I like the UFC. Since I am a pastor, I feel obligated to qualify that statement before I go any further. I wrestled all through college. I train Juijitsu and submission grappling at The Armory here in Jupiter. I have had the privilege, on a couple of occasions, of grappling with some real live UFC fighters. Frankly, I have found that this hobby gives me an great opportunity for outreach to the community, as well as an outlet for the stresses that come with ministry. In light of all these factors, I like the UFC.
I was watching UFC on Fox 2 the other night, and I noticed something about how I observe the fights. I’m more of a critic than a fan. My criticism has increased as my involvement in the sport increases. The more I learn, the more I am able to sit on my couch, feed my face with wings, pop and brownies, and talk confidently about what a fighter should have, could have, and would have done, if he could listen to me, or his coach, or his inner champion.
This exercise of being a critic, or a “blindfolded rock thrower” as I’m calling it, is fine, as long as I am the one throwing the rocks. The problem, of course, with my criticism, is the things I cannot see…or willfully ignore.
Few people realize what it is like to compete in a sport where you are so exhausted, it takes all your strength to hold your hands up in front of you, let alone throw a punch, dodge a kick, or attempt a takedown. To be honest, I know what it feels like on some levels, and I still conveniently forget to factor those realities as I throw rocks blindfolded.
Exhaustion isn’t the only factor. One of the fighters in the event had to drop 30lbs in 10 days to make weight. 30lbs. that’s not a typo. I used to cut as much as 18lbs a week in college to compete. I have seen guys cut so much weight they end up in the hospital getting rehydrated. I should have sympathy for a guy who dropped 30 to take a fight on short notice, but there I am throwing rocks, blindfolded.
This blog, of course is not about the UFC it’s about the church. I am hoping the illustration will help me make a point. We have become, in the church, a family of “blindfolded rock throwers.” We have strong opinions about what leaders, what pastors, what lay christians, what the church should, could and would be. If only we could get a minute with them to help them along. The problem is, we can’t, and in fact we don’t have time anyway. If we did have time, and we took it, we would probably realize that most of our criticisms are missing significant pieces of information that allow us to come to accurate conclusions.
So, instead we throw rocks, blindfolded.
I used to look at large churches and say, “They could have fed the homeless with the money they spent on that sound system.” I never thought that the money spent to get the word of God and facilitate worship, was actually strengthening a large number of believers to have a greater impact on their community. I never thought that if those large churches stayed small minded, they would probably be spending $4,000 a year to help the hurting instead of $40,000 a year to help them because they have invested resources to amass resources and mobilize the body of Christ.
I used to look at small churches and say, “Small churches have strange people who are of little use to the Kingdom.” I didn’t care about the fact that those small churches are used by God to save people who would otherwise been neglected when they attended a large church. I didn’t value that the people in those small churches are being exactly who God wants them to be. Instead I just threw rocks blindfolded.
I knew pastor who labored in a work for over 20 years. His wife had MS and they were struggling to make it. In his years of service, he only had the fruit of 30 people in his church. He was offered a job at a large church, with insurance, in a nicer climate. I’ll never forget the pastors who threw their rocks blindfolded. ”He’s gonna regret falling short of faithfulness.” ”He’s neglected his call.” I remember thinking, “seriously? A man makes a decisions that puts him in a place that allows his wife to be cared for, and his ministry to continue and people want to throw rocks.”
What’s worse, technology today turns our pebbles into boulders. Through Facebook and Twitter, we instantly speak to 200 – 2000 people instead of a few people in a week. We don’t realize it but we are killing the cause of Christ with every rock we throw. Unity is the one thing that Jesus said would cause the world to say, “They are truly God’s people.” It’s also the one thing we have laid aside so we can pick up our rocks.
I’ve thrown some rocks this week. Have you?
If you are a rock thrower, I want to challenge you, don’t throw any rocks for a month, or a year if possible. Instead, do with passion and joy what God has asked you to do. I’d be willing to bet, you amass more people, more resources, and have a larger impact than you ever will if you keep throwing rocks at everyone else. The real winners are the ones who don’t care when people throw rocks at them.
If you have been hit with some rocks, keep serving the Lord, keep fighting for Him, be ready to take more hits, but whatever you do, don’t stop doing what God has called you to do because God is using you to make changes He wants.
