How far can I go before it’s a foul? I teach the Laws of the Game of “The Beautiful Game” (soccer). My students are almost always people who wish to become referees. Sometimes it’s parents and players who wish to know more about the game.
Once I gave a presentation before a group of parents and players at a high school that was just starting a soccer program. There was very little experience among the entire group.
The boys kept saying, “All we want to know is how far can we go before it’s a foul.”
That statement reveals an utter lack of understanding about the game.
Christians can be the same. How far can I go before it’s a sin? How much sin is too much before God gets really mad?
Andy Stanley is re-running his “Guardrails” series on his “Your Move” podcasts. The idea of guardrails is that there are situations that occur in your life that should remind you to stay on the road.
Maybe I get myself into the wrong situation with the wrong people. Then that “uh, oh” feeling visits. That is a guardrail. I’ve gone almost to far off the road and I have been given a reminder to get back on the road before it’s too late and I get into big trouble.
In soccer, the referee watches the challenge for the ball. The two players are fending each other off. Then one gains an advantage by giving a push. “Tweet” goes the whistle. Everyone looks while the referee points the direction of the free kick that is given as the result of a foul.
In life, we don’t necessarily have that immediate referee (unless it’s a good parent or partner). We seemingly get away with a little foul. Then another. Then it’s our way of life. And we’re thrown out of the game.
We need to establish our guardrails to help us not get off into the danger beyond the road.
Gary Mintchell
Faith Venture 