Tonight, Barry Bonds passed Hank Aaron as the all-time home run leader for Major League Baseball. He hit #756 off of Washington Nationals pitcher, Mike Bacsik (who?)... absent from witnessing the big hit were: Commissioner Bud Selig and Hank Aaron himself. Not absent, is the on-going speculation about Barry's use of steroids and other banned substances throughout the latter portion of his career.
Hmmm... * ??
Does he deserve an asterisk in the record book?
Do we? I know, you're thinking, "what do I have to do with his illegal use of performance enhancing drugs?" Have you achieved victories or success in ministry while: "faking" the anointing, exaggerating your prayer & devotional life, or using someone else's material like it's your own??
Should there be an asterisk on that altar call, amazing sermon, incredible testimony or recent blog? It's easy to be cynical about a sports entertainer but what about something on a much more serious note: God's Work.
I guess what I'm saying is, we need to be very careful & cautious about the way we conduct our lives & ministry. We are given a guideline of how to live our lives, in Titus, chapter 1: "For an overseer,as God's
steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or
quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He
must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be
able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who
contradict it. For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach." (v. 7-11) ... there's a lot of areas where I have been less than pure or perfect (worthy of an asterisk).
Yet, we have a gracious and forgiving God who is willing to remove the blemish from our shady records, in Colossians 2, it says: "And you, who were dead
in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive
together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." (v. 13-14) - whew!
I don't want to waste one minute debating about Barry Bonds records -- that's silly. It's a sport, a game, entertainment... character and integrity walked out the door of those categories long ago. We have life and death to be concerned with...
a good friend of mine, Pastor Edgar Cabello, once taught: "the anointing is God's gift to you, character is your gift to God." - that's a true challenge that goes far beyond sports. I accept this righteous dare...
and, I ain't playin',
Chilly