Circuit Thoughts

Spring Training has started. All the would be Major League Baseball players are in the field striving for a place in the “Big Show”. Some will be cut, and others will go on to fame. The interesting thing about sports heroes is how quickly the fans can turn on a player.

A home run hitter will be the greatest player of all. He will be voted on as MVP and looked upon with awe and wonder. Then he hits a slump. As soon as the first strike out is over, and he is back on the bench waiting to go into the field, the call for him to be traded rings out in the stadium among the fans. The very people who were calling him Hero before the game, are now calling him a has been and a dead weight after the game. This is the constant story of professional sports. Pick a sport and the fans all act the same. Once the player gets down or doesn’t live up to the impossible hype of the sportscasters, he or she is of no use to the crowd or ownership.

Lest you think this is limited to sports, just think again. This very thing happened in the Bible, and still happens in the church. Palm Sunday, the crowds are shouting Hosanna in the Highest. In Mark 11, the crowds can’t get enough of Christ. He is the King, the Boss, the one who will conquer. But then we turn to Mark 15, and that very same crowd is yelling “CRUCIFY HIM”! It only took 5 days for Christ to fall from Big Man on Campus to criminal worthy of death. Such is the fickleness of humanity.

You see, Christ didn’t do what the people expected. He did do what was promised, but not what they wanted. The people wanted to conquer Rome, but God promised to conquer hearts. The people wanted a powerful leader, but God promised a compassionate, loving shepherd. The people wanted war, and God promised peace.

You see, God did not send what we wanted. God sent Christ whom we needed. But unfortunately, even today, we don’t desire what we need. We want what we want. Many a pastor has paid the ultimate price for being the pastor the church needed. The need is accountability, and ministers are there to lead.

Yes, in church we are supposed to be held accountable. Church is not the place where you get a constant belly full of marshmallow fluff. Church is the place where you and I get our marching orders to make Disciples. When a church gets used to fluff and sparkles, trying to get them back into the trenches is double tough. I know many good ministers who lost it all just because they were trying to get the church back to making Disciples.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this. Church is not about popularity. Church is about living for Christ and making disciples. Help your pastor do that very thing and think twice before you join the chorus that shouts, “Crucify them”.

Just a thought.

Shalom my friends. See you in church.