Win Or Loose, Butler Is Relevant. Are We?

Tonight, the Butler University Bulldogs will again take on a powerhouse basketball program the University of Connecticut Huskies for the Division 1 College Basketball Championship. Now after loosing last year to my Duke Blue Devils, I was in the minority of most of the nation who was pulling for them. Now I find myself pulling for them too. Because other than when you play my guys, I like a good underdog story.

But after 2 consecutive appearances in the championship game, win or loose, Butler has now made itself known as a competitor. We pay attention to them now because we have seen that they matter. They may be a smaller school from a smaller conference, but they have made their presence known. They took some risks, had some setbacks this season, but in the end came out willing to risk it all, for the sake of winning it all, even if they may not make it all the way.

I got to thinking about our churches in this day in age. As I think about this. Is our slow but steady decline in the United Methodist Church happening because we are willing to take all kinds of risks, and simply loosing. Unfortunately I don't think so. Instead many of our churches play it safe, catering to our own needs unwilling to adapt to a changing world and a changing society. Too many are unwilling to step out and not just welcome, but invite new people who can bring the gifts and graces God has blessed them with and bring the good news of Jesus Christ to a world that needs to see we are willing to root for them, and that they too can win.

When teams get out to a lead, sometimes they play it safe and try to protect their lead. I have seen it happen time and again, that when they do this teams can end up loosing or come very close to loosing. Usually when this happens it is because they are trying to simply protect what they have (their lead) instead of focusing on continuing to do the things that got them there. We have been protecting our lead, but even since we have lost it, we are still trying to protect what we have, instead of getting back to the things we have done well.

Butler has adapted to their environment and put out a winning team. Will the United Methodist Church do the same? Will Jesus continue to call on us to bring his message if we aren't willing to adapt and take new risks for his sake?