Next Goal Winner

It is a tradition as old as time. You’re playing football out in the field near your house with your mates in the big summer holidays. Jumpers for goalposts. 5-a-side. Goalie When*. The score is about 57- 43 because you’ve been playing for hours, but now Steve’s mum calls him in for his tea. The unified shout goes up “Next Goal Winner” as the game ramps us to it’s thrilling conclusion. Next Goal Winner is a sort of mutually beneficial social contract. Both teams accept the new rule, despite the apparent injustice, because the added jeopardy creates better competition in the closing minutes of the game. It’s more fun.

When I was 11 we moved to a new town and a new church. The church's youth group typically started with 30 mins of physical games in the church hall then 30 min of bible study, chatting and prayer. All good stuff. The second week we were playing a fovourite of mine, Crab Football. In this version of the game, you skuttle around on all fours, on your back, trying to kick a flaking sponge ball under a trestle table goal. As the clock ticked towards half past, my team was winning. I looked over to the youth leader anticipating the traditional cry.

“Ok guys, it’s almost time. Next goal…. Draws.”

I nearly decided in that very moment to not be a Christian.

Even at the age of 11 I knew there was something horribly wrong here. Was Christianity so “nice” that even winning was to be outlawed? This wasn’t the way I understood life to be. This wasn’t the way I understood God to be. And if this was what church was like, I didn’t want to have any part of it. Fortunately for us, the bible tells a different story.

One of my favourite details in the New Testament comes in John’s account of the resurrection of Jesus. John, who describes himself as the “other disciple” tell us that Mary was the first witness to the resurrection as she went to the tomb and found it empty. She then ran to find the disciples to tell them the news. Peter and John in turn ran back in the other direction to check it out for themselves and John writes this:

"Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first." John 20:3-4

I love it! There is literally no reason or this detail to be included in the gospel other than John wanting all of us to know that he was faster than Peter. He even goes on to mention it another two times! I get the feeling John would be delighted that we still read these words today.

And yet, God, in all his providence, did not edit or erase this from his word.

Perhaps a little bit of competition is acceptable after all?

Coach Paul writes:

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." 1 Cor 9:24-27

Paul actively encourages us to pursue the life of faith with the desire to claim victory. It is a competition. So don’t jog at the back of the pack. Don’t waste what you’ve been given. Give it your all. Race to win. Go hard or go home.

Observing the Roman athletes of the day he notices how hard they train and prepare, dedicating everything they have for the sake of a crown of leaves. A prize that will literally perish. Why then would we not give all our devotion to something that is worth so much more? When we run with Jesus in our sights; when we tenaciously pursue Christ in our work, ministry and relationships; when we seek his glory with all we have - we are doing it for a crown, a prize, a reward, a victory, that will last forever. Maybe it’s time, then, that we took the shackles off and allowed ourselves to have a little ambition.

I worry that this message is absent in our churches today. We’re good at emphasising the kindness, humility, gentleness and submission required in the life of faith – and rightly so - but do we forget that there is also a meaningful place for passion, drive, ambition and tenacity.

If we ignore the latter and focus only on the former list, it’s no wonder that men and boys (in particular) are increasingly absent from the church, choosing to find other outlets for competition. What if instead our boys were told that the fire in them is not to be quenched, but was ignighted by God and that if they point it towards Jesus and chase after him as if racing to win, they will find it’s true purpose and meaning.

I love what golfer Scottie Scheffler said after winning the Masters recently:

"I love winning. I hate losing, I really do. When you’re here in the biggest moments… I really, really want to win badly. And my buddies told me this morning that my victory is secure on the cross. And that’s a special feeling to know that I’m secure forever and it doesn’t matter if I win this tournament or lose this tournament. My identity is secure forever." Scottie Scheffler

We too can live in such confidence that our ultimate victory is secure in Jesus. It's his race which he has already won. So why would we hold back? He invites us to run so let's run hard. Let’s give it our all. Let’s play as if it’s next goal winner. Let’s run in such a way as to get the prize. Let’s race to win. Maybe then we might run a race worthy of the calling God has placed on our lives.

*Goalie When is to Northerners what Rush Keepers is to Southerners.

This post is part of a series of short blogs titled Faith Endurance, based on a sermon series preached at St Peter’s Morley in Spring 2024. Subscribe to get notifications each time a new blog is released.