by David Phelps

“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa

July, 2021

One day recently there were four boys and three baseballs, all in St. Louis’ Busch Stadium. The boys had come to watch the St. Louis Cardinals—and perhaps catch or otherwise snag a stray baseball. Eventually, a player threw a ball to someone in the stands, who gave it to one of the boys, Connor, who was at the game with his grandmother. A few innings later, another boy, named River, told Connor he didn’t think he had a chance of getting a ball. Connor told River he was wrong and bragged about having been given one. But Connor’s grandmother saw that he had hurt River’s feelings by being insensitive and told Connor to be more considerate next time. A few minutes later, Connor moved over and gave the ball to the other boy. Then another ball flew into the stands and an older boy grabbed it and gave it to Connor. But River had been hit in the face during the scramble. So, another older boy gave him a ball he’d caught earlier in the game. In the end, two boys went home with baseballs and all four went home happy, even though the Cardinals lost. This is my favorite kind of sports story—the kind about “good sports.” And whether they knew it or not, they were each following the rules—especially the “Golden Rule” (Matt. 7:12, Luke 6:31). (This story was originally reported by Tony Messenger in the June 14, 2021 edition of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.)

The apostle Paul was no stranger to sports metaphors, especially in his correspondence with his young protégé Timothy. Paul wanted Timothy to “win” a victory for Christ but more importantly he wanted him to win “fair and square.” In his second letter to Timothy, he wrote that “. . . an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.” (2 Tim. 2:5 NIV).

Playing by the rules means playing fairly. We know that some things are simply “fair” while others aren’t. While I’d like to think “fair” means I’ll win every time, I know that’s not very realistic. If a couch potato like me competed with a professional athlete, it wouldn’t be particularly “fair.” Instead, “fair” means everyone gets a shot. My opening sports example was a good bit more than “fair” because all the boys left the game happy.

Beyond “fair,” there’s also the matter of why we “play the game,” of what our objective is. Naturally, we “play to win” but what does “winning” mean? For Christians, “winning” means promoting what the Bible calls “the kingdom of God” and helping to make it a reality here on Earth. Christian writer and producer Randy Robison points out that the proof of the reality of the kingdom is “. . . not about how loudly it’s declared, but how soundly it’s lived.” (https://www.faithgateway.com/bring-gods-kingdom-earth/#.YNRMpehKhPY).

This is what God considered “fair” for you and me: to sacrifice a part of Godself on a cross so that we might be part of the kingdom. That’s how God “plays the game,” and that’s how we are assured of victory. When Christ overcame a temporary defeat, he won an eternal victory for you and me (1 Cor. 15:56-57). Educator and abolitionist Horace Mann told his audience in an address at Antioch College, “Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.” As Christians, we could change that to “some victory for Christ.” Jesus “won the game” for all of us, and we are challenged to do the same in some way.

Jesus taught his disciples, “‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.’” (Matt. 5:43-45a NIV). Those are the “rules” for us: Love and not hate, prayer and not revenge. If we “play by the rules,” we will be God’s children.

By the same token, if we “play the game” by God’s rules, including the “Golden Rule,” others will see that we belong to God’s “team.” If we are loving, prayerful, forgiving, and willing to sacrifice for others, we can be part of God’s “team.” If we demonstrate the qualities Paul urged Timothy to have, others can’t help but see.


“But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus,” (1 Tim. 6:11-13a NIV.)



Copyright © 2021 by David Phelps