HomeWord - May 16, 2007

In one season of my life, I spent a number of years coaching high school football. During practice, we would routinely use various drills, run-throughs, and scrimmages to prepare our team for upcoming games. There were times where the coaches would have our players walk through plays and scenarios. At other times, we would have players pick up the pace, going through drills at half-speed so, as coaches, we could make sure that everyone was in the right place, doing the right things. Then, we would put players through full-speed scrimmages, with full contact.

I found that, typically, most injuries occurred when we had players involved in full-speed exercises, but one of the players was only going half-speed. This half-speed player would be the one injured.

Over my years as a youth pastor, I noticed a similar pattern in the spiritual lives of my students. Many students seemed to have a basic belief in Jesus, but resisted following Him wholeheartedly -- sort of a half-speed Christianity, if you will. These were the kids who struggled most with faith. Some remarked how Christianity wasn’t working for them and were often frustrated with incorporating their faith into life. Others harbored resentment toward God for their life situations. And some would walk away from any visible evidence of following Christ (at least for a time). In my opinion, a half-speed Christianity leads to spiritual injury.

The Christian life was not designed to be lived at half-speed. This isn’t to say that any of us follow Christ perfectly in this life. But a wholehearted faith that reflects our desire to be all that God wants us to be, and to do what God wants us to do is are daily choices each of us can and should make. This daily choice, regardless of our faults and imperfections, gives us a proper life-perspective and aligns us with God, putting us in a position where God is able to make the most out of our lives and to grow strong in faith. This is where we live out a full-speed Christianity.

As in full-speed football, so also in the Christian life, injuries: Hurts and disappointments still happen occasionally along the way. It’s just part of the “game.” But, our most significant safety factor is found in living our lives wholeheartedly for Christ, day-in and day-out.