If there is anything I've struggled with the most as a paintball Christian, it's been with a thing I like to call "gear lust." You know what I'm talking about. There's always just one more piece of gear you need to get for your rig. I'm primarily a woodsball player, so for me, it's the better Spec Ops vest, the faster WAS board so I cans squeak out a few more BPS, or that cool $110 OpsGear sliding MP5 stock. The list goes on: a better mask, carbon fiber HPA tank, contoured foregrip, better barrel...oh, no wait barrel SYSTEM, yeah that's all I need...oh, that and a deralin bolt.... You get the idea.
I've found myself sitting at my computer studying Ebay for 4 or 5 hours straight trying to find my next upgrade at the best price. I've even found myself lying awake at night thinking about how I was going to customize my gun and find new ways to trick it out. I was an addict!
OK. So, getting better gear isn't bad if you have the money and time to burn, but enough is enough. If you're not careful, you will actually get addicted like I did. Some of my buddies did too. We found that we shared some of the same experiences. Now, we hold each other accountable and try to keep things in perspective.
From a paintball standpoint, remember that upgrades are no replacement for talent and technique. You can make a gun shoot better, faster, and more accurately, but it will never make you a better player. I've been taken down more than I'd like to admit by newbies with an off-the-shelf $100 paintball gun who simply outsmarted me.
From a spiritual perspective, God commands us not to covet in the ten commandments of Deuteronomy 5. We have to guard ourselves from this temptation. Once we begin desiring what we don't have, in short time, it will consume, us and we will never be satisfied with what we do have.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
I love God. I love paintball.
Obviously, the word "love" in these two statements doesn’t mean the same thing. God forbid they ever do! 1 John 2:15 commands us not to love the world or anything in it. For the Christian, this verse should challenge every part of their life.
So here I find myself loving this thing called paintball. There is no sport quite so engaging. The sounds, the action, the shifting strategies, calculated risks, triumphant victories, and humbling defeats. There really isn’t anything like it. The unending scenarios, gear choices, play styles, and field layouts make paintball so diverse that no game is ever the same.
There’s a problem though. As paintball continues to move from a casual recreation pastime to a mainstream competitive sport, it brings with it an increasing ungodliness that plagues many other mainstream and extreme sports. For the Christian, being a serious paintball player means your faith will be challenged.
Competitive paintball challenges Christians in many ways. Tournaments are almost always hosted on Sundays. You are constantly surrounded by non-believers with perverse language, flaring tempers, and superiority complexes. Players flaunt their gear, dress as intimidating as possible, and speak of total domination. And here we are, smack-dab in the middle of it.
It’s in those moments when I find myself asking what Jesus thinks about all this. How can I love a sport so much that surrounds me with so much perversity?
Oddly enough, it’s because of my love for God that allows me to enjoy paintball so much. I know, that sounds ridiculous. But this is what I mean… If my relationship with Christ was weak and I didn’t care so much about what He thinks of me and my actions, I’d be tempted to give into the sin that surrounds me and blend into the crowd. It would be much easier to simply participate in it than contend with it so much. But if I did that my love for paintball would be greater than my love for Christ.
Instead, I separate myself from it. 1 Peter 2:11 says, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." Really, isn’t this what we face every day of our lives? We are constantly surrounded by sin, temptation, and lusts of the world. It is so easy to get caught up in the sin that parades around us so openly. Hebrews 12:1 says, "…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Sure, I love paintball. But I love God more - much more. We are free to enjoy many of the pleasures this life has to offer – including the sport of paintball. But be careful not to let it become your god. Take your stand on the field of life. Hold your position. Remember the words of Paul as he gives this advice to Timothy, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer." (2 Timothy 2:4).
So here I find myself loving this thing called paintball. There is no sport quite so engaging. The sounds, the action, the shifting strategies, calculated risks, triumphant victories, and humbling defeats. There really isn’t anything like it. The unending scenarios, gear choices, play styles, and field layouts make paintball so diverse that no game is ever the same.
There’s a problem though. As paintball continues to move from a casual recreation pastime to a mainstream competitive sport, it brings with it an increasing ungodliness that plagues many other mainstream and extreme sports. For the Christian, being a serious paintball player means your faith will be challenged.
Competitive paintball challenges Christians in many ways. Tournaments are almost always hosted on Sundays. You are constantly surrounded by non-believers with perverse language, flaring tempers, and superiority complexes. Players flaunt their gear, dress as intimidating as possible, and speak of total domination. And here we are, smack-dab in the middle of it.
It’s in those moments when I find myself asking what Jesus thinks about all this. How can I love a sport so much that surrounds me with so much perversity?
Oddly enough, it’s because of my love for God that allows me to enjoy paintball so much. I know, that sounds ridiculous. But this is what I mean… If my relationship with Christ was weak and I didn’t care so much about what He thinks of me and my actions, I’d be tempted to give into the sin that surrounds me and blend into the crowd. It would be much easier to simply participate in it than contend with it so much. But if I did that my love for paintball would be greater than my love for Christ.
Instead, I separate myself from it. 1 Peter 2:11 says, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul." Really, isn’t this what we face every day of our lives? We are constantly surrounded by sin, temptation, and lusts of the world. It is so easy to get caught up in the sin that parades around us so openly. Hebrews 12:1 says, "…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."
Sure, I love paintball. But I love God more - much more. We are free to enjoy many of the pleasures this life has to offer – including the sport of paintball. But be careful not to let it become your god. Take your stand on the field of life. Hold your position. Remember the words of Paul as he gives this advice to Timothy, "No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer." (2 Timothy 2:4).
An Introduction
This blog is intended to help Christians who love the sport of paintball to always keep it in perspective. I love paintball. It's probably one of the most engaging sports ever invented. There are a lot of positive points that the sport has to offer. But there is definitely a negative side that has the power - left challenged - to pull a Christian away from Christ.
I strive to maintain my faith and convictions while enjoying this great sport of Paintball. I have been both negatively and positively affected by the sport. I have had opportunities to build strong relationships, be a strong witness for Christ, and enjoyed many other positive experiences. But I've also been challenged in my faith as well. In the articles to follow, I will talk about both these positive and negative experiences.
To those who oppose Paintball...
There is a lot of controversy in the church surrounding Paintball. And frankly, there should be. I know that many people will strongly disagree with many things read here on this blog. To all of you, speak your thoughts! I have no problem with those of you who completely oppose this sport. I encourage you to post your comments freely and openly. I or others may disagree at times, but only with great respect. We all have to live by our convictions, and I greatly respect you for living by yours.
I strive to maintain my faith and convictions while enjoying this great sport of Paintball. I have been both negatively and positively affected by the sport. I have had opportunities to build strong relationships, be a strong witness for Christ, and enjoyed many other positive experiences. But I've also been challenged in my faith as well. In the articles to follow, I will talk about both these positive and negative experiences.
To those who oppose Paintball...
There is a lot of controversy in the church surrounding Paintball. And frankly, there should be. I know that many people will strongly disagree with many things read here on this blog. To all of you, speak your thoughts! I have no problem with those of you who completely oppose this sport. I encourage you to post your comments freely and openly. I or others may disagree at times, but only with great respect. We all have to live by our convictions, and I greatly respect you for living by yours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
