Same Team?

So for the past couple of weeks I have had “Same Team” on heavy rotation. (I’m a sucker for posse cuts and the good brother Swoope did not disappoint.)

“If Lecrae sell a million records/And my name don’t get mentioned in the review/It don’t matter, get the W/cuz even players on the bench get rings too.”

Equal parts humility and realism right there. I stay professing on STCDNW the importance of staying in your lane. Everyone is important. You don’t need to be another contestant in the rat race of celebrity culture. It says if you aren’t being idolized then you’re not doing it right. Rubbish.

“Same Team” speaks about an important principle for Christian living, rejoicing when others succeed (Romans 12:15). Jealousy is counterproductive and beneath us. We should not waste our time, or their accomplishments, to compare ourselves rather than rejoice. What do we look like fixing our mouths to tell God that we were shortchanged? Like God was out here handing out blessings to everyone but us? Even when the world says otherwise, when forces of evil actively work to rob us of our dignity, we should always remember that we too are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

You’ve got gifts my friend, you are no mistake.

Christian discipleship requires oneness. It is important that we desire fellowship and enjoy being with people. If we are to follow Christ’s example, we cannot afford to be out of touch. There is no room for us to sit on the sidelines. Christ is the greatest example of empathy the world has ever known. (Lest we forget, Immanuel, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23) This requires an active witness, one that values a ministry of presence and fervently seeks justice, loves mercy, and walks humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

So cool, hopefully celebrating with your brother and sister appeals to you too but let’s go back to that verse in Romans alluded to earlier. The full verse reads, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

When we see wickedness like what is going on in Ferguson where does our allegiance lie? Are we quick to fall into the pattern of blaming the victim, assassinating the character of those no longer here to defend themselves? What comfort do we receive when we turn Ferguson into an opportunity to criticize the black community? Why do we hate the least of these so much?

I’m tired of racial conversations too. But I can’t afford to live blind. Particularly when the truth is so seldomly told. White supremacy is sin.