Imagine if you were a coach and Shaquille O'Neal was one of your players.  What would you do with him?  Would you move him out, away from the basket and have him play beyond the three-point line, or would you put his back to the basket and post him up down low?  Well, if you know anything about basketball, the answer to that question is obvious.  Playing O'Neal beyond the three-point line wouldn't make a lot of sense because it would be playing away from his strength.  To get the most out of him, you would need to post him up down low where he could use his strength, height, and rebounding ability.

What we understand in sports, is apparently misunderstood in Christianity.  Just look around.  See all the things in which the "modern church" is involved.  Look at it's focus on entertainment, amusement, and play.  Consider also the church whose focus is on benevolence, humanitarian needs, and social issues. The church whose focus revolves around these matters is playing away from her strength. 

Don't misunderstand, I'm not suggesting that having fun and helping the poor is wrong, I'm simply saying it's not playing to the strength of the church.  As much as the church tries, it can never "out play" the YMCA or the local recreation department.  As much as the church tries, it can never "out give" organizations such as the Red Cross who are designed for such services.

Friends, the strength of the Lord's church is the saving message of the gospel.  Any church work that doesn't focus upon the gospel of Christ is playing away from the church's strength.  What the church can do that no other organization can do is proclaim the good news of the gospel. 

May we remain focused as the church of our Lord and maintain our spiritual focus.  Any activity that doesn't involve the church in proclaiming the gospel is playing away from her strength. 

Remember, "good fun," and "good deeds" are a poor substitute for "good news."