Playing for Jesus

My heart has been heavy for days… because I fear for our nation. I watch our politicians bandy about the name of God. They wave the Bible as a political stunt and claim the faith as a means to a human end, to gain power and glory for themselves. We call upon God to bless America as if we are a chosen nation. But a deep read of the Old Testament and the history of ancient Israel- of the 10 tribes taken off into exile never to be heard from againshould make us quake in our boots if we claim to be ‘the chosen.’ This past week, a debate and a series of decisions from the high court of our nation has taken my breath away leaving me and many of you heavy of heart.

Reasonable members of our society are not celebrating the horror of last Thursday’s debate as we watched two men hellbent for their own glory at the expense of our nation’s wellbeing. That night, truth was expendable, a commodity left on the cutting room floor for the sake of a vote. The candidates showed little respect for our ability to fact-check their statements. That night, age, that can bring wisdom and experience, became a liability. The truth is age catches up to most of us. And how is it that the two men vying to be the leader of the free world are so incapable of controlling their baser instincts that their mics had to be turned off when it was not their ‘turn’ to speak. Their insistence on calling each other names made the evening seem more like a battle of bullies on an elementary school playground than a debate between two educated men vying to be the President of the United States. And in the shadow of this debate, the high court of our land made decisions this week that declare sleeping can be judged a crime and the president is above the law. In two days, we will celebrate our nation’s freedom. Our faith teaches us that freedom comes with responsibility. Freedom without responsibility is a fearsome power in the hands of a president.

My heart is so heavy. For the last several days I have walked through the haze that comes when faith falters and hope is lost. When I look at the landscape of our nation, I struggle to imagine a way forward that would bring healing. My doubts betray my understanding of the God we serve. Is it possible that we have a puny God unable to turn the tide of our nation… or a thoughtless God who would not care… or a vengeful God who would leave us to our own devises as a punishment for all our sins, (and they are many)…? My fear would say yes to all three doubts. But then I turn to the witness of the people of God recorded in the pages of the Bible. I read the words of St. Paul written from a prison cell to Christians under the dire persecution of Rome, “Hope does not disappoint us because God is pouring his love into our hearts.”(Romans 5:5) I read Paul’s reminder to the people of Corinth, and to believers across the ocean centuries later, that “we walk by faith not by sight.” (II Corinthians 5:7) I am called to trust the One “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20) God calls me back to the ancient words of the prophet Habakkuk, writing as enemies loom on Judah’s northern border ready to destroy his nation. 

Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength.
(Habakkuk 3:17-19)

I am not sure that I am ready to “rejoice,” but if the prophet could trust as vultures hovered over his nation, I will choose to trust the Sovereign Lord as the vultures hover over mine. I owe no other allegiance. I seek no other path. I trust no other Sovereign. I serve no other Lord. Today is not a day to boast or mourn, but a day to resolve to trust the Sovereign Lord.

This past week, Lenape Valley hosted Push the Rock- a Christian sports camp for boys and girls ages 6-12. For a week, our children and our neighbor’s children played a variety of sports, learning skills and sharing laughter. The weather was beautiful, the coaches were patient, and our children had a great time. But most of all, our children heard the invitation to play for Jesus. The sweet taste of victory cannot match the blessing of trusting and serving the Savior. At the end of the week, an award was given to the athlete who exemplified Christian character. Nicholas was not the best player in any sport, but the one who helped the coaches clean up after the game. He was the player who picked up a competitor who tripped on her shoelaces. He was the one cheering on the best play for his team and his opponent’s. He always offered a kind word and a smile. When I met his mother, I learned that such a sweet apple did not fall too far from his family tree. His family fosters babies, born into brokenness, giving them a safe-haven until a forever home can be found. The whole family plays for Jesus. Today, I make the commitment to join them.

Will you join me in committing to play for Jesus, side-by-side, even if we do not agree politically? We may interpret the events of this past week through radically different filters… we may vote differently in the fall… but our faith community should never be defined as red or blue. We are called to play for Jesus, focused on His mission field, loving the world God so loves. We don’t know what the day will bring, but we know the One who brings the day.

With you, learning to play for Jesus,
Anita