Faster, Higher, Stronger: Running Free

This is the 2nd of a series of Olympic-themed sermons. The title of the sermon series, "Faster, Higher, Stronger" is the English translation of the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius.

In the movie Chariots of Fire, Olympian and future missionary Eric Liddell says, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure." Life is better when we do those things that God created us to do. "Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

Galatians 5:1-10

Commentary

The main reason Paul wrote to the church in Galatia was to counter the influence of the Judaizers, Jewish Christians who followed in Paul’s wake & attempted to persuade the Christians in Galatia to be circumcised in order to be "real Christians." (Shouldn’t the list of things one must do to be a "real Christian" be short?)

v1 For freedom Christ has set us free. The phrase can just as easily be translated "by freedom Christ has set us free." (Which makes more sense to you?)

v2 Christ will be of no value to you. The verb here has the sense of profit. In these troubled times, one could say, "If you invest all of your money in hedge funds, your IRA will be of no value.’ In the same way, "If you trust in observing the law, Christ will be of no profit to you."

v4 Alienated from Christ. The verb here, katargeo, is the antonym of the verb energeo (i.e. energize). Trying to be set right by the law does not just distance us from Christ, it cuts us off from our source of power!

v7-10 There is word play here in the Greek which does not appear in English. The words obey (v7), persuasion (v8) and confident (v10) all have the same root (and sound similar) in Greek. Confidence should help us to obey, but frequently a little persuasion from the wrong source undermines our confidence, or worse, gives us a false confidence which leads to disobedience.

Application

Little Mary Decker was America’s darling and the defending world champion. At the time of the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Decker was (and still is) the only American to hold every America record for races between 800 meters and 10K. Zola Budd, the barefooted South African who had switched her citizenship to Great Britain in order to qualify for the Olympics, had recently broken the 5K record; however, since the record was broken in apartheid South Africa, the world refused to recognize her achievement.

In the 3K race, Decker led for most of the first half, but at that point Budd ran wide and took the lead. However, as she cut back in to the inside lane, the two collided, and Decker fell into the infield, hurting her hip and failing to finish the race. The partisan L.A. crowd booed a flustered Budd for the rest of the race, and she finished a distant 7th.

Although it is generally accepted that it is the trailing runner’s responsibility to avoid contact with the lead runner, Decker blamed Budd for her fall and lobbied for her disqualification.

Points to Ponder

Decker’s job was to run. Appeals to officials, and blaming Budd, profited her not at all. Your job is to live the Spirit-filled life. Appeals to laws and rules, and blaming others for your failures, profit you not at all.

Decker’s job was to run. The following year, 1985, Decker bounced back to win 12 major races, leading most of the races for the entire race. It’s hard to be bumped or cut off if you’re in the lead. Your job is to live the Spirit-filled life. What is the lesson for how you should live your life?