Bob Pettit — The
Church
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church . . . Colossians 1:16-18
When I played basketball my freshman year in high school, I was the worst player on the team. I was too slow and awkward, and in competition I was too rattled to get off a good shot. Most of my time I spent on the bench.
When we played away games, and there were too many players for the one bus that was chartered, the coach always picked me to stay behind. He knew my absence from the game wouldn't hurt the team.
Even in home games I dreaded those moments in the locker room right after the final buzzer. As the team stripped for showers, one boy would shout, "I got ten points tonight. How many'd you get, Jack?"
And Jack would answer, "I got eight. But I missed two easy ones!"
I'd hang my head and try to look as small as I could. I didn't score a single point the whole season.
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When I came out for basketball as a sophomore, my early season performance was so bad that I was cut from the team. My spirits hit rock bottom. In spite of a tremendous devotion to the game, I almost decided to give up.
But first I went to the pastor of my church in Baton Rouge, and poured out my disappointment. He listened through it all and then convinced me not to quit but to play on our church basketball team. It wasn't the greatest. In fact, most of the boys who played on it were rejects from the school teams, like myself. But we played hard and we played frequently. Sometimes during that season the same two teams in our tiny league faced each other twice or three times a week.
Little by little my confidence came back.
When I came out for high school basketball my junior year, there wasn't much argument about it. I was faster, more aggressive and a lot more accurate.
But I never forgot that the church saved my basketball career when it might have gone under without a ripple. And through the years I've come to learn that the church offers much, much more.
It provides a practical way for Christians to make a united impact on the society around them.
I've often heard it said that you don't have to go to church to be a Christian. But I can't understand how a true believer in Christ can ignore the fellowship Christ instituted to continue His work on earth.
A pastor once stood up to address a crowded sanctuary on Easter Sunday morning. "I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas," he said, "because I probably won't be seeing most of you again until then!" The challenge of a secular society will never be met by "Easter and Christmas Christians."
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The church needs all of us, all the time.
As a youngster I sang in the choir. Later, I became an usher and served in other positions in my home church. I enjoyed every moment.
Now, when my career takes me away from home for much of every year, I often slip into an empty church in some distant city and commune there in silence. The architecture, the beautiful stained-glass windows and the familiar symbols of Christ's birth, death and resurrection all make me freshly aware of God and prompt me to worship.
But the "church" is not simply a building, a creed or a denomination. It's a fellowship of men and women related to each other in a common belief. How does that belief operate? Let me put it in basketball terms.
When I jump up to grab a rebound, I "believe" that nobody can stop me from getting that ball. There may be five other men pushing, shoving, jumping. I may be half crushed in a jungle of arms and legs. I may be off balance and late. But I'm in there "believing" and I'm convinced this is the secret of successful rebounding.
It is the secret of the church too. When we are united in our belief in Christ and His ultimate triumph, there's no force on earth or in hell that can stop us!
Prayer
Almighty God, I thank You for the many benefits I receive from Your hand through Your church. I thank You too for the opportunities to serve You that the church provides. Keep me ready and willing to do my part in the great world-wide fellowship of those who love You. I ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Bob Pettit was an All-American basketball star at Louisiana State University; All-Pro St. Louis Hawks and all-time leading scorer. Advisory Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
