The A-Team

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

– Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

What do The Dirty Dozen, The Bad News Bears, and The A-Team have in common?

These old school entertainment classics share the same general plot about a group of unlikely misfits who — one way or another — work together to overcome significant obstacles and achieve victory. The characters argue among themselves and face numerous setbacks along the way. But they eventually rally behind their leader, beat long odds, and accomplish the improbable.

It’s a feel-good storyline that never grows old. And it really IS an old storyline — at least 2,000 years-old — to be specific.

The “script” is the second half of the Bible, which is better known as the New Testament. Much of its real-life plot revolves around a group of unlikely characters, who learn from their all-knowing leader (Jesus) to change the course of history. We read that these mundane individuals were Christ’s hand-picked followers. Some were fishermen, one was a tax collector, and another (Simon the Zealot) might be considered a terrorist by today’s standards. Think of them as the original Dirty Dozen.

Known as apostles, they were a dubious group for such an important assignment: Changing the world for Christ’s kingdom one person at a time. But since it’s a mission that continues to this day, maybe it’s no surprise that God still chooses society’s outsiders, outcasts, and the otherwise unremarkable to do his will.

Some modern-day Christ-followers work for insurance companies, supermarkets, retail stores, and banks. Others are homemakers, sales representatives, police officers, and marketing executives. And many are between jobs, retired, or work part-time. But for all their differences, they share a critical unifier: A fervent belief in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And it’s this same common faith that helps them share the joys and overcome the struggles, disappointments, and even tragedies encountered during their faith-journeys. Along the way, these seekers have also learned another vital lesson: Their own strength and wisdom is worth little toward surmounting the world’s obstacles. But this is to their advantage:

“That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties,” the Apostle Paul proclaims. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

And indeed, God does much through the weaknesses of these so-called Everyday Joes. Families are fed, clothed, and housed through their contributions and work in local food pantries, the Salvation Army, and similar organizations. The sick are cured through the efforts of health care professionals who also happen to trust Jesus. And still other Christ-followers teach the illiterate to read and the undereducated to gain critical life and job skills.

That’s a very brief list of the ways Jesus changes the world when his diverse followers act as his eyes, hands, and feet in the world. As the A-Team’s leader — Colonel Hannibal Smith — so aptly puts it in every episode:

“I love it when a plan comes together!”

And no doubt so does God.

The Difference We Make

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

– James 2:18

Have you ever wondered if Christ-followers — collectively known as the “Church” — really make a difference? And for that matter, would the world be any different had Jesus never been born?

Those are two of the big questions our skeptical society raises these days. But they’re nothing new. In fact, disbelievers and doubters have been around since Jesus’ death and resurrection 2,000 years ago. Nevertheless, they’re queries that deserve honest answers.

Obviously, had Jesus never been born, there would be no Church. This happens to be the same Church that helped end slavery, cannibalism, and the killing of children — all permissible practices in their respective cultures of the time. It’s also likely that the world would be less literate and educated. That’s because Christian missionaries put many of the world’s languages into print to help their native speakers read the Bible. The Church also founded hospitals. And all but one of the first 123 colleges in Colonial America were Christian institutions. Harvard was even founded on this statement:

“Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life, John 17:3.”

If Jesus had never founded the Church, we also wouldn’t have the biblical principles of free enterprise, private property rights, and the work ethic. It’s because the United States was largely founded by Christ-followers that the Declaration of Independence cites “self-evident truths” and “unalienable rights” from the Creator. Our nation also recognizes the rule of law rather than the authority of man — a concept tracing back to the Old Testament and the Ten Commandments. Even the slogan embossed on the Liberty Bell comes from the Bible: 

“Proclaim Liberty throughout the land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof…”

The truth is that Christ-followers HAVE made a difference over the centuries. And today, we continue to change the world in both small ways and large, such as by working together to deliver meals to shut-ins and build housing for the homeless. Samaritan’s Purse — the humanitarian relief organization headed by Franklin Graham — also distributes Christmas packages every year as a direct expression of Christ’s love for the world’s children. And that same Christ-centered entity helps millions of refugees endure manmade and natural disasters alike, such as the recent earthquakes in Turkey, Ebola outbreak in Uganda, and war in Ukraine. Closer to home, Samaritan's Purse recently responded to 18 disasters across the United States, including Hurricane Ian, ice storms, tornadoes, and wildfires.

Whether it’s through complex, international relief efforts or simple, individual acts of kindness, Christians continue to serve as Jesus’ hands and feet in a dark, troubled world. But let’s never forget that the difference we make is possible only through the One we follow: 

“I am the vine; you are the branches,” declares Jesus. “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

With Friends Like These

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

– Proverbs 18:24

Who is your BFF (Best Friend Forever)? And for that matter, what’s the mark of a true friend?

Writer Elbert Hubbard defined a friend as “… someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” Actress Marlene Dietrich remarked that the friends who matter are the ones you can call at 4 a.m. But Harry S. Truman was less sentimental about friendship. “If you want a friend in Washington,” he quipped, “get a dog.”

Maybe President Truman was onto something. After all, dogs are known to be loyal and committed. And it also just happens that loyalty and commitment are rare qualities that God values in his people. Joshua — one of the great servant-leaders of the Old Testament — displayed this trait when he challenged the tribes of Israel to choose whom they would serve: the false gods of their ancestors or the one True God.

“But for me and my household,” declared Joshua, “we will serve the Lord.”

Jesus also seeks total commitment from his modern-day followers. Rather than would-be believers who might help build his kingdom if it’s not too inconvenient for them, Christ demands an all-or-nothing relationship from those who are willing to give the little they have to eventually gain everything.

Does that sound unrealistic? Jesus’ disciples once thought so. It’s in Mark’s gospel that we read about a rich young man, who asked Christ what he had to do to gain eternal life. Knowing what was in the man’s heart, Jesus reminded him about following God’s commandments about theft, adultery, murder, lying, and honoring one’s parents. When the man replied that he had kept those laws since childhood, the Savior told him that he lacked just one thing: the need to sell all his possessions.

Jesus knew that rather than loving God with all his heart, soul, and mind (the first of the 10 Commandments), the rich young man was more devoted to his wealth. So, it’s no surprise that the would-be disciple was grieved after hearing Christ’s stark revelation.

How about you? As Christ-followers, one way that we demonstrate our commitment and loyalty — as well as our relationship with him — is by showing generosity toward those Jesus calls “the least of these.” They might be famine victims in Africa, tsunami survivors in Asia, or even fellow Americans who are picking up the pieces after a wildfire or tornado. 

But then again, those who most need our kindness might be much closer: perhaps next door, down the street, or even across the living room. Maybe they’re total strangers. But they could be your family members, your co-workers ... or even your BFFs.

Identity Theft

At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.

– Zephaniah 3:20

Identity theft is a crime where fraud or deception is used to obtain a victim’s personal or sensitive information — such as their name or credit card number. There were 1.1 million reported ID thefts last year. And credit card fraud, the most common type, enables thieves to either steal from an existing credit card account or open a new one in the victim’s name.

The immense damage from these crimes can take years to repair. But there’s another kind of identity theft that’s much more serious. It’s one that robs its victims of the abundant life they should develop and enjoy as Christ-followers.

How does this happen?

The Bible tells us that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become a new creation. But far too many people have unknowingly assumed false identities through the negative messages they received early in life. A common example is a parent, who constantly tells his or her child that “they’ll never amount to anything,” they’re “not smart enough” or they “don’t have what it takes to make it.”

Repeated early and often enough, these fictions can become reality. Moreover, they gradually become embedded in our thinking, only to blind us to the reality of our true worth and potential through Jesus. We then end up living out our lives trying to be someone (or something) that God never intended us to be.

How can we take back our rightful identities?

It starts with a spiritual reality check. First, let's look back at our past and identify and examine the negative messages we received early in life. We can then consider their source. Can we honestly say that these painful “words of wisdom” are true, or is it actually the case that we have God-given talents and abilities? It’s no wonder that so many Christ-followers fail to meet their potential. If fed a constant diet of half-truths, distortions, and falsehoods, even a PhD with an excellent academic record might perceive their impressive accomplishments as mediocre at best.

The truth is that God doesn’t look at you and me through such clouded, distorted lenses. He knew us before we were born and knows the plans he has for us. And even better — with our eternal inheritance assured, our true identity emerges: We're adopted sons and daughters of the King! As the apostle Paul tells us through the book of 1 Corinthians:

“But as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived’ — God has prepared these things for those who love him.”