March 29, 2021 - Touch The Paint

The modern game of basketball is quite different than it was when I played… with the introduction of the 3-point line, the game has progressively moved outward… often with teams playing a “5-out” offense, which simply means no one is starting out posted in the lane. (For those that are not basketball-minded, the “lane” [also often referred to as “the paint”] is the free throw area that has traditionally been the place where most of the action was taking place… where bodies collide… because that is the area closest to the goal.)

The philosophy that was very common, was that even if you had good shooters, the ball should work from inside out… should “touch the paint” to make the defense have to honor the threat inside by dropping down; this in turn would free up the outside guys for better looks.

I heard that phrase again while watching a game recently, and I must admit, I am still a bit old-fashioned in that I like for the ball to find its way in closer to the goal. I want players to put a body on somebody. I realize there are guys like Steph or Dame that are a threat to shoot it as soon as they cross half court; but the percentages don’t lie, for the vast majority, shooting closer yields a higher success rate… and it does force the defense to shift and engage differently, creating a clearer look for the shooters.

Anyway, now that I have gone on a rant about style of play, let me tell you why the phrase “touch the paint” jumped out at me… I believe the church has fostered a 5-out mentality of ministry and relied on a few “players”, like Steph or Dame, to jack up long range shots at the goal. Yet, there are few of those “players” out there, and our “offense” becomes stagnant, just “passing the ball” around to each other and not engaging the other “team”! Unlike modern teams that use the “5-out” to take long shots… we tend to make it more like the old “4-Corners” stalling offenses… just hoping the other team will come out to engage us on Sundays.

I believe we are called to lives that actively engage others with the Gospel! We are commissioned to “touch the paint” in people’s lives. “Offensively” I like for us to get as close to “the goal” as possible… “Defensively” I like to make sure we “put a body” on folks to slow down their agenda…

These things can only be done if we ACTIVELY ENGAGE... It is Easter week and a great time to invite people to church (it is “Super Bowl Sunday” as far as church attendance goes) and that is a great start… BUT also start looking for ways to “touch the paint” in people’s lives… Let’s GO MAD (Make A Difference) by serving and sharing!

The Great Commission is intended to be the marching orders for how we conduct our every day living… The idea of “go” really carries a concept of “as you are going.” WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SCORE!

“Touch the Paint” in someone’s life today!