One - Reason

Dr. Thamsing Lamkang *

Football World Cup 2002 Winner - Brazil

What did you say of the other, and what did the other say of you? Many might have heard the interesting stories of a football team; they're not only for football but a team of 11 disciples making an impact inside the football field as 'Jesus Team'.

If you have good memory of the 2002 football World Cup final in Japan, they have secret commitment to God that if Brazil wins we tell the world about their God. Indeed, it happens!

As soon as the final whistle blows, all heads and hands are up towards heaven. They wore jerseys inscribing, "Jesus loves you, Jesus died for you, we belongs to Jesus" and so on... inside the stadium itself. 80 thousand strong crowds are watching every moves and steps taken as world champion.

And half of the world population was watching a live telecast about the God of Brazil team. It doesn't ends there but the entire squad joined-hands together in circle, and on their knees lifting up the name of Jesus! What a glorious moment it is…wow to JESUS!

For many years Joad Leite, a strong believer in his prime-time was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Brazil National Team. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Joao was one of the founder members of the Christian sports body 'Athletes for Christ,' along with another player Baltazer at the outset.

When he was explaining his evangelistic ministry amongst other players even his opponents; he had the opportunity to speak in a church in Brazil. After sharing in the meeting about how God was blessing the work and had given him many occasions to talk about Jesus to others.

One of the leaders of the church closed the service with a prayer. He said "Lord, please bless Joao Leite and give him proper job so that he can give-up playing football." It seemed as if the entire congregations saw and heard the importance of preaching the gospel (evangelism) within the world of sport-except this man!

All believers need to understand the love that Jesus has for us. If we don't understand the love, we will not appreciate the fact that it is our duty to function as a team, and make a stand, in unity, against the enemy, in this team (which, in the Bible, is called the 'body of Christ') we are all needed. No one person is more important than another. No-one has the right to say that what he thinks is of more value. No-one should speak badly of a fellow Christian. No-one should undervalue another person.

God shows that the Devil's number one weapon against the unity of the body of Christ is 'accusation and gossip'. When we gossip about something to do with a fellow Christian, the devil is talking through us! Criticism of a brother is like going into battle against a member of our own team, and we disappoint God. The secret to gaining the victory is in the verse that we have read. In the body of Christ, all the believers are indispensable.

Christ died for all: not only for those who think and act as we ourselves do. We need to be understanding of one another. We need to learn to live as a body. 'Anyone who criticizes someone in his own team does not deserve to be in it'. "Pray that you… may have the power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep in the love of Christ" the Bible.