Bodily Exercise Profits A Little

As a Christians, we must keep our priorities straight.   Paul wrote: “for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.  It is a trustworthy statement deserving of full acceptance  For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (I Timothy 4:8-10).    Many place great importance upon physical fitness and physical beauty, but these things involve only the outward and the temporal.   In contrast, godliness involves our relationship with God and things that will last forever.    The world places the importance on the body and how to fulfill the appetites of the body, while God places the importance on the spiritual.   

“Set Your Mind On Things Above”

Paul warned against “enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things” (Phil. 3:18-19).    The key here is what the mind is focused on.   Godliness refers to living for God, setting our minds on the things above, and this is profitable to us both in this world and also in the world to come.   Those who set there minds of the things of this world have a false understanding of life.   In Col. 3:1-15, we read:  “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.  Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.  For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,  and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.  But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.   Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,  and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--  a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.  So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed were called in one body; and be thankful.”

What a great passage of substance and meaning!  It clearly defines the hope of a Christian, the sins of the flesh and the characteristics of a true follower of Jesus Christ.  

What Influences Our Lives?

You will notice that virtually all T.V. advertising is directed toward the fulfillment of fleshly and physical desires.  These may include many innocent and worthwhile things but the promises of fulfillment and happiness are way over the top.  If you buy this or that, or if you do this or that, you will find happiness and your world will change.   Prime examples are automobile or beer advertisements.  This is part of the materialistic age in which we live.  I recommend talking back to your T.V. at times, lest you become totally passive and your senses become numbed.   Better yet, just turn if off.   But the Bible clearly states that this is not where happiness is found.  It is a false premise based upon a false hope.  The apostle John stated the matter very clearly when he wrote: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.  The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.   (1 John 2:15-17).

Which has the strongest influence on our lives?   Is it modern culture with all of its contradictions and attractions, or is it the values taught by Jesus Christ?   Paul wrote:  “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:1-2).

Is life only spiritual?   No, indeed!   We live on this earth, and man does need bread for survival.  But as Jesus stated: “MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD" (Matt. 4:4).   But you object by saying, “Lindy, is life only about reading the Bible and doing what it teaches?”   I answer, “Well, that is a good start, but even the Bible teaches that life consists of many things and that we must live in the real world.”    Yes, I have interest in all kinds of things.   I read “Sports Illustrated”, “National Geographic” and all sorts of publications.   In a limited way, I also watch T.V (taping the programs I want to watch is great),  surf the Internet, continually interact and mix with people, etc.   Just because I strive to see the world through the eyes of God does not mean that I am ignorant or disengaged in what is going on around me.  But as Paul wrote, I am also not ignorant to the ways of Satan: “so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.  (2 Cor. 2:11).

As Paul wrote, bodily exercise does profit a little, but in order to be a whole, balanced person, the entire personality must be developed.   Luke refers to this in the development and growth of Jesus:  “and Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).   Jesus was the ideal man.   He grew physically, socially, intellectually and the spiritually.  For example, a woman who is blessed with beauty but has no discretion is compared to a ring of gold in a swine’s snout (see Pro. 11:22) – not a pretty picture.   For those who place no emphasis upon the spiritual aspects of life,  Jesus asked the question:  “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

We see the bad results everywhere in society where the focus is merely on the physical and the social, and the spiritual part of man  (that which is created in the image of God) is neglected.  When God commanded mankind  to “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Gen. 1:28), do you really think that He just wanted people to have babies and fill the earth with human life?   God’s obvious intent when marriage was instituted was that man would produce “godly offspring” (see Mal. 2:15-16).  It was man’s failure to do this that wrecked the ancient world.  At that time the world idolized outward beauty and physical strength.  The author of Genesis wrote:  “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” (Gen. 6:5-6).   It was man’s failure to do this that wrecked the Roman/Grecian world of Paul’s day so fully described in Romans 1:18-32 and clearly established the need for redemption through Jesus Christ.

There was a time in American history when education was not humanistic and secular as it is today.   There was a time when the Bible itself was the very heart of  the education of boys and girls, even in the institutions of higher learning like, Harvard, Princeton, Yale and so many others.   It first began in the home and was reinforced in the schools.  But now all of that has changed and we are daily seeing the sad results.  So what is sadly lacking today is spiritual component of so many of today’s youth.  American has never been Christian in the full meaning of that term, but, as any good historian will tell you, America’s constitution and laws were built upon the Judao/Christian philosophy or principles.  What can you expect when any teaching about Jesus Christ is outlawed in the class rooms of state schools, and instead, boys and girls are taught that they are merely a product of some evolutionary process.   It we have ascended from the lower animals, then why not act like animals?    Our worship of science, with all of its limitations, is astounding.  That we should get the results we are getting is very logical and not at all surprising.  

I will point out that there are thousands and even millions of boys and girls being educated where the “whole man” (Spiritual, Physical, Social, and Intellectual) concept is being taught.  This is happening mostly in home schools and private schools.  Here the concepts can be taught of putting God first in your lives and “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.”    Here the concepts of personal responsibility and accountability are being stressed.   It is not all about “narcissism” and “self-interest”.   In many of these schools, I am allowed to speak and mention the name of Jesus Christ.   It is ironic that during this time of the year, with the celebrations of Christmas, men and women’s hearts are turned to religion, beautiful music and the prince of peace, and yet this is only a pulse in our leap into secular and humanistic thinking.  It is like a giant disconnect between what is real and what is not real.   Even in our sports, were we are continually reading about drugs, alcohol abuse, various forms of cheating, criminal activity, abuse in the home and other horrible stories about misconduct, the talking heads continually scratch their heads wondering why or simply dismiss it as being a part of the times in which we live.   Four National Football League Players committed suicide in 2012.   A football coach sexually abused many boys and went to prison.  Few are trying to find real answers.   We could sure use a big dose of humility and godliness.

Thank you for reading to the end of this article.    – Lindy McDaniel

 *  *  *

Note: All of my articles can be accessed by going to lindymcdaniel.com and then click on the Pitching For The Master blog button.   If you desire to be placed on my special e-mail list for advanced attached copies of monthly articles, or if you know others who would like to be placed on the list, please let me know by contacting me at lindymcdaniel41@yahoo.com.   December, 2012

Trip To The Northeast U.S.A.

Sorry to have posted this article so late.  My wife, Nancy, and I took a trip in our little Nissan Rogue car beginning on September 7^th and arriving back home in Lavon, Texas on Oct. 28^th, 2012.  We drove almost 6,500 miles.   

Speaking in the Churches

During this time I conducted what is generally called “gospel meetings” for six different churches located in Virginia, New Jersey, Maine and Alabama.  I preached on 33 different occasions.  In addition, I spoke to many groups of  young people from K-12 in both public and private schools.   I was interviewed by the local newspapers and radio sports programs in some smaller towns and we met all kinds of interesting people.  All together, Nancy and I met hundreds of people both inside and outside the church.    Also, along the way we experienced the beauties of nature and the turning of the leaves.  We drove the mountain roads around Clintwood, Virginia, as well as saw many of the historic sites around Williamsburg.  

These gospel meetings were generally on week-ends (Friday thru Sunday) and so that gave us some time to do some sightseeing.    The meeting work was generally on two major topics, “The Emotions of a Christian” and “The Authority of Jesus Christ – How it is understood and applied.”  These lessons are designed to motivate  Christians to whole hearted devotion and service to Jesus Christ and are generally well received.   Usually the best compliment I receive has to do with helping others understand the Bible text and how it applies to daily lives.  In other words, I break it down in plain words for the common person.  The lessons on “The Emotions of a Christian” has to do with developing the emotions of God – to love what God loves and to hate what God hates.  These lessons are hard hitting but practical.   The series on Bible Authority is primarily taken from the letters of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians.   Paul is careful to establish the authority of Jesus Christ, which includes apostolic authority, as the foundation of the church, and uses this basic premise to solve every problem in the church at Corinth.  In these series, I usually include one lesson on Psalm 73 and another on “Living Godly in an Ungodly World” based upon Peter’s writings. 

Each local congregation is autonomous and independent of any other church or rule except that of Jesus Christ.  Desiring to do some preaching in the Northeast, where I had spent so much time as a professional baseball player,  I contacted about 100 churches and six invited me to come and speak.   I am always grateful for such invitations and realize the grave responsibility of proclaiming the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.  I ask people not to accept what I teach based upon my person, but to prove all things in the light of the Bible.  My lessons are Christ centered and Bible centered.

Speaking in the Schools

My baseball background usually gets me into the schools.  Most kids are willing to listen to a 20 year veteran of Major League Baseball.  I usually go with a friend who has some contact with the schools and talk to the principal and explain my purpose in speaking to the young people.   My main message has to do with morals and ethics by drawing from my baseball experience.  I usually end with a “question and answer” session with the kids.  I keep it lively and interesting and generally have no problem connecting with the kids, or if I am addressing the upper grades, “young men” and “young women”.  Sometimes I will wear my “monkey suit” as I call it – my Yankee cap and uniform!   In the public schools, I am not allowed to mention God or Christ, but generally the lessons I bring are based upon biblical principles.  In the public schools I usually stress staying away from tobacco, alcohol and drug use and emphasize the three “R’s”.   When drawing from my baseball experience, I emphasize both my “highlights” and “lowlights” in teaching values.  I place special stress on how to overcome adversity and the obstacles in life and how we ought to treat others.   In the private schools, there generally is no limitation on speaking about God and Christ.  I speak in all the schools without accepting a fee.

One of the most unexpected events was at a middle school in Maine where I spoke to 250 kids and wore my Yankee cap and jersey.  Even though this was “Boston Red Sox” country, I was received with much yelling and applause, and after a long question and answer session, many of the kids came up to hug me and wanted photos with me.   For a brief moment, I was treated as a celebrity--Strange world!

One of the most interesting schools was “Athens Bible School” in Athens, Alabama, where I spoke to the upper grades and the baseball team.  This is an accredited private school (K thru 12) that uses the Bible as the heart of its curriculum.  They also have a very good sports program.  This school was established in the 1960’s and receives no funds from churches or other religious institutions, but has graduated outstanding students who have gone on to institutions of higher learning.  It gives parents a real choice in the education of their children. 

I give away these little autographed cards with my photo and stats.  It is amazing what a small thing can do to make people happy and be willing to carry on a conversation.  Baseball crosses all ethnic, social, political and national boundaries.  The same is even more so regarding the religion of Jesus Christ which literally applies to all men everywhere and can span all boundaries.  And on the scale of importance, baseball pales in comparison.  On this trip I gave away about 600 baseball cards.   Also since returning home, I have mailed out 650 cards to schools who requested them, for which they were willing to pay a nominal fee.  On the card is my website which will direct people to the “Pitching for the Master” blog.  Hopefully some of these people will read the blog. 

Nancy and I took a lot of interesting side trips.  We spent three days in Amish country outside of Lancaster, PA at a “bed & breakfast” with a Mennonite family who owned a dairy farm.  We also spent three days in the Cooperstown, NY area, where the color of the trees had reached a brilliant peak.  I visited the Baseball Hall of Fame several times, wore my Yankee cap and jersey and signed a lot of autographs for the people.  We also drove through the White Mountains of New Hampshire and along the coast line of the Atlantic Ocean.   We visited many small historic towns along the way both coming and going.  We stopped by and visited old friends.  Between us we took about 1300 photos.  We had a great time, and it is a trip that we will long remember. 

I might add this final note.  During this trip both the Major League Play-offs and World Series were taking place.   The presidential election was going hot and heavy.  In some places we had no access to T.V.  Since returning home, Hurricane Sandy took place and the elections were finalized.  Both events have affected millions of people.  Fortunately none of the churches I visited in New Jersey were severely affected by the Hurricane, but everyone will be affected by the elections.

 

                                                           *  *  *

Note: All of my articles can be accessed by going to lindymcdaniel.com and then click on the Pitching For The Master blog button.   If you desire to be placed on my special e-mail list for advanced attached copies of monthly articles, or if you know others who would like to be placed on the list, please let me know by contacting me at my E-Mail address:  lindymcdaniel77@reagan.com.    The photo at the beginning of this article shows my wife Nancy and me on the only sandy beach in Maine at Acadia National Park.  I think that this is about the only ocean beach to be found in Maine.

How To Be A Christian And Avoid Persecution -- Part Two

Last month, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek article with the above heading. I made a list of 17 things one can do to avoid being persecuted and still claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Even though I know it is impossible for a true follower of Jesus Christ to avoid persecution, I realize that thousands of people attempt to do this all the time. This was written to get people to think about what they are doing. Yes, terms need to be properly defined such as the word “persecution”. By persecution I mean suffering that comes as a result of our faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Many passages in the Bible deal with this including words of Jesus (see Matt. 5:10-11) and the writings of Paul (see 2 Tim. 3:12 and Peter (see 1 Pet. 4:15-16). I made this list especially for “weak” souls who want to avoid suffering for Christ. I well understand that “weak” is a broad term and very well may include Christians who are either weak in knowledge or tend to be faint-hearted in making a stand for Christ (see 1 Cor. 8:9-12; 2 Cor. 11:21; 1 Thess. 5:14; Heb. 12:12-13). Such folks need a lot of help and encouragement and are trying to serve Christ and are not seeking to avoid being persecuted. I also realize that persecution can take on many forms and does not always mean physical abuse, but can include ridicule, name calling, etc. So now I am going to take up these rules one by one and show why they are false. So just bear with me.

1. Go to church occasionally, but don’t let it become a habit. This shows others that you are religious but not a radical. My answer: This is exactly opposite of what the Bible teaches. The writer of Hebrews teaches: “…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25). The purpose for assembling was to stimulate one another to love and good works. There is nothing radical about this. It is more radical to have more interest in your hobbies or sports than you do in the Lord. Lack of edification, which is the main purpose of assembling together, leads to willful sin and falling away (See Heb. 10:26). You will find that the early church stuck together and assembled often.

2. Avoid talking to others about religion, for this makes people feel very uncomfortable. They might think that you are judging them. In fact, if possible, it is best to avoid all controversial subjects. My answer: If one really loves others, he is willing to talk to them about those things which will affect their lives the most. The early Christians were not bashful in doing this even if it meant rejection. The Devil is quite active in pushing his agenda at all times in all places. These early Christians were successful in overcoming Satan because of three things: “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death” (Rev. 12:11). The role of a Christian is to be a “beacon” reflecting the true light of Jesus Christ (see Phil. 2:15-16). The Devil would be quite pleased if Christians just “shut up” and hunker down in their bunkers out of public view which is exactly what some want Christians to do. But Christians take their orders from Jesus Christ, not the government or the ACLU. Paul wrote: “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret” (Eph. 5:11-12).

3. Avoid forming strong convictions on religious topics. The best way to accomplish this is don’t spend too much time studying the Bible. Too much knowledge can be a bad thing. Even Paul said that “knowledge makes arrogant” (1 Cor. 8:1). Didn’t Festus say to Paul, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad!” (Acts 26:24). Even Solomon warns: “. . . excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body” (Eccles. 12:12). My answer: Again, the Bible teaches the very opposite. Psalm 1:1-3: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!   2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of  water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither;  And in whatever he does, he prospers.  In 1 Cor. 8:1 Paul is saying that  knowledge, just for the sake of knowledge, is an empty thing and produces  pride, but the goal of true knowledge is love that edifies. Memorizing facts is one thing, but learning truth in order to obey God is another thing  entirely. At all times Paul prayed that people might grow in knowledge, wisdom and fruit bearing (see Phil. 1:9-10; Col. 1:9-10). Yes, the worldly Festus believed Paul to be out of his mind, but Paul responded: “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth”  (Acts 26:25). Strong conviction is never a bad thing if it is based upon truth.  Solomon is cutting through the fat of searching in all of the wrong places by  stating: “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will  bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil” (Eccles. 12:13-14). How in the world can we keep God’s commandments if we don’t know what they are?

4. Don’t ever reprove others. If you do this, you are really asking for trouble. Some will end up hating you, and others will actually accuse you of hating them. My Answer: Yes, reproving others can be a risky business, and if we find out that a man is a fool (see Pro. 9:8; 15:12), I suggest it be avoided. Jesus warned us “not to throw pearls before swine” (see Matt. 7:6), that is, those who have no appreciation of its value. But a wise person will accept reproof and be better because of it. Reproof, properly motivated, is the evidence of love (see Lev. 19:17; Pro. 13:24). Correcting a brother should always be done in a spirit of humility and gentleness as taught in Gal. 6:1-2, and in so many other places. Yes, we will be subjected to hatred if we stand up for the truth, just as the early disciples of Jesus Christ were hated.

5. Make sure you sprinkle your speech with a bit of vulgarity and sexually explicit language. This let’s people know that you are really human. They will more readily open up to you. However, be careful not to do this around those overly religious types. They have probably never read what Solomon wrote: “Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?” (Eccles. 7:16). My answer: This makes no sense at all. But I have seen some who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ do this in order to be accepted as “one of the guys”. Purity of heart and of speech is to be one of the primary characteristics of a Christian. This quote from Solomon is misapplied. He is either speaking of such religious excesses as later was characteristic of the Pharisees who thought that they were the only righteous ones, or else he is simply speaking from the viewpoint of the world without any reference to God, as seen in his initial experiment of how to obtain happiness (see Eccles. 1:13). By the way, all of his experiments to find happiness failed. In spite of his great wealth and ability to explore all things (women, music, beautiful gardens, comedy, etc.) based strictly on what the world has to offer, in the end he said that “all is vanity and a striving after the wind” (Eccles. 1:14).

6. Practice all vices in moderation. Solomon also wrote that one should not “be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time” (Eccles. 7:17). So you see, a little wickedness is O.K. Just don’t go overboard. You can apply this thinking to social drinking, dancing, partying and all sorts of things. I was told, “Lindy, just have a few beers with the guys and show that you are a regular buddy.” Listen, just be discrete. Yes, that’s the key – be discrete. In baseball, a little cheating is O.K. Just don’t get caught! We might even reason, “Everybody does it”, but that might be a bit of an exaggeration. My Answer: The above is a total crock. Again, Solomon is writing from the point of view of finding happiness under the sun without being guided by God’s wisdom. There is no doubt that being a Christian is radical from the stand point of the world. A real Christian knows that he is not perfect, but as a servant of Jesus Christ and having been purchased by the blood of Christ, he strives to please Christ in all that he does. We make enough mistakes without deliberately sinning in order to win the approval of others. Can you imagine a baseball player deliberately booting the ball in order to be more accepted by the other team? No, we are trying to defeat Satan, not play his little game by giving in to temptation. The question here is integrity. Job held on to his integrity in spite of the barrage of opposition, even from his friends.

7. Try to stay clear of people who have strong convictions of right and wrong. Such people give religion a bad name, especially among the people of the worldly point of view. You have surely heard the names, “prude”, “self-righteous”, “do-gooder”, “heartless”, “square”, etc. applied to those people. Do you really want people to call you those kind of names? If people do not think well of you, how can you influence them? People tend to judge you by your associations.  My Answer: It is true that some people of strong conviction are wrong in their views. In this world, radical nuts do exist, as they existed in the world of the early Christians. Some people are all fury and no substance. Many of those who opposed the early Christians belonged in that category. But, if we do not support men and women of strong convictions based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, we are dishonoring Jesus. Why do we think that it is strange to be called such names? The early Christians were called all kinds of names including “troublemakers”, “blasphemers of God”, “people who turned the world upside down”, “the sect that is everywhere spoken against”, etc. Jesus himself was called “a blasphemer”, “the prince of demons”, “a gluttonous man”, etc. You cannot control what other people say or do.

8. Try to stay in the middle of the road on controversial matters. Not too far to the right and not too far to the left. People will see you as being a true moderate and even as a diplomat. Stay above the fray. My Answer: Yes, spoken as a true wimp who doesn’t want to get his hands dirty. The fact is that Jesus was always controversial, and so were those who followed after his teaching as documented in the book of Acts. Right and wrong has no middle of the road. But the early Christians accounted faithfulness to Christ as being more important than life itself. Light always shines the spotlight on the works of darkness. But even in the controversial battles that must be fought, the real Christian always acts toward others in kindness and fairness, and even doing good to enemies. You do not see Christians acting with a mob mentality or returning evil for evil, but rather using the spiritual weapons provided by God.

9. Be tolerant of what other people believe and practice no matter how odd or strange. After all, they have the “right” to their behavior just as you have a “right” to do what you do. Whether you like it or not, our world has been heavily influenced by secular humanistic thinking, and so wee ht as well go along with the flow. Didn’t Jesus teach that we are not to judge others? No one is perfect. Doesn’t that excuse just about anything people want to do? The more outrageous the behavior of others, the more this principle seems to apply. Don’t you realize some of these people get real angry and ugly if you call into question what they do? This especially applies to homosexuals, heavy drinkers and other things I could name. But this same rule does not seem to apply to those “overly righteous” Christians. If you oppose them there is little chance that you will ever suffer persecution. My Answer: I have often observed that those who pride themselves in being tolerant are often extremely intolerant toward those who disagree with them. Perhaps in this area, the teachings of Jesus Christ have been the most perverted and abused by those who think that they know the mind of Christ, when in fact, they are totally ignorant of what the Bible teaches. While we are not to judge hearts and motives, nor use hypocritical judgment (see Matt. 7:1-6), we are taught to discern between good and evil and use righteous judgment (see John 7:24). We are to become intellectually and emotional in tune with God, and therefore we are to hate every false way while also showing love and compassion for all people. God calls certain sins an abomination and so they are. We also know that it is an abomination for some fools to turn away from evil (see Pro. 13:19). God is not wanting any to perish but all men come to repentance, but in the end He will destroy the wicked, as He has promised. Warning the wicked is an act of love and not hate. Just a few comments about homosexual behavior since this has been in the news so much lately. Some place this practice in the same category as the color of one’s skin. If I were a black person, I would be very offended by this. God places this practice in the category of abomination and unnatural sin (see Lev. 18:22; Romans 1:25-27). I agree that we should not hate anyone, but let me put it this way, “How do you feel about a grown person who sexually abuses children?” Do you hate these people or do you hate what they do? If you can understand this, you can understand also how Christians feel about the other practice. There is nothing racial about having strong feelings against those who abuse children.

10. Give others as many compliments as you can, even if you have to make things up. It makes people feel good and you will have many friends. There is no down side to this, unless someone finally figures out that you use flattery to gain favor with people. Also, go to a church where the preacher is totally positive and refuses to get caught up in negative preaching. Some say that is their calling, and who can argue with that!   My Answer: I believe that deserved compliments should always be given, even if the person is wicked. Observe how Paul addressed King Herod in Acts 26:2-3. But to use undeserved praise just to win the favor of others is simply flattery and ought always be avoided. Evil people with evil intentions specialize in this deceptive art in order to entice others (see Psalms 12:2-3; Proverbs 7:21). The church of Laodicea had high praise for itself, but God’s judgment was quite different (see Rev. 3:17). No preaching can be faithful to his calling by engaging only in positive preaching (see 2 Tim. 4:2-4). Keeping your eye on polls and giving people what they want to hear may keep you from avoiding persecution, but is cowardly and a reproach to God.

11. Act one way around religious people, especially those who are overly religious, and another way around worldly people. Paul wrote: “I have become all things to all men” (1 Cor. 9:22). Don’t you think that is what he was talking about? We say, “Do in Rome as the Romans.” I like the idea that Vegas uses, “What goes on here stays here.” In baseball, we had the same signs in the clubhouse. We all need these sanctuaries where we can feel free to do whatever we wish to do without fear of being exposed. Besides, aren’t morals always situational? Isn’t that what is taught to a lot of young people today? Imagine how radical is the idea that truths are absolute and apply to all people the same all over the world?  My Answer: How does the word “hypocrite” sound to you! We do not accept such double standards with our politicians much less Christians. Unfortunately this is exactly how some people act. Here Paul’s words are taken totally out of context. He was referring to customs and other such matters of spiritual indifference. He was not referring to matters of good and evil. Nothing is hidden from the sight of God. There is no “moral free zone.” How we might address confidential and private matters is not under consideration here.

12. Don’t feel passionate about anything. That is what gets people into trouble. Of course, it is alright to feel passionate about your favorite sports team! Also, in society you must feel passionate about those things that have been labeled “Politically Correct”, if you can figure out just what those things are. But as a normal rule, don’t have strong convictions about anything. You don’t want to give people the impression that you are opinionated! Remember, there are two sides to every question and if we can actually defend all sides we come across as being unbiased and very insightful. And we will be more likely to be picked for jury duty. Well, that might be a down side. If you do get into an argument with someone, cave in a quickly as possible, for Jesus said, “Agree with your adversary quickly” (Matt. 5:25). Having an apathetic attitude about religion will never get you persecuted.  My Answer: To me if you lack passion about anything you might as well be dead. God has emotion and God created man with emotion. Certainly a Christian should feel both sorrow and joy as he lives on the earth. If we feel no passion about the things of God, this only means that we are indifferent about such things. Here again, many in the world have a double-standard. It is alright for people to feel passion for things that reflect their values, but it is wrong for Christians to feel passion for things that reflect the values of God. There are indeed two sides to many questions, but also many questions involve matters of right and wrong. People who are unwilling to make a stand remind me more of cowards than those who are just being extra careful before they take a side. If we believe something to be right or wrong, why should we ever “cave” in just because we are opposed by someone? This is intellectually dishonest.

13. If the church where you attend starts to have problems, leave as quickly as possible so that you are not forced to take sides. The last thing you need is to have to determine who is right and who is wrong. Just leave and find a church were there are no problems. Good luck with this.  My Answer: What church doesn’t have problems. This is like saying, “Don’t bother me, I don’t want to get involved!” Christ has given us clear instruction as to how to solve problems, but non-involvement is not an option. Would you apply this same principle to your family? Having God’s wisdom means solving problems God’s way. Guess what? God is a lot smarter than we are.

14. If some well intentioned person tries to pressure you to be more diligent in your service to Jesus Christ, just tell them that the Bible teaches that we are not saved by our works. That should cool his/her heels. After all, if we “have” to do anything, doesn’t that mean that we are trying to earn our salvation?  My Answer: Well, I would hope that would not cool his heels. In this case, “not being saved by works” if we are using that expression in a Biblical way has nothing to do with encouraging people to be faithful to Jesus Christ. Those who teach that obedience has nothing to do with salvation are ill-informed. Just a simple survey of a few passages would put that baby to bed (see Romans 1:5; 16:26; Heb. 5:8-9). Recently I spoke to a friend who claims to be a Christian and attended a seminary school. I asked him if he though he had to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in order to be saved. He said, “No!” “Being a disciple is a choice and has nothing to do with salvation” because, as he put it, “salvation has nothing to do with works.” He thinks he is saved, but he need not worry about being persecuted for his faith, because being saved has nothing to do with how you live. I am amazed that so many people buy into that bit of garbage.

15. If someone insists that courage means that we always do the right thing regardless of the cost, just quote this to them: “Surely a live dog is better than a dead lion” (Eccles. 8:4). I know that some say that leadership and courage go hand in hand, but can’t we just get along?  My Answer: Here we go again quoting Solomon without understanding any of the context. The Bible teaches this: “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). Yes, nothing gets done without leadership and that requires great courage. If we are unwilling to be courageous and support courageous leaders, then we are ashamed of Jesus Christ and the gospel of Christ. When the going got hot, many, even in the days of the apostles, left the church.

16. Follow everything your religious leaders tell you to do, unless of course they are one of those extreme people who place truth above everything else, and make demands on your own behavior. This could lead to suffering. Just passively going along with everything that you are taught will keep you out of trouble. This will also keep you from taking personal responsibility for what you believe. How can you be held responsible for what believing that these highly paid professionals are teaching? My Answer: It is never good to follow everything your religious leader says unless he can show that what he teaches is in harmony with the word of God. That is what many people were doing during the personal ministry of Jesus Christ, but in too many cases they were teaching things contrary to what God revealed. Of these Jesus said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if a blind man guides a blind men, both will fall into a pit” Matt. 15:13-14). The Bible warns that the world is full of false teachers. If we do not check things out for ourselves, how can we determine whether or not we are being deceived? Yes, we need to love the truth and always demand that it be taught, or else we are setting ourselves up to be deceived (see 2 Thess. 2:9-11). I admit that many who follow blindly their religious leaders will never experience persecution in the name of Jesus Christ for all they hear is spiritual pabulum (baby food) and some social message rather than God’s truth.

17. It is best to attend a very large church with a very fancy building. You can sort of blend in among the multitude. Since they usually have a policy of not judging anyone, and offer all sorts of social activities and contacts. This can help both your religious and social status. I could go on and on with more suggestions, but these will be sufficient for you to stay out of trouble. After all, it’s your choice. Do you really want to suffer persecution?  My Answer: I am not suggesting that there is any thing wrong with a large church if they are actively engaging in the Lord’s work and have been built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. But here I am speaking of mega churches, often under the control of one man, which has never practiced true discipline or provide real oversight, and offers to the people every social activity that can be thought up, but receives no strong Bible teaching. In such a setting, people can drift in and out with no consequences, and need not worry about being persecuted.

Folks, in Pitching For The Master I play “hard ball” when it comes to religion and sports. My purpose is to please Jesus Christ rather than man. Some dismiss what I write as being out of the mainstream, and are not willing to discuss the arguments involved. I am willing to engage in an honest communication, no matter how much you might disagree. The search for truth is never a waste of time for sincere seekers. I am willing to put the best construction on what people say and give them the benefit of the doubt, unless they show by words or actions that they have a “closed” mind. I have changed my mind a number of times, even on some highly controversial matters. But I need to be convinced from the word of God. I expect the same treatment from others. Thanks a lot of reading the articles in Pitching For The Master.


                                              * * *


If you would like to receive advanced copies of Pitching For The Master attached to E-mail, please ask to be placed on the special E-mail list for Pitching. You can contact me at lindymcdanie77@reagan.com. To access the publication from the blog, just go to my baseball website http://lindymcdaniel.com and hit the blog button. You can write a letter to my home address at: Lindy McDaniel, 1095 Meadow Hill Drive, Lavon, Texas 75166.

I know that some of my readers are baseball fans. One advantage in having my own blog is that I am free to do some things that I would not otherwise feel free to do. I ask for no donations and receive no contributions in publishing these articles. Actually it is costing me nothing except time and effort. So I can also offer this, which does cost me the price of printing. If you desire an autographed baseball photo for free, just write and tell me that you read Pitching For The Master. Please send a self-addressed stamped envelope. O.K., I am guilty of a little self-promotion.

-- Lindy

How To Be A Christian And Avoid Persecution

Here are some good rules for weak souls who want to go to heaven but cannot handle the suffering part. Yes, I know, the Bible teaches that all that live godly shall suffer persecution. Paul wrote: “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Jesus also stated that those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness are indeed blessed (See Matt. 5:10-11). However, millions of people, claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ, have learned how to avoid persecution. I have observed over the years how this is done and have put together a list. Of course, none of us want to see others suffer, especially when it can be avoided. I can’t guarantee how these rules will work out in the long run when you actually face Jesus Christ in judgment, but it sure works well in this world. Well, let me take that back. Perhaps, I can guarantee how it will work out in the long run. But here goes anyway . . . .

1. Go to church occasionally, but don’t let it become a habit. This shows others that you are religious but not a radical.

2. Avoid talking to others about religion, for this makes people feel very uncomfortable. They might think that you are judging them. In fact, if possible, it is best to avoid all controversial subjects.

3. Avoid forming strong convictions on religious topics. The best way to accomplish this is don’t spend too much time studying the Bible. Too much knowledge can be a bad thing. Even Paul said that “knowledge makes arrogant” (1 Cor. 8:1). Didn’t Festus say to Paul, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad!” (Acts 26:24). Even Solomon warns: “. . . excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body” (Eccles. 12:12).

4. Don’t ever reprove others by using the Bible. If you do this, you are really asking for trouble. Some will end up hating you, and others will actually accuse you of hating them.

5. Make sure you sprinkle your speech with a bit of vulgarity and sexually explicit language. This let’s people know that you are really human. They will more readily open up to you. However, be careful not to do this around those overly religious types. They have probably never read what Solomon wrote: “Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?” (Eccles. 7:16). In fact this leads me to my next point . .

6. Practice all vices in moderation. Solomon also wrote that one should not “be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time” (Eccles. 7:17). So you see, a little wickedness is O.K. but just don’t go overboard. You can apply this thinking to social drinking, dancing, partying and all sorts of things. I was told, “Lindy, just have a few beers with the boys and show that you are a regular guy.” Listen, just be discrete. Yes, that’s the key – be discrete. In baseball, a little cheating is O.K. Just don’t get caught! We might even reason, “Everybody does it”, but that might be a bit of an exaggeration. Some might call this giving in to “peer pressure”, but pay no mind. Those people are probably radicals. After all, we have to live in the real world.

7. Try to stay clear of people who have strong convictions of right and wrong. Such people really give religion a bad name, especially among the people of a more worldly point of view. You have surely heard the names, “prude”, “self-righteous”, “do-gooder”, “heartless”, “square”, etc. applied to those people. Do you really want people to call you those kinds of names? If people do not think well of you, how can you influence them?

8. Try to stay in the middle of the road on controversial matters. The key is not to be too far to the right or too far to the left. People will see you as being a true moderate and even as a diplomat. Stay above the fray of actually having to fight spiritual battles while maintaining an air of being impartial. The problem here is determining what is the “middle of the road.” Just trust your own instincts on this.

9. Be tolerant of what other people believe and practice no matter how odd or strange. After all, they have the “right” to their behavior just as you have a “right” to do what you do. Whether you like it or not, our world has been heavily influenced by secular humanistic thinking, and so we might as well go along with the flow. Didn’t Jesus teach that we are not to judge others? No one is perfect. Doesn’t that excuse just about anything people want to do? The more outrageous their behavior the more this principle seems to apply. Some of these “far out” people get real angry and ugly if you question what they do. This especially applies to homosexuals, heavy drinkers and other things I could name. But this same rule does not seem to apply to those “overly righteous” Christians. If you oppose them there is little chance that you will ever suffer persecution. So be tolerant to all people under all circumstances, and you will never have to worry about “being persecuted for righteousness sake.”

10. Give others as many compliments as you can, even if you have to make things up. It makes people feel good and you will have many friends. There is no down side to this, unless someone finally figures out that you use flattery to gain favor with people. Also, go to a church where the preacher is totally positive and refuses to get caught up in any kind of negative preaching. Some say that is their calling, and who can argue with that!

11. Act one way when in the company of religious people, especially those who are overly religious, and another way around worldly people. Paul wrote: “I have become all things to all men” (1 Cor. 9:22) and then he explained how he acted in different ways around different people. Don’t you think that is what he had in mind? We say, “In Rome do as the Romans do.” I like the idea that Vegas uses, “What goes on here stays here.” In baseball, we had the same signs in the clubhouse. We all need these sanctuaries where we can feel free to do whatever we wish to do without fear of being exposed. Besides, “Aren’t morals always situational?” Isn’t that what is taught to a lot of young people today? Imagine how radical is the idea that truths are absolute and apply to all people the same all over the world?

12. Don’t feel passionate about anything. That is what gets people into trouble. Of course, it is alright to feel passionate about your favorite sports team! Also, in society you must feel passionate about those things that have been labeled “Politically Correct”, if you can figure out just what those things are. But as a normal rule, don’t have strong convictions about anything. You don’t want to give people the impression that you are opinionated! Remember, there are always two sides to every question and if we can actually defend all sides we come across as being unbiased and very insightful. If you do get into an argument with someone, cave in as quickly as possible, for Jesus said, “Agree with your adversary quickly” (Matt. 5:25). Having an apathetic attitude will never get you persecuted.

13. If the church where you attend starts to have problems, leave as quickly as possible so that you are not forced to take sides. The last thing you need is to have to determine who is right and who is wrong.  Just leave and find a church were there are no problems.

14. If some well intentioned person tries to pressure you to be more diligent in your service to Jesus Christ, just tell them that the Bible teaches that we are not saved by our works. That should cool his/her heels. After all, if we “have” to do anything, doesn’t that mean that we are trying to earn our salvation?

15. If someone insists that courage means that we always do the right thing regardless of the cost, just quote this to them: “Surely a live dog is better than a dead lion” (Eccles. 8:4). I know that some say that leadership and courage go hand in hand, but can’t we just get along?

16. Follow everything your religious leaders tell you to do, unless of course they are one of those extreme people who place truth above everything else, and make extreme demands on your own behavior. This could lead to suffering. Just passively going along with everything that you are taught will keep you out of trouble. This will also keep you from taking personal responsibility for what you believe. How can you be held responsible for what someone else teaches?

17. It is best to attend a very large church with a very fancy building. You can sort of blend in among the multitude. Especially if they have a policy of not judging anyone, and offer all sorts of social activities and contacts. This can help both your religious and social status. I could go on and on with more suggestions, but these will be sufficient for you to stay out of trouble. After all, it’s your choice. Do you really want to suffer persecution?


You will notice that I did not use much scripture because such is not necessary to follow these rules. Also, you can prove most anything by the Bible if you are not concerned about the context. You might be surprised how many people follow some are all of these rules. In sports we say, “no pain, no gain”, but in religion many follow the rule, “you can gain everything without pain.” Deep down I suspect that it is those weak-kneed, hypocritical, worldly and uncommitted Christians that are giving Christianity a bad name. What do you think?

                                                                        *  *  *

For the past few months I have been teaching the book of Acts in our congregation. The book contains the account of the early church and how they succeeded in spreading the gospel in spite of great conflicts and trials. These folks were opposed both by the main body of the Jews and by the pagans of the Greek/Roman world. Yet they gave birth to a powerful movement that changed the world and brought unity, peace and joy to its followers. As I compared this with what often passes for Christianity today, I was moved to write the above article. You understand that I am writing all of this with “tongue in cheek” and have misused a number of Bible passages. The early Christians followed none of the above rules. Next month I will revisit these rules and give my answer. The following month of October I will address the problem of the over-emphasis of Sports and how this contributes to moral and social decay. That article will be titled, “Bodily Exercise Profits A Little”. – Lindy McDaniel


Special Note: If you desire to be placed on the regular E-mail list to receive advanced copies of articles of Pitching For The Master, please let me know by contacting me via E-mail at lindymcdaniel41@yahoo.com. Also, your comments, both pro and con are welcome.                                                     --August, 2012

Paul's Use Of Athletic Language -- Part Two

Last month I wrote about Paul’s use of athletic language and dealt briefly with the history of the Greek/Roman games. Altlhough these games were popular throughout the empire, neither the Jews nor the Christians participated. The reason had to do with three main factors: (1) the games were dedicated to honor pagan gods; (2) nakedness was involved; and (3) the games became increasing violent. I pointed out that Paul used such language in his writings in order to communicate the message of Jesus Christ to Gentile converts by illustrating his points by using the language of sports. Go back and read part one to get a fuller description of this. As to major passages, I looked only at one passage in that article – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. This month I will look at other passages used by Paul.  

                                   Philippians 3:12-14

Again Paul uses the language of the athlete in describing the nature of his life in Christ:  “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14). 

Paul was willing to give up everything in order to achieve certain goals. He states these goals as (1) knowing Christ; (2) sharing in the sufferings of Christ; and (3) attaining unto the resurrection from the dead (see Phil. 3:10-11).  Sharing the sufferings of Christ is taught over and over in the gospels and the epistles. In sports we say, “No pain, no gain.” The ability of the martyred saints to overcome Satan is clearly stated in Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” In another place Paul wrote: “It is a trustworthy statement; for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:11-13).

It may sound trite, but the game is not over until it’s over. Paul said that he didn’t have it made but he had to keep pressing toward the goal. Arrogance is a great stumbling block to athletic endeavor. Paul wrote: “Therefore let him who thinks that he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). What manager would tell his baseball team in spring training: “Look guys, we are guaranteed to win the pennant. It is a done deal. It is impossible for us to lose. Even so I want you to work hard in spring training, and play each game the rest of the year with all of your strength. But remember, you already have it won!”??  We don’t have to guess what kind of results we can expect. The fact is that we are up against a great opponent. Although God has provided everything that we need to win, it is up to us to press forward toward the goal. Thus, the Bible contains many warnings and admonitions. These are not in the Bible just to take up space. Some religions teach “Once saved, always saved.” They teach that once you enter the race you can never lose. They teach that Christ does everything for you. They have so emphasized the sovereignty of God that they eliminate man’s choice or free will. This principle doesn’t work in sports and it doesn’t work in Christianity. The word “press” means “agonizing toil”. It has to do with great exertion both mentally and physically. It means that the runner is putting his whole body under stress and is exerting every muscle to its limit so as to win the race. I often say that if it wasn’t called “sports” and supposed to be “fun”, it would definitely be called “WORK”, for that is exactly what it is. The key to success is motivation. This makes all the difference. And such is true in living the Christian life. Unless we are motivated by the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and are reaching for the goal of the high calling in Jesus Christ, nothing else really matters.

In order to excel in sports, we need the tension of competition. Some try to take all the tension out of Christianity. They say we ought to say only positive things. Some teach the gospel of health and wealth. They avoid anything that is negative, such as admonitions, warnings, and reproofs. If we wish to avoid such things then we need to tear out most of the Bible and throw it away. Christianity is not living on cloud nine and floating around in bless, but it involves living in the real world. No wonder modern religion has lost its power to save. If we do not warn the world, we have lost our salt. If we are without discipline, then we are not children of God (see Hebrews 12:4-7).

Christ has called us through the gospel: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:13-14). The Bible clearly tells us how God has laid hold of us and has redeemed us from our sins perfecting us in holiness. But we can reject the truth and be lost. 

All athletic endeavors involve goal setting – both short and long range goals. Everything you done in sports involves purpose and direction. Proper goals enable us to focus our abilities, powers, opportunities, etc. toward a given end. Through such means we can accomplish even beyond what we thought possible. But you will never hit what you don’t aim at. The greatest goal of all is to go to heaven. No one will reach the goal who doesn’t aim for it. But in order to reach goals, there must be dedication and preparation. The great pitcher, Vernon Law, once said, “Everyone wants to win on the day of the game, but few are willing to prepare to win.”
We must forget the past, both our successes and our failures, and keep on running. Forgetting the past does not mean that we never remember the past, but that we do not allow the past to hinder us in the present. The apostle Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners and often talked about his life before conversion, but he did not allow this to hinder his present service to Christ. Success involves the ability to move beyond our mistakes. Sports involve making mistakes. The only ones who do not risk making mistakes are those watching on the sidelines or in sitting in the stands. When a player boots the ball (even the best players make errors), his teammates encourage him by saying, “shake it off”. We have to constantly deal with our failures and mistakes. But the important thing is that we striving toward the goal. The same is true of Christianity. 

Read the great words of the apostle John: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” (I John 1:6-10).

Here is a baseball illustration. Is it possible for a regular infielder to play several games without making an error? Of course, this is done all the time. Do you know any every day infielder that has played all season long without making an error? No, not even close. The point is this, none of God’s commandments are beyond our ability to obey, and when we sin, it is not anyone’s fault but ours. It is possible for us to live without sinning for a day or a week, but try as hard as we may, none of us will live sinlessly. Our relationship with God is not based upon sinless conduct. It is direction (pressing toward the goal) and not perfection that God demands. God looks upon our hearts and our sincere effort.

The only time that we actually have it made is when we have finished the race and have reached the goal: At the end of his life, Paul could say: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

                                     I Timothy 4:8-10

As a Christian, we must keep our priorities straight. Paul wrote: “for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving of full acceptance For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (I Timothy 4:8-10). Many place great importance upon physical fitness and how their body looks, but these things involve only the physical and temporal. In contrast, godliness involves our relationship with God and eternal things. The world places the importance on the body while God places the importance on the spiritual. Paul warned against “enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things” (Phil. 3:18-19). Godliness refers to living for God, setting our minds on the things above, and this is profitable to us both in this world and also in the world to come. Christians have the best of both worlds, although this does indeed involve sacrifice.

                                      2 Timothy 2:5

Every sport has official rules that govern the game. Without the enforcement of these rules, chaos would soon set in. I once read a book titled, “Nice Guys Finish Last”. The author obviously did not consider himself a nice guy. He pointed out that he would do anything to win, even if it meant breaking the rules. His position was very inconsistent and hypocritical. It was obvious that even he understood the importance of rules. For when the other team violated a rule, even a small infraction, he rushed out on the field and yelled at the umpire demanding that the rule be enforced. He would even quote the rule to the ump. He just didn’t believe that the rule should apply to himself, but to the other guy. All athletes understand the importance of rules. Paul wrote: “Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5).

Many today teach that it is not necessary to follow the rules when it comes to religion. They somehow think that Jesus, even though He is Lord of all, has any right to tell us what to do, and they belittle the idea that obedience to Christ is part of faith and is essential to salvation. They think this means we are trying to “earn” salvation or that obedience to Christ somehow contradicts the principle of salvation by grace through faith. But in this they are totally wrong. I could produce hundreds of passages that stress the importance of obedience, but here are a few that you can look up for yourself: Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49; Hebrews 5:8-9; I John 2:4-5, etc.

                                  Hebrews 12:1-2
 
The writer of Hebrews used this athletic language:  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

If you will, imagine a giant amphitheater filled with thousands of spectators. Then imagine that you are on the track running in a race with all of those people cheering for you to win. That is the exact meaning of this language. But those in the seats are not just average fans. No indeed! They consist of those who have run the race successfully in the past. These are the great men of faith mentioned in Hebrews chapter eleven. They are pictured as rooting for those now running the race. They are “witnesses” to the faith. Each and every one has faithfully run and completed the race. They have become great examples for us to also run and win. We are never alone. They are yelling, “I did it and you can do it too!”

Example is a very powerful incentive. At one time running the 4 minute mile was thought to be impossible. But once John Bannister accomplished this feat, it has since been broken over and over. We all need examples to imitate. There is one example even greater that all of the heroes of faith mentioned in chapter 11; that is, Jesus Christ our Lord. There are no perfect athletes, for even the great ones have flaws. But Jesus is the one exception. He had no flaws, and He can be followed in every detail. He lived flawlessly before God leaving us that great example worthy of all imitation (see I Peter 2:21). He has never asked us to do what He was not willing to do Himself. He is the author of our salvation, but He is also the perfector of our salvation. He lived under the law perfectly, and then He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Finally, He was raised from the dead! All of this has been communicated to us by His authority. We serve a living Lord!

The Christian race is one of endurance. It is not a quick sprint to the finish line. Rather, it is a long race. We are to be faithful to the very end. How sad it is that some turn from the way of the savior before the race is over (See Ezek. 18:24; Gal. 5:4; Hebrews 6:4-6). There is no turning back or giving up. “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9).

Just before the destruction of Jerusalem, many Jewish Christians were losing heart and growing faint because of the many trials and persecutions, but the writer of Hebrews admonishes: “For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHOLE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:36-39).

CONCLUSION

Paul used athletic language in order to teach Christians about the nature of our life in Christ. These references contain parallels not contrasts, except in terms of rewards or goals. Obviously, not everything in the games parallels our life in Christ, but only those things mentioned by Paul. Should we expect less of a Christian in terms of striving for goals, dedication, following rules, courage, etc. than we expect of athletes? Since the integrity of sports is based upon an “all out effort to win in open, honest competition” should we expect less of a Christian in his service to Christ? Will God accept lethargic, half-hearted devotion? Should we have less devotion than we expect of our athletes? The obvious answer of the apostle Paul is, “No!”

Apart from the blessings and power of God we cannot possibly hope to win. God helps us every step of the way. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21). “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). In other words, in spite of the great challenges and difficulties, God is telling us, “You can do it! You can win the race?”

                                                * * *

Note: All of my articles can be accessed by going to lindymcdaniel.com and then click on the Pitching For The Master blog button. If you desire to be placed on my special e-mail list for advanced attached copies of monthly articles, or if you know others who would like to be placed on the list, please let me know by contacting me at lindymcdaniel77@reagan.com. The photo at the beginning of this article was taken in recently in my study.