Are you a Team Player?

Several years ago my eldest son was interested in attending the Naval Academy. As you might expect, the entrance requirements are quite stringent. In addition to academic requirements, they have a physical fitness test that has to be administered by a coach. They also require an interview with alumni and admissions counselors to determine your fitness to attend and serve.

Although my son was in pretty good shape, physically, one particular point with which they took issue was that he had not played any team sports, only individual sports, like tennis and golf. In their minds it was important, even critical, that he prove himself to be a “team player”.

I think we sometimes forget the importance of that, particularly in our spiritual lives. We tend to think as long as we are living like we should, doing our individual faith practices, like prayer and Bible study, that we are on the right track. But just like the Naval Academy recognizes the critical need to live and work as a team player, I think the same is true for us as God's people.

I know that there are people who have been “burned” by the church or have otherwise become disillusioned with “organized religion”, but just like in athletics, there are some things we cannot do on our own. It is important that we meet together on a regular basis to exercise the communal practices of nurture, hospitality, and love. These things cannot be practiced in isolation.

The writer of Hebrews says, “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

It is our privilege and our responsibility as members of God's family, the church, to meet together and to encourage one another. There may have been times in your spiritual walk with God that you wanted to give up, to say, “Why am I even doing this?” If you were in it alone, you may well have done so. But we are all in this together. We share our joy, as well as our pain, and that's what makes it bearable.

As you make your New Year's resolutions this year, put being more regular at church on the list. Set a specific goal, like only one missed Sunday a month. That way, you can see how well you are doing, you can measure your progress. Don't do it for yourself, because you think its good for you, like castor oil. Do it for others, because we all need the encouragement and the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ.