"The Power of Togetherness"

 

“The Power of Togetherness”

 

The 1972 Miami Dolphins were the last NFL team to finish a season undefeated. They won 14 regular season games by an average margin of 15 points and two playoff games before completing their stellar campaign on January 14, 1973 with a 14-7 victory over the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII. Six players on the roster are in the NFL Hall of Fame in addition to legendary Coach Don Shula, whose 328 career wins are the most in League history. Some analysts believe this feat is unlikely to be repeated.

Key to the Dolphins’ success was what became dubbed as “The No-Name Defense”, which allowed opponents only about twelve points per game. It got this name because the players weren’t well known but relied on speed and, more importantly, teamwork to shut down their competitors’ offenses. No one player could do it alone but together they achieved great things.

I’ve addressed anonymity and teamwork in two previous articles: “Beyond the Box Score” and “Unsung Heroes”. Scripture often emphasizes God’s people working together to accomplish what they couldn’t alone. In his farewell address to Israel Moses said, “How could one person chase a thousand of them (i.e. their enemies), and two people put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?” (Deuteronomy 32:30, NLT). In Acts the phrase “with one accord” (KJV) describes the church’s unity on seven different occasions. In the epistles the figures of the human body, a garden, a building, an army, a flock and branches of a vine are used to picture the church as a single unit made up of many individual parts. In only one case I found (Acts 1:13-14) were people mentioned by name. President Harry Truman observed, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” What he said in (likely) the political realm fits with the church’s purpose (“…Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”—Matthew 5:16, NLT).

In the world-wide scope of the church each of us is probably one of “The No Name Servants”. But anonymity is certainly not a synonym for ineffectiveness. As we fulfill our God-given roles we see the power of togetherness. This made the 1972 Dolphins undefeated and assures us that “…the powers of hell will not conquer (the church).” (Matthew 16:18. NLT).

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan