communities. Then the pastors and staff came formulate ways their churches can meet those needs.

The cookie-cutter days of ministry are over. Churches simply cannot afford to copy another church's student ministry, outreach ministry, etc. Each church must do the hard work of establishing relationships in their respective communities, earning trust, discovering needs, and meeting those needs under God's grace and provision.

Jesus said in Matthew 9:38, "Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Will you be one of His laborers to go out into the fields of your community to advance the kingdom of God? Let us pray to the Lord of the Harvest for laborers for His glory.

Serving Christ, Loving Others & Growing Together,
Bryan