Some years ago, I visited the Cazadero Baptist Camp with the purpose of determining whether it would be an appropriate place for the church to hold our family camp. While there, I decided to shoot some basketball hoops at the camp’s half court. It was then that I made my best ever record of consecutive shots made from the foul throw line: 25. I felt proud of myself. But you will have to take my word for it. There were no witnesses to this personal accomplishment.
Just this past week, we had our church family camp at the same campsite. A few from the church arrived early at the site. And a couple of us decided to, you guessed it, shoot some hoops at the very same half court. Well, this time I never got beyond four consecutive shots made. Then my shooting partner established his own record: 78 consecutive shots made. Seventy-eight! But this time, there were at least two witnesses to his exceptional feat.
Some time later, we were with others at the court again. And many shots were going in from various positions around the court. Then someone commented: “That basketball ring is very forgiving.” Indeed, very often it appeared like the ring tended to help the ball bounce in, even when the shot was off. And so, shooters were somehow motivated and encouraged to keep trying. The ring allowed them to perform pretty well.
I wouldn’t want to diminish the glory of the 78-shot achievement. Despite the “forgiving ring” that still is quite an accomplishment. At the same time, as I thought back on that experience I reflected on this matter of an instrument that is “forgiving” and functions to encourage and build up those who encounter it or use it. I am thinking particularly of the exhortation for followers of Christ to become a people who build up one another, and who help others to perform well … even better than they could on their own. The apostle Paul urges his readers: “Encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5.11 CSB). And regarding the use of our words: “You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4.29 NET).
Part of our privilege and responsibility as members of one body is to become partners in building each other up in the Lord, that each one would experience success in the pursuit of Christian growth and maturity. And so, it is imperative that we “make up [our] mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister” (Romans 14.13 NIV). Perhaps we can instead learn to become something a like a “forgiving ring” to each other.
—Keith Y. Jainga