To the Flag Flyer of Faith (FFOF)…
Here is a TAKE-A-WAY principle from these verses: “reciprocal social interaction between people leads to reciprocal development.”
– Dr. S. Lowe.
I get sad when I see discord (deep disagreement) acted out between student-athletes, especially between those within the same sport. I see teammates fuss, squabble, lie and, at times, simply go at each other physically or verbally in surprising volatile, uncharacteristic ways. Some are too wimpy for physical contact? No problem. They just go verbal … behind backs. Choose words that leverage position and passion. Words that hurt. Words that divide.
I am sad because there is so much relational loss when student-athletes show-up with too much self and not enough maturity.
I do not have a “word” for those who do not “fly the flag of faith,” as there is no “connected spirit” to empower biblical directives.
But to us who do “fly the flag of faith,” listen up. We are responsible to “show-up” to our brothers and sisters. We are responsible to show-up humble and authentic with the interest of others in mind. Show-up authentically and build mutual trust. Trust eliminates the concern that someone gets snookered (tricked, enticed, or trapped) along the way.
Let me direct us to our training manual for some coaching that helps frame our interaction with others, especially our brothers in sisters in Christ.
So, heads-up. Eyes forward.
“ONE ANOTHER” PASSAGES
The phrase “one another” derives from the Greek word allelon which means “one another, each other; mutually, reciprocally.” It occurs one hundred times in the New Testament. Approximately fifty-nine of those occurrences are specific commands teaching us how (and how not) to relate to one another.
Here is a TAKE-A-WAY principle from these verses: reciprocal social interaction between people leads to reciprocal development (Dr. S. Lowe). We need each other to grown on all fronts. We influence people with whom we hang-out or otherwise interact. And vice-versa. And most of those deepest personal interactions occur within our sport, like between teammates.
As we read the passages, let’s be in touch with our thinking, feeling, and willing or in other words – our hearts!
POSITIVE COMMANDS
- Love one another (John 13:34 – This command occurs at least sixteen times)
- Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
- Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
- Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
- Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
- Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
- Admonish one another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16)
- Greet one another (Romans 16:16)
- Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
- Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
- Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
- Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
- Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
- Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15, 25)
- Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
- Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19)
- Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21, 1 Peter 5:5)
- Consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)
- Look to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4)
- Bear with one another (Colossians 3:13)
- Teach one another (Colossians 3:16)
- Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
- Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
- Exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13)
- Stir up [provoke, stimulate] one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
- Show hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)
- Employ the gifts that God has given us for the benefit of one another (1 Peter 4:10)
- Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another (1 Peter 5:5)
- Pray for one another (James 5:16) Confess your faults to one another (James 5:16)
NEGATIVE COMMANDS (how not to treat one another)
- Do not lie to one another (Colossians 3:9)
- Stop passing judgment on one another (Romans 14:13)
- If you keep on biting and devouring each other…you will destroy by each other (Galatians 5:15)
- Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other (Galatians 5:26)
- Do not slander one another (James 4:11)
- Do not grumble against each other (James 5:9)
Let us ask ourselves these questions.
Q: How do we (you) feel after reading these coaching instructions?
Q: Are we working on ourselves? Are we taking responsibility to know God and be known by Him? Are we allowing intimacy (into-me-see) between us and the Spirit? Are we growing in the knowledge and grace of God (2 Peter3:18)? If we are “lazy” in our growth, we will stink up our interaction with others. That “stinky” is just the fruit of weak discipline – a life not dependent on the Spirit.
FLAG FLYER OF FAITH THERE IS HOPE
Remember: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:9-10).
FFOF challenge one another to live holistically with our brothers and sisters (other flag flyers) in the deepest, most meaningful fashion, empowered and encouraged by God the Spirit. Only a fool does not love mutual, relational trust and concern. We are not fools.
If we are in the “game, the faith race,” then let us get with it. Lay ourselves before the Spirit. Get to know God, ourselves, and others in the deepest, most meaningful fashion.
This will cost us time, emotion, discipline, and perhaps several friends and family. Folk may not understand our desire to know God and be known by him in the deepest, most meaningful fashion.
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take-up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). When we identify with the cross of Christ, we die to self, but in doing so we live knowing God, others, and self in the deepest, most meaningful fashion.
Regardless of where in life we find ourselves right now, God “coaches” us to reconcile and interact with Him, others, and self in the deepest, most meaningful fashion.
Let us take care of One Another!