Franchise Player?
Posted on Sunday, October 25th, 2009
Enough is Enough
Franchise Player is a term used in sports, especially the NFL, to describe an athlete who is more than a player the team needs, he’s the athlete the team cannot survive without. He’s more than just “the best player.” He’s the guy the entire franchise depends on.
If you’ve been listening to any news the last few weeks, you’re probably as sick as I am of hearing about Brett Favre. I’ve always liked Brett Favre, but enough is enough. One of our missionaries grew up rooting for Brett’s team. He’s such a fan that he even named his son, Brett! But even he is fed up with all the drama surrounding their franchise player.
Not in the Church??!!
I’m fed up with another category of “franchise player.” I’m a fan of the church of the Lord Jesus. So much so, I’ve dedicated my life to serving in His church. And I have to say that the Christian community’s franchise-player-mentality is wearing me out.
I actually heard a church staff speaking of their pastor as their franchise player, the one they couldn’t do without! Are you kidding me?!
Gag, gag, gag, gag, gag.
The first time a church starting talking about their franchise players, the Apostle Paul straightened them out right away. “Stop saying, ‘our franchise player is Paul” or, ‘our franchise player is Apollos,’ or ‘no way, our franchise player is Cephas.’ There’s only one franchise player on this team, and His name is Jesus! Knock it off; this is sinful nonsense.” (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)
His point is clear. There are no prima donnas in the church, no stars in Christianity, no franchise players on God’s team. We’re all role players—water-boys and ball-girls—who need to know our place and embrace it with joy.
Nothing messes up the cause of Christ quicker than some self-proclaimed franchise player, some “I’m the Brett Favre of this place” Christian whom everyone admires too much, including himself or herself.
Our Only Franchise Player!
The best way I know to convince myself that there are no franchise players in the church is to spend time with our Franchise Player, the One we truly cannot live without. And, as Paul said to the Corinthians…
His name is Jesus.
“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord! ” (1 Corinthians 1:31)
