Winning at the cost of our identity

"English soccer is in crisis" say the pundits. 'The debacle of England's defeat by Croatia is simply another symptom of the nation's ongoing decline as a world soccer power.' Many point to the global TV ratings for Premiership games together with the increasing influx of overseas players presently playing in the premiership (check out the player list for teams like Arsenal and Liverpool etc). One leading figure in FIFA has dared to suggest that English Premiership clubs hunger for trophies at any cost poses a very real threat to England losing it's identity as a soccer nation.

Winning at the cost of our identity - gaining the world but losing our soul in the process.

The challenge for those at the helm of English soccer of balancing the winning & identity conundrum is a perennial one for the Church. It was there from the very beginning with Jesus at the very outset of his ministry in his encounters with his enemy in the wilderness.The hunger for success and it's trappings i.e. size , fame , influence can be very seductive for those of us engaged in the work of building and growing church. The challenge and call is always to align our efforts with our 'North Star' and to beware the seductive charm of 'winning' at the cost of our identity.