Shaming of theTrue 

A fresh and unique blending of two traditionally disconnected topics---spirituality and sports. Follow Sly Young as he attempts to accomplish the feat of playing professionally in the three major sports using positive character traits taught through scripture.

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                                      Being a Good Teammember
 
LEVITICUS 19:18; MATTHEW 19:19; LUKE 10:27; ROMANS 13:9; GALATIANS 15:14; JAMES 2:8 – Love thy neighbor as thyself.  God is love! If all humans could wrap their heads around this fact the world would be simply marvelous!

In a biblical sense the word love has multiple meanings and translations. This will not be an attempt to point out each of the various meanings that other languages can go to when defining love. In the English language we don’t change the term from agape to philio or any other form to zero in on specific definition. We sometimes place an adverb or adjective in front to try and help the intent. Romantic love is what you feel for your spouse. This is different from parental or familial love is the feeling for your children or any other family member. Then you have platonic love for friends and neighbors.

God is definitely the love in all of these examples. The scriptures repeatedly echo the immensely important commandment, to love thy neighbor as you would yourself. Obviously, this is more easily said than done. The hard part therefore would appear to be the loving of a neighbor. Who is my neighbor? This was a question posed to Jesus that instigated a parable about good Samaritans and other neighborly folks.

For a great number of people the trouble with loving your neighbor as you love yourself is the inability to know how to love yourself. Yes my friend, we are talking about the over used term self esteem. Almost all individuals when asked would strongly say that they have high self esteem and love thyself. I would first explain what self esteem requires. It not only is how you feel about yourself (love thyself), but the value and worth you place on yourself. No matter how you proudly proclaim how you just love yourself, the reality is that a large number of people ACT in a way to show they do not.

Let’s take a common example of giving yourself to another person. Many people will give thyself (have sex) to a person that they really don’t know. Not to judge, but most would not see this as a sign of low self esteem. The reality is that the person, male and female, has devalued thyself. For the most part the same individual would place more value on a special piece of jewelry. They would love that ring far more than thyself. They would not give their favorite piece of jewelry to the same person that they have just had sex with. This action clearly shows jewelry high value, my mind, body and soul lesser value. So my point is how do I know how to love my neighbor if first I don’t know how to love myself?

Moving on to the question, who is my neighbor? we can find the answer in the aforementioned parable. Your neighbor is any and everyone you come in contact with. Neighbors are friends and foe, allies and enemies alike.  Neighbors are the rich and the poor, and every socioeconomic category in between. You are commanded to love the most talented teammates as well as the least talented. Coaches and players must treat each member of the staff and team with the same feelings that you would give thyself. There cannot be a greater feeling of love and/or appreciation for one member or a special group of players. All the “neighbors” should be loved as you love thyself. Teams that genuinely love one another are always a special team. This may or may not translate into wins and loses but is a far greater life lesson than a mere contest.

How is this possible? God said so in his Word. You can see that he commanded this lifestyle no less than six times. When the various English translations of love are discussed you can ask ten people and get ten variations. This can be easily resolved with the directive from God. Love thy neighbor as thyself. This will foster the correct attitude regardless of adverb or adjective we place before love. If you can understand what it takes to love thyself, and consistently work at improving your self esteem, loving all neighbors becomes attainable. You will then know how to love a person on all levels from romantic to platonic to familial. Love thy neighbor as thyself. God commanded this over and over again for a perfectly good reason. When coupled with loving the Lord with all thine heart, it will satisfy all other commandments. How simple can He make it, love thy neighbor as thyself. God IS love. 

                                                                                                               Fred Tudor

Fred Tudor is a twenty-two year employee of the Cincinnati Public Schools as a Health and Physical Education teacher. He has been coaching at the high school level in Greater Cincinnati since graduating from Wittenberg University in 1979. His coaching stints includes stops at his alma mater Walnut Hills High School, Hughes Center High School, and from 1990 until present coaches at Wyoming High School. His church home is Cincinnati Bibleway Church in Madisonville, Apostles James and Grace Blue Pastors. Contact Information: 513.328.2767 E-Mail: Info@CincySportsWorld.com