Run the Amazing Race

Hebrews 12:1-2

     The Amazing Race, a reality television game show in which teams of two people race around the world in competition for prizes, recently ended its nineteenth season in the city of Atlanta. Teams were progressively eliminated until three were left competing for the grand prize. Those three teams raced through the streets of Atlanta trying to complete activities at the Margaret Mitchell House and Turner Field. In fact, as shown in this screen shot taken by Stephanie and Bill Jones, The Amazing Race crew traveled right by Northside Drive. Our church was on national television! Now you can approach your friends and tell them that you attend Northside Drive Baptist Church, "as seen on The Amazing Race."

       Racing and competition have been important throughout time. The book of Hebrews speaks of a race to become more like Jesus. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. The Christian life is like a race, and Hebrews 12 gives us some clues on how to run it.

       Like The Amazing Race, the race to become more like Jesus is a long distance foot race with a finish line completely out of sight. It's a marathon. Yet unlike The Amazing Race participants who win cash and prizes for completing "pit stops" on the race, our goal is but a hope. It is anticipation. Many have run before us. Of all who have run the race, only one has yet crossed the finish line and received the prize. He is the one who is our pioneer and trailblazer. We run in faith, with perseverance, keeping our eyes on the character and life of Jesus, our experienced coach.

       Yet, unlike most marathons or long distance runs, all who run this spiritual race receive the prize. In The Amazing Race, teams are trying to beat each other and be the winner. In the Christian journey, it's a noncompetitive sport, a community game. All who compete will win. But the race is painful. It will expend a great deal of our energy. Let us hold on to the things that give us strength and get rid of "every weight and sin that clings so closely" to us. We need to realize that we, as followers of Christ, are on our own amazing race. And thank God, that just like in The Amazing Race, this race runs through Northside Drive Baptist Church as well.

       A couple of weekends ago, Kristy and I were in Austin, TX with the good folks of the Alliance of Baptists. In case you missed out on the news, Northside Drive is one of forty-four churches that pulled together in the late 1980s and founded the Alliance of Baptists. This year is the 25th anniversary of this bold, progressive association of Baptists and Baptist churches. We celebrated well in the uniquely beautiful sanctuary of Highland Park Baptist Church---they too are a founding congregation.

       I love the Alliance of Baptists (and, maybe this matters even more than that: Kristy loves the Alliance of Baptists). As a denomination-like body, the Alliance has a breadth to their mission endeavors. In a way, they are much like us: inclusive. inquiring. involved. At Convocation this year, Kristy and I met Baptists of all different stripes. We were blessed by the diversity of the Baptist family we both live in, and encouraged by the vision of that diversity deciding to know one another and be together for the mission of God in the world. Kristy and I realized that arms-wide-open inclusivity does not detract from asking the hard questions, however. It seems to me that making a space for everyone at the table to have a voice is sacred inquiry at its best. I witnessed some of the hardest questions asked in the context of inclusive community---immigration, sexuality, racism, violence, etc. And, with the Alliance, even though inquiry is a good in and of itself, there is always an aim toward involvement.

       I love the Alliance of Baptists because I believe they do church well. I am proud to be a member of that group and a member of one of its founding churches. I suppose that what I really want to say here is this: thanks be to God for this expression of Baptist life engaging the world and working to make it a better place for all people!