Bad Umps and Protecting Your Rights

Suggested Reading:1 Corinthians 6:1-8

When my son started playing little league baseball, it wasn't long before his team lost a game. His head coach was out of town and so things were already a little rocky. On top of that, the umpire was a 15 year old kid who was uncertain of himself and listened to the opposing team’s coach (I think they were somewhat acquainted with each other) when trying to make calls.  On one particular play, our pitcher barehanded a ball on the ground and ran over to tag the runner coming home from third base. Inexplicably, the runner was called safe.  Apparently, the opposing coach convinced the ump that the pitcher tagged him with his throwing hand when the ball was in his glove. It wasn’t. But the game was pretty much lost by that point anyway and so our assistant coach did something I was rather proud of. He taught the boys to respect the umpire and his call rather than creating a scene. He presented an example of good sportsmanship.

Whether you agree with the coach’s decision or not, Paul actually urged the believers in Corinth to follow a similar line of thinking when dealing with their own legitimate complaints. Apparently, there were several disputes that had broken out between members of the church and these people had taken each other to court. Paul argued that they should find someone in the church to resolve their disputes rather than take their disputes into the secular courts and present a bad witness to the world. Naturally, not everyone would agree to that and so Paul continued, “Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you act unjustly and cheat – and you do this to believers!” (1 Corinthians 6:7, HCSB).

We live in a society that treasures the rights of the individual and I am glad that we do. We should always respect other people’s rights. But when it comes to our own rights, we should be willing to let go of them when it would advance the work of the kingdom. When that person looks you in the eye and then cuts in front of you, will your witness be greater if you confront them and demand your proper place or if you graciously allow them in and strike up a conversation? When that woman takes your Avon order (and your money) and takes six months to get your order delivered, would the greater witness be to ask what happened and then forgive her or to demand a refund because you didn't get what you paid for when you paid for it?

I am not saying that you should let people run all over you, although it sometimes looks like that. I'm talking about willingly laying down your rights, refusing to cling to what you deserve because the kingdom will grow more through your self-denial. I'm talking about, in those moments where you could legitimately demand your rights, intentionally choosing to let them go. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8, NLT).

We should always protect other people's rights but we must also be willing to let go of our own.  Just as Jesus gave up what he deserved in order to reach us, we must be willing to give up what we deserve to reach others.

Playing Little League Baseball With Jesus

Suggested Reading: Mark 14:32-42

When my son started playing baseball, I experienced my first Little League Baseball practice. Most of the young boys had at least played t-ball before, but a few had never played any form of baseball whatsoever. One of the things they practiced was fielding the ball once it was hit by the batter. Sometimes, the ball came at them so quickly, the best they could hope to do was get in place by the time the ball reached them. But other times, the ball moved so slowly that, if they stood and waited for the ball to reach them, the batter would have made it safely to first base with plenty of time to spare. On those slow balls, the coaches encouraged the boys to charge the ball, not to wait for it, but to run toward the ball and meet the ball on their own terms, rather than waiting for it and letting the game get away from them.

When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying and preparing to go to the Cross, the upcoming experience scared him to the point that he prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me" (Mark 14:35-36, HCSB). He prayed that prayer three times that night, but each time he concluded by submitting to the Father's will and not demanding his own. Jesus was committed to carrying out the mission of the Cross, but he pleaded three times for the Father to come up with another plan. So, in some ways, it is a little surprising to read Jesus say, just a short time later, "The time has come. Look, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up; let’s go! See — My betrayer is near” (Mark, 14:41-42, HCSB). Jesus didn't wait for Judas to come to him. When the time came, Jesus said, "it's time. Let's go do this thing." Essentially, he decided to face what he feared head on and meet his arrest and crucifixion on his own terms. He didn't wait for the moment to overtake him. Jesus charged the ball.

We will all face things in life that will scare us to death. We might face a future without a spouse or a parent. We might be forced to endure something painful and heartbreaking. We might be forced to cope with a situation that seems far beyond our capabilities at the time. And when we face those moments, we also face a choice: how will we handle those difficulties? Will we simply stand back and allow those hardships and tragedies to overtake us and hope we're still in a position to deal with them? Or will we charge the ball? Will we meet those circumstances head on and on our own terms, in spite of the fact that we are scared to death?

Sometimes, the best we can do is get into position and brace ourselves for what's coming. But sometimes, waiting and bracing ourselves will make an already tragic situation worse. When those moments arrive, choose to face the situation head-on, taking inspiration from Jesus who, in spite of great fear over what was to come, stood up and went to meet his betrayer, charging the ball and facing the situation on his own terms.