29 March, 2024

Growing Like Jesus: The Bad Bounce

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by | 1 September, 2010 | 27 comments

By Jim Tune

(Jim Tune was among eight Christian leaders asked to share what helps them mature just as Jesus did. Tune is executive director of Impact Canada, a church-planting ministry based outside Toronto, Canada (www.impactcanada.org), and a contributing editor for CHRISTIAN STANDARD.)

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Soccer”s World Cup is a big deal in the multicultural city of Toronto. Who knew one of the most controversial components of the tournament would be the ball itself? The ball is the Adidas Jubulani and it had goalkeepers and strikers worrying and complaining from the start of the contest. The manufacturer claims it is the most accurate ball ever made, but some strange bounces on the field say otherwise.

“It”s very weird,” Brazil striker Luis Fabiano complained. “All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you. It”s like someone is guiding it. You are going to kick it and it moves out of the way. I think it”s supernatural. It”s very bad.” It may have benefited the United States when a weak kick by Clint Dempsey worked its way past English goalkeeper Robert Green. It should have been an easy save, but it turned into a soft goal.

One player observed, “For sure it is the ball. You could see it moving, and once it bounced in front of him it just took off.” A bad bounce.

Not Always True

My heart is a little like that ball. It”s not always completely true. I can”t trust its trajectory. Knowing this about myself has been absolutely essential””not only to my spiritual growth, but to my sheer survival in ministry. Vigilance regarding my capacity for depravity has been a lifesaver.

I”m a polished-up apple that looks pretty appealing from a distance. Come a little closer””watch me teach and preach””and you might even conclude I really am the nutritious, sweet-tasting apple I appear to be. But I know something you don”t know. There”s a worm in the center. I don”t really want you to know that, but I don”t dare forget it. Frankly, this depresses me, but I think it might be a good thing in the long run.

Acknowledging this keeps me aware of the war raging within my flesh””the constant tug-of-war between who I am becoming in Christ and the “ugly somethings” that would capture my affection. While I do my best to observe spiritual disciplines, nothing has shaped me more than the discovery of how weak I really am and how thoroughly deceived I can be when I think I”m strong.

Two Possible Paths

I think we all have a choice to make. Christian leaders especially need to think this through. When I began in Christian ministry, I had this lofty ideal that maybe I could actually become this super-Christian some observers expected me to be (or thought I was). But then reality hit as I fell short of the ideal again and again.

Here is where the choice comes in. In frustration, Christian leaders can be tempted to become complacent about the pursuit of holiness and godly living. It may not even happen consciously when you hear the seductive whisper, You will never change, measure up, or overcome””so why bother trying anymore? Your heart will never steer the trajectory of your life on a straight line toward the real goal, so just get used to it. Just live with the bad bounce. Get comfortable with your ugly something.

At such a point, many leaders may find themselves contemplating two possible paths. The first path invites them to give up the ideal. Just settle for image management and become comfortable with the false self. On this path we risk becoming ever more at ease with worldliness. It begins with a dull conscience and a listless soul. Sin does not grieve like it once did. In this way, the person who was once genuinely passionate for Christ is, over time, taken captive by sin. After all, why strive for an unreachable ideal? I”ve often wondered if this path of complacency is what ultimately leads some Christian leaders to blow up their ministries in some spectacular way.

The second path isn”t much better. Faced with tension born from the hypocrisy of image management, some choose to leave ministry altogether. Maybe this is why I have been startled by the ease with which some former associates in ministry have settled into worldly lifestyles after quitting. Perhaps it”s preferable to maintaining the mask of pseudo-godliness””just file down the edges of your expectations.

Personally, I have felt the tug of the two paths. I have been tempted at various times to either give up the goal of godliness or give up the ministry, but to do either would bring ruin to my own soul and to those who look to me for leadership.

The Better Choice

There is, however, a third path that has helped spare me such ruin. I can give up on godliness, give up on ministry, OR I can let the challenge presented by my shortcomings be a goad to me””a resolve-provoker! This awareness of an inward bounce toward depravity can make me even more determined to kick the ball straight and true. And the good news is this isn”t a battle fought by sheer willpower or teeth-gritting denial. I can”t do this on my own. I am not sufficient, and that”s OK. A much greater strength is required. I must fasten my hope securely to the cross.

My bad-bounce-bent, and my awareness of it, chases me to the cross. It keeps me broken enough to be angry and grieved about the seduction of sin, but whole enough in Christ not to fall into despair. Rather than saying “uncle” to my ugly somethings, I can muster up enough strength to get me to the cross, where its power delivers me from the seduction of this fallen world. Paul writes, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).

The third path is not an easy one. It”s not a magic bullet for the victorious Christian life””this crucifixion to the world Paul describes. I”m often a reluctant participant, but participate I must, because the first two paths don”t lead anywhere good. The cross, like it or not, is the only hope for me. Through the cross I am learning to work and rest. As I work at changing, God changes me. Salvation is wholly of God, but growth comes to those who persevere. You can take your ball and go home if you want or you can press on toward the goal, bad bounces notwithstanding.

27 Comments

  1. Edmund Lucido

    Great article. Authentic and vulnerable. Who among us have not had a bad bounce? Everyone encounters that in our persevering. It is indeed never a reason to give up but simply a reminder of why we need to cling on to the Saviour.
    This is 5.0 out of 5.0 for me

  2. Victor Knowles

    Gooooooooooaaaaaaallllll!

  3. Pat Stillwagner

    As always a great job….Thank You

  4. Annaliz

    Excellent article Jim. How true it is. Imagine those individuals who are dealing with bouncy balls?? I’ve had many of those times.

  5. Jon

    “My heart is a little like that ball. It”™s not always completely true. I can”™t trust its trajectory. Knowing this about myself has been absolutely essential…”

    True for everyone, even though many people may not have the awareness. This article is a great reminder for all readers.

  6. Arlenh Martinez

    WOW, It sure hit home! I know from experience, what juggling balls is like. The same goes for faith, spiritual growth and keeping up with our Christian walk. As usual, you are so dead on and insightful.
    The true words of a leader and a real person.

  7. Amy Lipke

    What a great piece of writing and an encouragement to anyone in ministry, about to enter ministry, or thinking about leaving ministry. Who among us has not been in a position to feel all of what is described in this article? I am thankful for Christians like Jim that are willing to put their vulnerabilities in front of others so that we are reminded that we are not alone in our struggle with the depravity of our fleshly bodies. I pray that we all are encouraged to continue striving to live a Spirit -filled life. May our praise be to God that there is always hope for continued growth through the grace of Christ.

  8. Emily Ross

    EVERYONE has fallen short of the glory of God. Our awareness (God’s reminder’s) of that fact is what keeps us on the same page as everyone else we interact with when we’re in ‘leadership’. When we become arrogant, people can smell that a mile away and their own ‘ugly somethings’ don’t agree. As a result, they can’t intimately relate to the authenticity of the Christian life, and we become too good to serve in the lowly places God has called us to. In order to be an effective tool in the hands of God to reach His lost, we need to remain humble and remember who we are in relation to Him. Our honesty about our slant toward depravity needs to be recognized and confessed. We are no better than anyone else. We are just as desperate for God’s grace via Christ as the rest of the world.

    It never stops there, though. Humility is our foundation from which HOPE can be built on. Our hope must be anchored in Him alone. As we persevere and press in to the heart of God, we eagerly anticipate His miraculous change in us from glory to glory. It is only through Him, and by Him all things are created, including us into His likeness. Oh what a HOPE it is! Never to REMAIN discouraged; always moving forward in our gratitude for His forgiveness covering us and making us whole, and a deep sense of appreciation for His righteousness in us. Wow! What an incredible thing He has done! What love!

    Jim: This article sums up for me what I have most appreciated about you over the years. I have seen you in many different situations, I’d say. What has always won my admiration and utmost respect for you is your genuine desire to serve and follow God despite your shortcomings. You are not always perfect, and your admission of this fact, your choice to be vulnerable and open, has been a blessing to many. Moreover, God has used that to prove to others that you are a man of great integrity who simply loves God and is trusting Him for more in all areas of life. A work in progress. Just like the rest of us.

  9. Darris

    A very fine thought-piece. It should help many in the church.

  10. Carol G

    Thank you, Jim You always do a great Job.

  11. Mayorico "Rico" Dagatan

    Growing like Jesus is a choice. Great job, Jim.

  12. Mike Kjergaard

    Jim,

    Thanks for stating the struggle — this is an issue all ministers face.
    Let’s all follow the third path and finish well, eh?

  13. Juliet Jay

    Praise God for helping you to be open as a Christian leader! There is a temptation to appear to have it all together. When you admit that you don’t, you show other believers that you, too need a Savior. Every day, we need to see our need for Him and keep coming back to Him again and again and again.

  14. Darlene Nanni

    Honest and real….refreshing to hear from a Christian leader in this current culture. Society’s message is to bury your hurts. Who better to lead those who have struggles than one who can be truthful about their own. Thank God for the option of the third path and, although a continuous challenge, we’re thankful for your choice! I’d rate this one a 5 out of 5!

  15. Pete Bowyer

    Thanks for this Jim. Very well written and your message rings completely true to my experience. It’s vital for Christian leaders, such as yourself, to be honest with themselves and others about their inner civil war. The kingdom will be well-served if all of its leaders follow your guidance to stop settling for image management and to never settle for quitting (especially on themselves). My favourite line is your sentence, “As I work at changing, God changes me.” … it perfectly captures the necessary tension between God’s work and my work. The mature (humble) Christian lives comfortably with this tension.

  16. Peter Pastras

    It’s a good article, Jim, one that exhorts us to continue along the path of life. Inspriring but not preachy… oh wait, you’re a preacher lol I’d submit it.

  17. Cat Herder Bill

    Thanks for the vulnerability, Jim … and you’re right that the purpose isn’t to get us to grit our teeth more and try harder, but to keep us continually at the cross. You’re also right that hollow trudging and the thrown-in towel are both mistakes. The sin of the one-talent man wasn’t a lack of awareness of God’s greatness, but his failure to believe that God wanted him in the game.

  18. Troy Girard

    I love the way you put things in persective. Great job

  19. David Sharp

    Great job diagnosing both the problem and the remedy. As I read it, I couldn’t help but think of one of my favorite Spurgeon quotes, “We never know how bad man is until the gospel is preached to him. The gospel acts as a white background to set forth the blackness of man”™s heart.” I find the statement more personally accurate with each day. Praise God that the same Word that points out our inadequacy also repeatedly brings us back to our only hope – the cross.

  20. Ben Bauman

    Nice authenticity reflected in this article. Too often ministry leaders have adopted a lifestyle of ‘image management’ and the real truth gets lost. Making disciples REQUIRES full disclosure, authenticity and vulnerability – all 3 of which are quite difficult to life, but, so necessary to really walk the Way of Jesus and model that for others. Thanks Jim!

  21. John Mouton

    Although crushed to discover that you are not actually perfect, I nevertheless found your words quite helpful. Well said brother!

  22. Gilbert Chua

    It’s tempting to take the easy paths when we have a bad bounce. Jim, this article will benefit all readers. God bless you with more wisdom.

  23. Fred Balding

    Perhaps my favorite verse in the books of Old Testament Poetry is Proverbs 25:11.

    Words “aptly spoken” Jim. You have a great gift.

  24. Ray Downen

    Victor Knowles and John Mouton are good judges of writing and of character. They comment well on this essay.

  25. Dennis Jones

    This is a great article! It is something that every Christian has to face. Life can take many strange “bounces” on us, but if we have our hearts and minds focused on Christ the path we should take becomes more evident.

    Thanks for the thought provoking article

  26. J Tune

    Thanks all for the feedback.

  27. Faye Leytham

    thanks so much for an incredible article!
    Blessings on your ministry!

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