The Power of Offense

It is no secret that I am a big football fan. This year, one of the intriguing stories in the NFL is the emergence of the Chicago Bears as a powerhouse! The bears have a long and storied history. Once, a virtual powerhouse and dynasty, the 1990’s and early 2000’s saw them fall into the leagues cellar!

A few years ago they made it all the way to the Super Bowl, only to lose. They did this ENTIRELY based on defense! They had one of the worst offenses in the league, but their defense was SO good, that as long as the Offense could score just a meager once or twice, the defense could almost undoubtedly keep the other team from scoring more. But, they just couldn’t take it to that next level without some form of offense!

2009 is a new story! Due to a crazy trade (curse you Josh McDamiels!!!!!), they now have one of the top QB’s in the league, and a great 2nd year running back! Now…..you have a team who still keeps everyone else from scoring, but are also capable of putting up big scores themselves! By all accounts so far, they are one of the best team around! It is amazing what can get accomplished with a little bit of an offensive attack!

I think that too often in our own faith, we like to play defense only. In other words, we just sit back on our heels and only REACT to the world when we are forced to. As a result, I wonder if our churches aren’t doing the best they could, just like last year’s Bears!?!?
I do not think that God called us to be inactive in our faith! I do not believe that Christianity is a spectator sport! In fact, I am pretty sure that God wants us on the offensive. He wants us moving positively in the right direction! Just having a good defense is not enough! What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17
What kind of offense will we have? Are we active? Are we out there in our world taking Jesus to them? I challenge each of us to start with our own lives, and ask “What am I doing”? The ball is in your hands! 