"The Star of the Church"

 

“The Star of the Church”

 

During his 27 years as Head Coach of the UCLA basketball team the late John Wooden led the Bruins to 620 victories (without a losing season) and in the process won ten NCAA titles. He also mentored numerous All-American players who went on to successful careers in the professional ranks. And in a 2016 Sporting News survey he was named the all-time greatest coach/manager in any sport. Quite a resume—how did it happen? He explains his approach and philosophy of life in Wooden on Leadership, an autobiographical account of his guiding principles written at the age of 95. (For another description of a life governed by godly character see my earlier posting “Values”.)

As I read his book I learned that his success could be credited to his faith and two overall convictions. The first is attention to the basics. At the start of each season Coach Wooden took time to show his players how to put on their socks and lace up their sneakers correctly. A waste of time and majoring on minors? Not when blisters and other foot maladies were avoided! On the practice court he conducted countless drills to keep skills sharp so his team was ready to respond under game conditions. He was a patient man but wouldn’t tolerate sloppiness or carelessness. (Check out the earlier article “Practicing the Basics” to see how these principles impacted a basketball superstar.)

Coach Wooden’s other major emphasis can be summed up in his own words: “The star of the team is the team.” and “It takes ten hands to score a basket.” Many All-Americans played under his tutelage but they learned that they were part of a unit, not a one-man gang. It took NBA great Wilt Chamberlain nine seasons to win a championship—but it happened only after he learned to play as a team member, not an individual, and his scoring average dropped from 39 to 21 points per game.

If we apply Coach Wooden’s reasoning to the Body of Christ we could say, “The star of the church is the church.” Of course, there are leaders as in a sports’ organization but each of us has a part in its functioning in the way God desires (“Each one should use whatever gift {he or she} has received to serve others….”—1 Peter 4:10, emphasis added; “…In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”—Romans 12:5, emphasis added). Just as there’s no “I” in “team” there isn’t one in “church” either.

There’s only one Star of the Church: Jesus (“I am…the bright Morning Star.”—Revelation 22:16). And as His followers we’re to “…shine like stars in the dark world.” (Philippians 2:15, NCV). In other words, we’re here to make Jesus, the real Star, look good. How are we doing at it?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan