I love my team because they are undefeated. There have been many times that people thought they were on the verge of defeat and even elimination, but each time it turned out that victory was just around the corner. I’m not talking about the Patriots, so if you started this article thinking this would be boasting about the Pat’s current record (which I am also enjoying) I apologize. The team I’m talking about is the Church.
The pattern for victory began with our founder, Jesus, who came and lived with us and showed us what the Kingdom looked like. He cared for the powerless and forgotten. He reached out to the rejected and the weak & sick. He called people to move beyond the power politics of the human world and embrace being servants and slaves. He told us to act pretty much opposite every human self-interest impulse. This message was so threatening, that the powers that were decided He needed to die and kill Him they did.
At least that’s what they thought they did. As it turned out, He didn’t lose His life, he laid it down and after three days, picked it right back up and walked back out of the grave. What had looked like a sure defeat was the biggest victory there was. That was only the beginning. His death founded His Church and He told us that the gates of death (often translated hell, but more fittingly death) wouldn’t overcome it. Since that time, man has repeatedly tried to wipe out the team. Rome tried for a while, and later empires have also tried. Jesus’ words have proven very true and today His Church is growing the fastest in places where man is trying hardest to eliminate it.
If you are an American Christian, you might be forgiven if you didn’t realize your team was undefeated. There are many earthly leaders in the USA these days that are working to convince us that we are teetering on the verge of defeat. To listen to their fear, we are just a couple of elections or legislative moves away from an existential crisis. I’m getting tired of these so-called leaders, even inside of the church preaching such fear when Jesus told me not to fear. I’m tired of listening to them bemoan possible rejection by society when Jesus told me to “count it all joy when you encounter various trials.” I’m weary of the shock and outrage these leaders try to instill in me when His Word tells me not to be surprised when the world hates me and to not act as if some strange thing was happening to me.
My team is undefeated. The gates of hell/death will not prevail. God’s Word will never fail. God’s Kingdom is here in one sense (Christians) and is coming with no chance that any act of man or even devil will be able to derail or delay His plan. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the World.
Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered forever. He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
(Psalms 112:4-8)
The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes.
(Psalms 118:6-9)
Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
(1 Peter 3:13-14)