And there is certainly much to be appreciated about seeing solid teamwork being displayed right before your eyes. Everyone contributing their own unique gifts and abilities to oppose and conquer the opposition (these are similar reasons why I enjoy the Marvel Universe films). In reality, it gives a great picture of the church in that everyone in Christ contributes their own spiritual gifts (Eph. 4:15-16), and by so doing are opposing the gates of hell and eventually overcoming them (Mt. 16:18; cf. Eph. 3:20-21).
But times like this, for sports fans (just as times like the one coming soon for me when Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theatres) provides a good time and venue for a sobering reality check.
Sure you want to rally behind your favorite team and enjoy (hopefully) their success (or "shake it off" if defeated). But all the while it's good to remember that there is a hugely dark reality going on right here in the U.S. that pales in comparison even to Hitler's Holocaust.
And that is the abortion industry. What does this have to do with opening day? Nothing really, unless you allow it to provide a much needed reality check. Supposedly each game goes through about 100 baseballs. At the same time, each day there are about 3,000 unborn bearers of God's image being brutally murdered - legally - in the United States. So think about it this way. If you were to equate the number of baseballs used in one game to represent the number of abortions that occurred that day, how many murdered innocent lives would each ball represent? For each time you hear the crack of that bat, think about how many innocent lives are being unjustly taken that just that one sound represents. Does this ruin opening day for you? I hope not. I hope you still are able to enjoy seeing your team display that great picture of the church. Yet at the same time I do hope it makes you a little more aware (or for some of you a lot more aware) of your very own neighbors whom we are called to love (Gal. 5:14), yet are being murdered right in our own backyard. So I hope it does provide a reality check for you. And truly, I could (and will) apply this same reality check to myself when I see Avengers: Age of Ultron next month. Based on the trailer the ratio will be a little different if I let the total number of bullets fired represent the number of unborn lives taken that day (there certainly seem to be more than 100, just in the trailer). Will I enjoy the movie? I'm sure I will. Again, when I see films like that I think it gives a very good picture of how the church can and should work together (not a perfect picture, obviously, but the picture is clear enough). Yet as the reality check sets in, my hope is that it will renew my mind and heart to the actual call of the church, in making disciples (Mt. 28:18-20), changing cultures (Eph. 5:7-10, 11), and turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6). This of course would mean that when I get home from the movie (and hopefully when you sports fans get home from the ballpark or turn off the TV after the game has ended), that we would have a better appreciation for the call of the church and the teamwork it is to use in accomplishing the above mentioned tasks. Truly, we have much more power than the amazing talents of professional baseball players and even more power than the super-human individuals that the Avengers have (yes, I realize it's a fictional universe). We have the power of the living God within us - both individually (1 Jn. 4:4) and corporately (Eph. 3:20-21)! How much more, then, do you think we have the ability to stop the brutal killing of innocent image-bearers of God who have no way to defend themselves? Do not think to yourself that we just can't do it. When God is on our side, we are able to accomplish the tasks He has set before us - which is very clearly that we are to love our neighbors (Gal. 5:14). One way specifically mentioned that we are to love our neighbors is the following: Rescue those who are being taken away to death; Opening day ruined? I hope not. But I do hope this post provides a reality check: a reality check that both sobers and empowers us. Think of how many abortions (that is, murders) are being committed by whatever ratio representation you choose. But then think of the teamwork involved in the victory of the game today, and how much more power and ability we as the church have to win our "game" (read "war") of loving our neighbors and saving millions of lives to the glory of God. For specific things you can do - depending on what your spiritual gifts are - I recommend reading the end of one of my previous posts on this matter (the "What can we do about abortion in America?" section). But for now, I hope this brief post will help us all to have a better awareness of America's Holocaust, and also how we as the church, filled with the power of our Lord Himself (Eph. 3:20-21) can work together in bringing the murdering of innocent children to an end! |
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