Anti-Doping

This might be popular in many other fields, but I've heard this phrase used mostly in NASCAR circles.

If you're not cheating, you're not trying hard enough.

Such an unethical statement still seems to make a little sense.  Obviously when competing, whether trying to win a championship or a contract, a person or a team will exhaust every possibility within the guidelines to win.  But there always comes a point where brainstorming within the boundaries quickly gets stale.  At that moment, compromise almost always enters the mind of the competitive and the driven.  Even the most sanctified people may at least review their interpretation of the rules to see if an advantage can be gained.  Others with a lower sense of integrity flat out disregard any regulation.  Yet neither of the groups can be pinned with not trying.  I mean, no one really listened to their teacher when she said it's not whether you win or lose but it's how you play the game, right?  At least, not until you get caught.

That's when none of it seems worth it.  All of the trophies and accolades are replaced with shame and disgrace.  And maybe not immediately, but a reflection will soak in that the 'victory' wasn't deserved; so it was snatched away....almost as if it was never experienced.

So while no one can cheat their way to heaven, there is some misconception of obtaining residence in the Kingdom that are expressed with the following steps:

   1. Join a church
   2. Get busy in a ministry
   3. Do right
   4. Add "in Jesus Name" to each phrase indicating a personal need/desire

What's misleading about this formula is that it is absent of the motive behind the method.  Plainly, the love is missing.  It's very difficult to find the person that is a constant complainer genuine when he or she says they want to serve.  In the same light, the songbird choir member with a poor attitude is hardly an effective worship leader.  In fact, that person more than likely hinders ministry and is just making noise (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Paul makes reference to "competing" the right way earlier in 1 Corinthians (9:24).  He writes that we are to run the race in such a way that we win.  Well, if we pull a Ben Johnson and take steroids, we may win but we'll have to vacate the victory.  You have opened the door for inspectors to investigate and find you a fraud.  The same applies when claiming to surrender to Christ, but performing Christian duties without the Christlike attitude.  Here, we've opened up the door for the enemy to defraud our efforts; and will be found defeated.  See, the wining isn't in claiming to be a Christian, but in being an example of Christ; or rather, doing it the right way.  So in whatever is done for the Kingdom, please ensure your motives are rooted in love; and then your work will be justified and rewarded.

Peace.