Jesus Christ and the SEC

January 16, 2012 by J. E. Dyer

Continued from Page 1

But we are more likely, most of the time, to think in a defensive mode. In a football conference like the SEC, where defense is prioritized, teams prepare for the powerful defenses they will meet. Scores are low; someone wins, but it is a titanic struggle to put points on the board. Mentally, the focus of preparation is on getting past the defense, a looming obstacle that blocks the horizon.

The truth, however, is that the defense is inherently limited. Clausewitz himself asserted that it is not possible to win—in a decisive manner that achieves a war leader's ultimate political objective—without the offense. In football conferences where offense is prioritized, the focus of game preparation is on either exercising the offense or anticipating it. Scores are much higher in these conferences. Their defenses are not as powerful as the best defenses in the SEC, but that is not because they couldn't possibly have such defenses; it is because, in comparison with the SEC, they don't prioritize the defense.

The existence of football conferences with different emphases—offense versus defense --illustrates beautifully that embracing one or the other is a choice. Emphasizing defense is not a mindset dictated by the overwhelming strength of "defense." A defensive posture comes from prior assumptions: about the necessity to defend rather than the option to transcend, or the superior importance of preparing for obstacles and outthinking the opposition over pursuing an objective with initiative and a positive strategy. Above all, the defensive posture comes from an attitude of prevention or preservation as opposed to one of accomplishment or transformation.

It shouldn't be difficult for Christians to identify which mindset Jesus would have. When speaking to Peter about the church, he announced that the defense mounted by sin and evil would fail: the gates of hell, he said, would not prevail against the church (Mt. 16:18). Gates are a wholly defensive measure. They don't attack. Jesus spoke here not of the church coming under attack, but of hell doing so—and losing the battle.

Defense may be the stronger form of war, but winning offenses do come along, in life as in football. The nature of offense is to transform, and to take from the defense the power to limit or define what is possible. College football teams learn each weekend in the fall that not every offense is effective in this role. But that doesn't mean that no offense can be. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest winning offense ever.

Page: 2 of 2

1/16/2012 5:00:00 AM

Evangelical

Athletics

Football

History

Sports

Christianity

Evangelicalism

more at patheos

The Debts We Refuse to Forgive: On Economic Revolution

Jeff Hood

Blaze: Flashes of Brilliance

Chase Padusniak

A List of Catholic Fiction Authors

Guest Contributor

Christ Is Our Model for Prayer and Submitting to God’s Will

Randy Alcorn

About J. E. Dyer

J.E. Dyer is a retired Naval intelligence officer and evangelical Christian. She retired in 2004 and blogs from the Inland Empire of southern California. She writes for Commentary's CONTENTIONS blog, Hot Air's Green Room, and her own blog, The Optimistic Conservative. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos