October 26, 2020 - Take the RIGHT Shot!

Often over the years I have taught, written, remarked about the “Burger King-microwave-culture” we live in. It is the “have it your way” and “have it now” culture. We are a culture that is seduced by the end result as being the only proof of success… I know some of you will bring out phrases like, “it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.” But let’s be honest, we only say that when we know we are “losers”… 

It’s why coaches/recruiters will cheat… it’s why athlete’s will use performance enhancing drugs in spite of the potential side effects…

I often write about John Wooden and his days at UCLA (10 national championships in a 12 year span) and wonder if he would have been fired before that in today’s culture? You see he had coached as UCLA for 15 years prior to that first championship… 

Basically, because we look at end results as the proof, we neglect to consider the path to get there…

It carries over to our church culture as well… as growing in numbers often outweighs growing in mind/spirit… I remember hearing one preacher say, “if numbers are proof of God’s blessing, He is all over Disney World!” 

Don’t read me wrong here, I am not opposed to being culturally attractive in outreach. In fact, I often teach that our “methods are ever-changing” and the “anything short of sin is fair game.” Yet I also teach that our “message is never-changing” and that we must adhere to the Biblical mandate of sharing Christ as our Substitute (see Mark 16:15… 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) or the Playbook as the foundation for how we play the game (see Matthew 28:18-20)!

Cultural attractiveness minus the Message is simply fluff and the crowds it will bring do not indicate success. Cultural attractiveness plus the Message is a brilliant strategy that we “might win the weak… might by all means save some!” (1 Corinthians 9:22)

The “path of success” for the believer, is one of obedience… which is simply one of walking by faith (trusting) in how God said to do things… even if we don’t immediately see the results. We stick to the game plan! As we have been studying the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11) on Sunday mornings at our church, it was pointed out again yesterday that the whole lot of these Biblical heroes were commended or approved not because of their results but because of their faith!

Hebrews 11:2 For by it (faith) the men of old gained approval. (NASB) 

“God doesn’t commend based upon results…” (Matt Brooks, LifePoint Church)

“God is not concerned if you hit the shot… He’s concerned if you take the right shot!” (Coach Burden, InBounds)