Summary of Presentation to Men's Breakfast at The Bridge Church 05/02/2015
Is the God who is Love also the God of the
competitive atmosphere of sports, business or law? How does one reconcile the
concept of beating your competitor with the command to love thy neighbor?
A great deal of Christ’s teaching is contained in Matthew
5, the greatest Sermon ever preached. In
that Sermon, Christ tells us that the Meek shall inherit the earth. In Matthew 11, Christ tells us to learn from
him as he is “gentle and humble in heart”.
Differing Christian attitudes regarding competition can
be summarized:
1) Christ Resists—this point of view condemns competition,
claiming that it is an evil entrapping the Christian. Christ-likeness (gentle
and humble in heart) and competitive desires are inherently opposed and
irreconcilable;
2) Christ Reforms—this point of view
acknowledges the “potential” evil resulting from competition but believes
Christians have a duty to participate in it and reform it;
3)
Christ and Competition in Partnership—God created competition to be good for
man’s benefit and for God’s glory; and
4)
Christ and Competition in Paradox—Competition is neither condemned or
encouraged as it can be good or evil, like the “world” Christians are called to
be “in” but not “of” competition.
I think the first attitude is inconsistent
with scripture. Like, the attitude some
have toward money being evil because it is the root of all evil.
Competition is a part of God’s creation. You see competition
all around you. One cannot be in “in the world” without participating in some
way, in some form of competition.
In John 17, Christ prays to the Father for the protection
of Christians, that are in this world but “not of this world”.
Christ’s last commandment to Christians, The Great
Commission was and is to “go and make disciples of all nations--
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.” How can one obey this commandment
without being “out and about in the world” and engaging in competitive
activities?
Some of the attitude that competition is
“bad” relates to the teaching that “the Meek shall inherit the earth”. How can one be meek while being bold, trying
to “win’ at the expense of another? Isn’t competition of form of seeking
dominance over another?
So, let’s examine what the original text
regarding the meaning of “meek”. The English translation of “meek” is from the
original Greek word, “praus”. In the proper context, the word is used to
describe a horse under control of a bridle—or as power under control. So put another way, “The powerful, who
maintain control and remain humble and gentle shall inherit the earth”. The shepherd who is gentle, but capable of
defending the flock is the ideal.
I think as Christians we are called in our
“life ministry” to display the gentle
characteristics of the shepherd. But
a study of David, a “man after God’s own heart” shows that even shepherds are
sometimes called to engage in less than gentle activities, like slaying the
lion, when necessary. Sometimes, as men, we are called to be a kind and gentle,
but very masculine, testosterone filled knight
to serve and glorify God in the world.
Competition can be a part of our lives where men are sometimes called to
act consistent with our created role as kind and gentle, but very masculine,
testosterone filled knights.
God has created us “in his image” and
accordingly gives each one of us a strong drive and aspiration towards mastery.
As God is the master of his creation—he gets pleasure when we display our own
mastery over our creation/s. He has also given each of us unique and special
gifts. He gets pleasure when we use and
display these gifts for the right purpose/s.
Remember, God made you for a purpose. If God meant you to race, he also made you
capable of being fast—displaying a mastery of machine and speed. So when you race, race for the “right” reason
and you will feel God’s pleasure. And……what’s the “right” reason?
Scripture gives the answer:
“whatever you do, do it all for the
glory of God”
1
Corinthians 10:31 and “Love your neighbor as yourself” Matthew 22:39
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