The Football Picture
Sport – particularly football – provides a lot of pictures for me that applies to more than the game.
One of the pictures that I considered lately, was the picture of two teams organised differently. Team A are built around one player – he is their key player and an outstanding talent both for his skills and his character. He can take the knocks that come from opponents, he’s more than used to the more physically aggressive approach the opposition with have to him. He’s used to it and to a large degree thrives on it. This liberates the rest of the team to remain disciplined and play everything through him knowing that more often than not, he will come up with the goods.
Team B are built around a system of play. All the players in the squad are conditioned to be at their best to fit the system. That system is based on the players having an understanding both of their individual role and how that plays out in the larger context of the team. Though ther are special players in the team, they are not highlighted for special treatment, although there’s space for them to exercise their quality if the time arises. Each player knows, however, that every game will be based on how well the team have adhered to the system. The key person in the set-up is the head coach. He is the one to rigorously ensure all the players know the system and abide by it for the outcomes the club are loking for as signs of progress.
Stating The Obvious
The benefit for Team B appears to be obvious. As it’s not based on the quaities of one player, there is ample room to deal with injuries and if it’s time for players to be moved on. As the system is paramount, each player knows there is no hierarchy other than those more experienced in the system whose responsibility it is to pass on that experience.
The drawback for Team A also appears to be obvious. All the opposition have to do to defeat the team is to find ways to restrict the influence of the key player. There’s also the issue of what happens if that key player is injured and if the team would be capable of being anything as effective without that key player.
You look at the two teams and it’s understandable if your inclination is towards Team B because of the focus more on the team than a specific individual. There are ample examples, however, of teams doing well using the Team A model and defeating some credible proponents of the Team B model.
Football to Faith – The Key Player
Here’s something to consider as well – the life of the body of believers as a family is actually more designed to follow the Team A model than Team B. The key player in the team is always Jesus. Everything has to go through Him and He informs the way the team plays if it wants to be successful. This doesn’t quash the roles of each player in the team, on the contrary the team are still about each player contributing their worth to the effort. The team is definitely not as effective if players are injured or worse if they’re not giving their all in the game. Yet this team only wins because everything is played through Jesus. As we look to Him so our game is improved and we pick up more of what it’s like to work with Him as the central player.
His versatility means he’s competent in all the positions and so can offfer more than advice as to how to excel where you are on the pitch. His inspiration as well as His instruction, His capacity to lead by example as well as by edification are absolutely fundamental to the team scoring goals, winning games and achieving the trophies on offer.
Messing Up The Team
Some expressions of the body of believers can get it a bit mixed up and either look to impose the Team B model where it’s about systems and philosophies rather than a key individual. It doesn’t take much for some to get so hung up on the systems that they even get to the stage where playing with Jesus in the team is seen as an option dependent on circumstances.
Some expressions of the body of believers can also get it a bit twisted in thinking that Team A is the model but not needing Jesus as the key player, but some other personality taking that position. The concept of the God complex can be clearly seen in those personalities who are keen to turn whatever abilities they have to offer into something that’s essential for others in the team to rely on. Their charismatic personality, their ability to amaze listeners with engaging and witty commmunication skills and the strength and self-determination to make progress in the eyes of others makes them indispensable to that unhealthy degree. It is definitely the case here that the team runs the risk of collapsing at some point whether by the inevitable death of the individual or by the eventual discovery that who we put on a pedestal turns out to be a lot more susceptible to injury than previously considered.
That team A model is already appealing to a lot of us if we’re the centre of attention. We like the thought of the world revolving around us – at least some of it – so that we can draw in the adulation, the accompanying flattering words, the gifts and adoration too as well as the sense of being promoted that comes with that. It certainly has an inflating ability on the personality.
Life: The Team and The Key Player
Yet life is a lot about teamwork and for that team to work effectively, it’s not about our carefully constructed systems or personalities that we elevate to be the key individual. At best that approach brings an illusion of success that can be all too fleeting. There is something patently better to look towards – the key player in life because in Him is Life in all its fullness. It’s time again to consider carefully how the team can play best when He is the one we play everything through. It’s a good time to actively consider what life looks like organising everything around Him for His glory.
Jesus is the one centre al life on, because in Him we can truly experience the lasting victory.
(Photo by Mitch Rosen on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 