After the decision was made, there were some animated discussions between the captain and the umpire.
The question that Nick and I were discussing was this: “what does that say to cricketers in our clubs around town, and around the region, about respecting the decision of the umpire?”.
What example does that give? And the question would apply equally to football.
Of course, I am probably not qualified to provide a meaningful answer in that context.
In our society, those who call themselves Christians are held to a standard that is like the standard of international professional sportspeople.
We are praised when we get things right, and we are judged by society when we get things wrong. And we do get things wrong!
The example that God’s people show to society must always be perfect.
It must be; after all, we go to church.
However, church is not a place where people are shown how to be perfect.
Church is a place where the promises of God are revealed.
One of those promises is that Jesus’ death and resurrection makes sure that our shortcomings, our poor examples, are forgiven and that we are restored again.
While Jesus’ work on the cross is a once, for all event, humans, by their very nature, do fall short and need continual restoration through grace.
That is why faithful people spend time in worship, to remind ourselves of the promises of God.
Churches are a reminder of our imperfection, to live with God who is perfect.
Many of us, as we follow events nationally and internationally, are trying to make sense of what is happening in our time.
We look at the actions of others, and we might ask “what would I do in that situation?”.
We might look at the captain of the cricket team and ask would I would try to seek some clarification or simply accept the decision?
In truth we probably don’t know, but when we fall short of the expectations of society there is a place to go - a place where the promise of God is “through me all is okay”.
Churches don’t exclude poor examples, they invite them in.
Come along a hear about how God restores through his love and grace.
~ Contributed by Fr Tim Fogo from St Paul’s Anglican Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
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