Is Christianity more like golf or football?

Someone might say, “Golf because Christianity is like walking through life and it helps you deal with one problem after another until finally you arrive at that great club house in the sky.” But I think Christianity is more like football (don’t overanalyze my metaphor too much here). I think Christianity is like football because success—as a football team—requires great teamwork. Golf is an individual’s sport. It’s just you against the world. A golfer can be successful without depending on anyone else. But no football player can have success by himself. For a football player to be successful, he has to be part of a dedicated team of guys who know what success is and are willing to do their job to help get the team across the goal line.

For a Christian to be “successful” (for lack of a better word), he or she has to be part of a dedicated fellowship of believers. Those who know what success is and are willing to do their job to help get the church across the goal line. Success for a church is maturity. A healthy church is a church that is growing in maturity. Not necessarily growing in numbers, but growing up. This is why most of the New Testament books were written to churches—calling the church to maturity in Christ.

But what does maturity look like? How do we get there? How do we stay there? How do we help others get there? Let me start with a little history. Our history.

[ Read the rest of this article on our Pastor’s blog, Keep Your Head ]