In the continuing saga of Old vs. New, I have stated that we as ministers, and Christians, need each other, no matter what generation we come from or what style of worship music we prefer. Whether the McKameys or Hillsong, the real issue is that we are stronger together than isolated, and this current NFL season offers some insights and examples of how old and young can work together.

Would I rather go into war with a seasoned veteran or a young lion? An old war-horse who is familiar with the territory and knows all the tricks, or a hungry stallion strong in youth and filled with passion for the fight?

The answer? I want to go into battle with BOTH.

We need the caution and experience of those who wear the scars and tell the stories of victories and defeats, but we also need the zeal and energy of those not bound by tradition and expectations, denominations or committees.

Take the New England Patriots. Not my favorite team by a long shot. But this year they have the most effective offense in NFL history. Their coach, Bill Bellichick, is a seasoned veteran who has trained a young phenom named Tom Brady as his quarterback. Old and new, working together, laying opponents to waste. And not only has the coach invested the entire Patriot dynasty in Tom Brady, the young lion, he drafted 2 of the most respected seasoned veterans in the NFL during the off-season. Junior Seau “retired” as a linebacker for San Diego and was done in football until he joined the Patriots. He is having his best season ever. And Randy Moss, who is old enough to draw a pension (nearly) and became a joke at Oakland last year is catching passes and making plays that NOBODY in their 20’s is doing. He is 10-15 years older than most players in the NFL. Why is he showing out like this? He is a veteran who is working with a lion.

How stupid for Tom Brady and Randy Moss to argue over offensive styles, pass routes, or who gets the most press time after a victory! The bottom line is the team. THE TEAM!!!

If we play for the team, if we work for the Kingdom of God and not our own reputation, our own fame, or our own preferences in doing church, we are more effective for Christ and His mission of redeeming the world.

I just wish more people, especially ministers, could build a bridge over the generation gap and work together like Brady and Moss, the veterans and the lions, the seasoned and the rookies, working together for Jesus Christ.

This is not some liberal, feel-good, Oprah plea for harmony. This is a life or death necessity because people’s souls are at stake.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 at 5:33 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.