I am a spectator. And I have bleacher-buns to prove it. After decades of watching my husband coach and my four boys play sports, I call myself a professional!

As a spectator, I don’t make much of a difference to those participating. It’s easy for me to criticize the participants as I sit on my rear. I haven’t  invested myself as the players have. I don’t understand the mission at hand. I haven’t seen the playbook or practiced for hours.

Years ago, I approached an acquaintance at church and asked if he’d like to help out with an event. Laughingly, he replied, “No thanks, I’m a church spectator, not a participant.” Not many people have the guts to admit it as he did. You’ve probably  heard the stat: 20 percent of church attendees/leaders do 100 percent of the work. I’ve also heard this same thing about charities and PTA-type organizations. 

Reading through the book of Acts, I feel inspired by the eager expression of faith the early church possessed. They were partakers, not spectators. Participants.  Not just twenty percent of them. Now, I’m sure there were exceptions. And we do know of people claiming they were all in but held back as Ananias and Sapphira did (see Acts 5).

The genuine believers were fully vested and contagious. Continue Reading