The Power of a United Vision

Living in South Africa we have come to realize that the game of rugby is synonymous with South Africa. On Saturdays we love cheering on young athletes or gathering for a “watching party” with friends. The other week we attended a rugby birthday party! The highlight was a professional rugby coach teaching the young boys skills used by the pros.  In case you aren’t familiar with the sport it is similar to US football but without the pads and with nonstop action. Every time I watch a match I’m amazed at the strength these “oaks” (South Africa word for tough) as they get smacked and get back up to compete even with splats of blood on their face.

The South African national team is called the Springboks. When they play in the World Cup or a national tournament the entire nation shuts down to watch. I have never seen anything like it. This diverse nation with so many cultures, creeds, and customs unite to cheer on their beloved Springboks. For 90 minutes all that ills the country: poverty, corruption, racial issues, floods etc seem to vanish as people dawn their green and gold jerseys shouting out their united support.

What has made the Springboks so successful and beloved by their nation is how they play. They may not be the fastest, biggest, or the most well funded program but they are united in vision. Their legendary coach has instilled in them a sacrificial humility and love for teammate as well as countryman that creates a powerful bond. Their united passion is a joy to watch and has created a winning formula.

What does a rugby match and our faith have in common? Well, recently I read a book by NT Wright about the life of the apostle Paul and the which highlighted the circumstances of his day. It emphasized how the early church not only survived but over time thrived in such a way that communities and cities were transformed. What is amazing is that for the most part these the believers had no political power or social position, limited resources, and no paid professionals leading the movement.

What was it that made the early church an unstoppable force against the greatest of odds? A United Vision! God united Jews, Gentiles, slaves, masters, the rich and poor. People came together from various backgrounds and social positions linked by the love of Christ. This unity in the Spirit of Christ would shake up the demonic strongholds that held the hearts of people and release the Kingdom of God in the most unexpected places.

Don’t you long to see that happen in our day? Paul encourages this newly established church in Ephesus to unite around the vision of Christ’s powerful love.  In the center of this letter is a prayer pointing out what a united vision can do to transform hearts, churches, and communities.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled with the measure of the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21).

So the next time you are cheering on your favorite team, pause and take a moment to think about how such passion for a game can be transferred to our faith AND what an even greater impact our unity and love because of Christ can have on our family, friends, and community.