Super Bowl LIV
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:9-21
Friends,
I write this on January 31, 2020. Super Bowl LIV (54) is Sunday. On Sunday there will be Super Bowl parties, pools and commercials. In addition, there will be a football game between the San Francisco Forty-Niners and the Kansas City Chiefs. Then we will all go back to work on Monday.
It is estimated $17.2 billion dollars will be spent on food, drinks, and apparel in connection with the Super Bowl. I will be attending a Super Bowl party at a friend of mine. I will be one of the over 100 million to watch the Super Bowl.
I am also thinking of recent sports scandals connected with professional football and major league baseball. There was “Spygate” in 2007 where one team was videotaping another coach’s signals. There was “Deflategate” in 2014 where one team deflated the football a little so the quarterback could get a better grip.
In Major League Baseball there have been the recent scandal of stealing signs from other teams. Some say this may have even determined the World Series in 2017.
The goal is to win. Sometimes people want to win so much that they will not follow the rules in order to win.
This is a form of “the end justifies the means”. This type of thought is positive as it can encourage goal setting and creative thought to reach a desired outcome.
However, sometimes individuals are tempted to “break the rules” in order to bring about the desired outcome.
This is true not only in sports but in ethics in general. We so crave certain outcomes that we ignore “the rules”. Some would say we forget to live in “love” toward one another. Craving a certain outcome can often bring out the worst in ourselves.
In the passage above, Paul writes to the Romans about “love”. People have written many pages on these few verses. I one to point to one phrase in the beginning. It is “hold fast to what is good”. It can literally mean “keep ‘glued’ to what is good.
This type of ethic is the opposite of the “the end justifies the means”. In one Bible translation, this section is entitled, “The Marks of a True Christian”. This type of ethic teaches, “How we get to the desired outcome is more important than arriving at the desired outcome”.
This is the way of Jesus. Paul writes in Philippians 2:6, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited.”
Jesus’ life was highlighted by a goal: “to save the world.” (John 3:16)
But he didn’t take shortcuts. He kept his integrity. He humbled himself and went to the cross.” In other words, he didn’t break the rules.
We all have goals. May God bless us that we live in love as we reach those goals.
Go Raiders!
Peace,
Ricky Adams
Pastor
Peace Lutheran Church
Mill Valley, California