What a world we live in. It is constantly changing. Sometimes for the better – sometimes for worse.
Reports surfaced last week of a training ground punishment handed out to a young Canterbury Bulldogs NRL player. Because he was 10 minutes late for training, he was made to get on his knees and wrestle over 20 fellow players one at a time, who each tried to pin him on his back.
The player completed the punishment and returned to training the following day but has not been back since (five weeks). The young player has not been identified as he has been suffering from mental health issues. There are reports the player is considering legal action against the club for bullying.
First year Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo is unrepentant. The once mighty Bulldogs have been an underperforming club for many years and he was brought in (on a five-year deal) to lift the team. Part of that is to raise standards. Players have to work hard and make sacrifices; they have to stick to winning standards. If they are not willing to do this, then they can leave the club.
Whether this is a case of bullying or appropriate punishment to reinforce standards of behaviour in a poorly performing football team, is a matter of conjecture. What is clear is that I have never heard of this before. I mean from time-to-time players are late and/or misbehaving, not meeting appropriate standards of behaviour. This is often met with some form of training punishment or monetary fine. Standards have to be maintained. Players can grow from such punishment. The player cops the punishment and gets on with life.
What is different here is the player is expecting normal workplace behaviour in a work environment that is anything but normal. In the past coaches could do anything they wanted; they were the ultimate dictators. But more and more these days the absolute power of coaches is being eroded and questioned. Players now have their own association and they are flexing their muscles against coaches and even the NRL. Player power is on the move.
We live in a world that is constantly changing. Sometimes for the better – sometimes for worse.
The world, particularly the western world and its media, appear headed towards a secular culture. Christianity is not necessarily thought of in a positive way. At every turn the media seems to highlight the negative actions of some so-called Christians, yet downplay the good that many Christians do. Religion itself can be problematic and some countries such as France, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic now see themselves as secular rather than Christian.
How do we live fearless and free in a culture that is turning against Christianity and its values?
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church over 2000 years ago. Corinth was very much a secular society. The Christians there were struggling with their environment. They were surrounded by every conceivable sin. They felt the pressure to adapt. They were free in Christ but what did that freedom mean?
In Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote an amazing, powerful chapter about the meaning of love. If you haven't read it recently, do yourself a favour. At the end of the chapter in verse 13, Paul writes; Three things will last forever: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Faith is our foundation. We know God and believe in him. We know he hears our prayers.
Hope is our attitude and focus. We don't dwell on the negative but we look forward to the future, knowing God is with us.
Love is our driver. Love is our service to others; it shows that we care. As Paul says, love is the greatest of all emotions. Without love we are shells of ourselves.
So don't be dismayed by what might be going on around you. Don't be dismayed by the constantly changing world we live in. Don't be dismayed by culture turning against Christianity.
Live by faith, hope and love. These things do not change.
Put your trust in God, expect things will go well, love others as much as you can. By these three things we can live fearlessly and free.
Go with God.
Peter O'Sullivan
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