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For the love of the game



I have been in church and around church most of my life. Many people have invested their lives in me in attempts to teach me correct doctrine and how church and life is supposed to be lived, and I am still learning. Through the years I have seen people learn the “correct” way to do church, but lose their love for the church in the process.

It is always sad to see a kid loose their love for a game because of lifeless recitation of rules. That’s the point where we say, “I just don’t want to play anymore.”

I must confess that there are days when I loose my love for the church. I can get so bogged down in doing church and maintaining correct doctrine that I forget what church is all about. I forget the joy of seeing God hit a homerun and letting me run the bases.

Doctrine (the rules of the game) is important. In fact it is essential to a healthy church. But, doctrine without passion is a meaningless existence.



James said…
Well said!

I remember coaching 11 and 12 year old All-stars. My nephew had raw talent, talent enough to see him through high school and even a walk on opportunity at a Junior College, but with that talent was a love of the game. On that same team was a young man with all the mechanics, taught by instructors, everything was mechanical. While not as graceful, or at times as successful (at age 11-12) as the kids such as my nephew, he had passion for the game. By his junior year in high school (the last time I saw him play) his infield play was fluid and seamless, the stiff mechanics gone, the individual steps, now one smooth motion.

Mixed in with these two were several others who despite talent and skills, never reached much higher. Looking back, it all boiled down to whether or not they loved the game, or simply played the game.

The way I see it. You leave us all with a question we should ask ourselves. "Despite our gifts or lack thereof, do we have the passion to carry us forward?"

Thanks; something else for me to work on...;>)
21k said…
Thanks for the insider's perspective from a real baseball coach!

I'm glad I could give you something else to work on.

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