They worked hard, stuck together, gave it their all, made mistakes but can be proud of their achievement.

I’m talking of course of the USA football team that exited the World Cup this weekend.

I watched the last-16 game between Ghana and USA with interest. Partly because I wondered what it would be like if England were in that game, partly because of my American links, and partly because I have Landon Donovan in my Fantasy Football team …

In a tense affair, the game had everything; goals, a penalty and lots of close chances.

We should all offer our congratulations to Ghana – what an achievement! They wanted the win, worked for the win and went into celebrations as if they’d won the entire competition!

But for the USA, it’s the prospect of a long journey home. However, they can be proud of what they have achieved as a team.

Topping their group was no mean feat and reaching the knock out stage was never assured them at the beginning of the tournament.

Two things they have shown consistently throughout their matches:

1. A true team spirit
2. A never-say-die attitude

We could learn a lot from the esprit de corps that the Americans have shown in this World Cup.

Staying The Course

I was in Sheffield on Saturday with a group of guys from different churches and together we resolved to stand side by side and give it all we’ve got in this life to make Jesus known. To do this we’ll need to show the same characteristics that the Americans portrayed throughout their time in South Africa.

When things don’t look like they’re going well it’s easy and cheap to criticise the failure of those around us in a bid to claim the high ground. In football we can point to other players performances, the coach, the referee or linesmen.

It’s the same for any organisation and especially so for the church. In any group of people derision and infighting can take a team down. So let’s band together, encourage one another, share in the victories and take the losses together.

Back home, the USA might not yet have football fully in it’s blood. They might not yet have shown us what they can produce. But they did play this game of ours well, and in the highest spirit. A beautiful showing of the Beautiful Game.

Their morale resolute, their unity resolved they will learn and grow from this experience and they will be back.

For us our calling is higher than the expectations of a nation. Let us leave our mark on this life in a way worthy of the death of Jesus. That when we reach glory we might do so together as an indefatigable, ragged bunch of guys that truly gave their all in this lifetime.

Everyone has the right to their own opinion, and in a way, we are all captains and managers. No singular person has the right to tell you what to do or how to do it. We have evolved into people of ethical thought. If you don’t feel right, then something is wrong. You are what you are and we have to make allowance for you.

The above statement is not in the Bible. It is not true.

It is however the backbone of our culture and has been tattooed on the hearts of youngsters throughout the western world. The fruit of this way of life was served to the French National football team this week. The squad, more divided than ever before, proved the saying United we Stand, Divided we Fall, correct to the highest order. Laziness can be addressed, arrogance can be curbed but divisiveness is a force which the Apostle Paul treated very seriously.

In his letter to Titus in the new testament he wrote:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Let’s think about where this stench of divisiveness in our own hearts and extinguish it. We all have the ability to become finger pointing Christians. We all have the strength to resist it.

Peace.