July 20

Day 128: Relegation and Promotion

U.S. college and professional sports are all built on the notion that champions are determined by playing the regular season, and then surviving victorious in the playoffs. Every other team invariably ends their season with a loss.

Not so in world soccer. Most of the professional soccer leagues in the world have a different notion; relegation  and promotion.

It goes like this. At the end of the regular season, the team with the best record (based on a points system) is crowned the champion. The 3 teams with the worst record are sent to the division below, while the 3 top teams of the lower division are sent to the division above. This happens every year.

All this makes the regular season mean something. No playoffs are necessary. Each season, there are two battles going on: the teams at the top fighting to be champion...and the bottom feeders all trying to remain in the league for another year, by finishing with a better record than at least 3 other teams.

What does this have to do with anything? (Knowing Tim Lewis is the only local I know who appreciates the above.)

Everyone in our culture likes the idea of promotion. Everyone wants to believe that when they die they go to a "better place." Ever been to a funeral where the person up front said anything different? (Me neither.)

On the other hand, no one wants to believe they're destined to be relegated. I've never yet been to a funeral service where they announced to the attendees that the now dead person was the newest resident in hell. That wouldn't encourage anyone. No one wants to hear bad news like that.

So, somehow, our culture has evolved the narrative that everyone goes to heaven. Irrespective of the life lived on earth. In this line of thinking, heaven exists. Hell does not.

The rationale behind this narrative? It's all made up, because it's made up to make everyone feel better. Why have facts when nice notions seem so much better (?)

Meanwhile, Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) that "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

More than a few commentators believe that everything else Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount fits under this singular phrase.

The "poor in spirit" are those who know they deserve nothing but to be relegated. To be banished to the "lower league," if you will. These are the ones who know they're the league bottom feeders.

However, Jesus said that those who know they deserve nothing but to be relegated are the very ones, the only ones who will actually be promoted.

Our respective points total for the season (our entire lives lived) does matter. However, none of us will emerge as champions based on our record.

The poor in spirit know they do not deserve anything good. Yet, by faith they rest on the accomplished work of Jesus for their hope of sharing in the kingdom of heaven.

Their hope is in nothing else. Jesus is their champion.

-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau