The Huddle

The message at church yesterday was awesome! A little Francis Chan, a little football analogy, all tied in to the call for action in the church. "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17.

So the analogy goes something like this... using the favorite sport of many... football. (For some of the ladies I know it was a stretch to get into this particular thought pattern... but I'm sure it's doable!)

Pastor asks... What is your favorite part of the game? Is it the long, perfectly thrown pass that glides into the receiver's hands with perfection as he races down the side lines towards the end zone? Or is it the powerful, jaw dropping hit, that takes the opposing player off his feet and lands him on his back with such force that you can hear it? Or how about the 1st and goal scenario, when the defense stops their opponent on 1st down, 2nd down, 3rd down, and leaves them with the dissatisfaction of a field goal? Or is your favorite part of the game, your favorite highlight... the huddle???

What if the offense ran out onto the field, the quarterback huddled up with his teammates, received the play from the offensive coordinator, called the play in the huddle, clapped with an enthusiastic "break!" and then... ... ran to the sidelines to watch. After a few minutes, the offense ran back out onto the field, the quarterback huddled with the team, received the play, clapped and then... ran back to the sidelines to watch. And again... and again... This wouldn't be a very productive football team. There would be no victories, no record making plays... nothing worth highlighting. Nothing.

Well... attending church is our "huddle". We come together as a "team" to hear the truth of the Word taught, "the play called", and then we "break", and run out onto "the field".

The question is... do you run to the sidelines and watch? Or are you in the game?

Because the truth is... "faith without action, is dead"...

Amen, brother Larry! Amen!