The goal of any team’s gameplan is going to be to set the tone for the game according to the team’s tempo and style… and adversely, to get the other team out of their comfort zone. This is one of the reasons why teams love to play at home with not only the familiarity of the court/field, but also the advantage of a fan base that helps build energy at the right times. There is a common discussion at tournament times about teams playing for the home court advantage… BUT the reality is that it can only happen if a team can successfully play on the road as well… since the advantage is gained by having the best record in all games.
With the reality that the home court is typically the easier place to play, can you imagine if an athletic director made scheduling calls and refused to play away games? That may work if you are the hottest ticket around and people are clamoring to play against you but normally not an option. (I remember during one of my stints as an AD when I was instructed to schedule games WAY past the typical time, and without a home field for the team… and had to schedule all away games… that was fairly easy to do.)
The church is often guilty of only wanting to schedule “home games.” Let’s face it, Sundays are an easy time to set the tempo how we want… (and yes that includes music style, dress style, etc.)… we set a tone we hope will attract the “visiting team.”
Please don’t hear me wrong; I believe it is important to take advantage of a home court advantage and set a tone for the way we want to “play the game”… but I am not sure we can be attractive enough to be put on visitors’ schedules apart from spending some time at “away games.”
In John 17 we read of the real “Lord’s prayer”; the time when Jesus is spilling His heart to the Father. What is cool is that He pray for His apostles and their place in the world… while desiring them to not be of the world. He is recognizing they will be “playing on the road”… especially since the “home court” churches were yet to be established. He also prays for us! Did you know Jesus prayed for you? If you are a believer you fall under the banner of verse 20 where Jesus says, “I do not pray for these alone (the Apostles), but also for those who will believe in me through their word…”
What is interesting is that Jesus doesn’t talk a lot about their “playing style”, but more about their mindset… He wanted them to not be separated by their location or their style, but by their values and how they think. 17 "Sanctify them by Your truth, Your Word is truth.”
Jesus was more worried about temper than tempo…
Paul echoes these thoughts by reminding us in Romans 12:2 that we are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.”
John Wooden said that we can be “quick but not hurry.” In other words even if the tempo of the game changes, our temperament shouldn’t.
The opposition will try to impose its will on us… get us playing their style… and it is easy to fall into the trap. That is why Romans 12:9 reminds us to “cling to what is good.”
Playing the game of life with the right temperament, in spite of whatever tempo is set, is based upon transformed minds that have been sanctified by God’s truth. The world can speed us up or slow us down in tempo… but shouldn’t alter our mindset.
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