The Parable of 'the Two Teams'

In the parable of 'The Two Teams' as in any sporting competition today there must be at least two players if not two teams. In order to be able to distinguish any two teams we usually implore the use of two different colored jerseys. So in our parable we also have two teams. One team is referred to as the home team with its distinguishing color being black. Our other team is referred to as the visitors and their distinguishing color is white. For the case of argument and because we all enjoy easy to understand analogies or stories, we will refer to our two teams as the dark team and the light team.

As our story goes, the dark team looks to be a very powerful team. Many would say that the dark team is truly frightening because of how big and powerful they appear to be, as well as because they are so cocky acting all the time. The light team on the other hand appears to be a bunch of very happy and good natured people. The light team isn't as large as the dark team in appearance, and appears to allow just about anyone to join their team. Because of this fact the light team looks mismatched to say the least. On the other hand, the light team seems to support each other and truly cares about everyone on their team. From the best player to the 'not as good' player the light team values them all, just the same. Now critics of the light team declare that their 'valuing of all' must be fake and just a clever attempt to cover up some wrong doing. These accusations don't seem to bother the light team either way. Unfortunately though, the light team hasn't won any of their recent contests and the critics claim that it supports and proves the truth of their accusations. The light team is in a no-win situation, with the critics and so accepts the insults of being 'big losers', graciously. The dark team on the other hand has won a lot of the recent contests and seems virtually unbeatable. The dark team struts around shouting and grunting loudly to show how tough they are and to intimidate others. Many have heard from the mouths of the dark team just how much money they have and how little everyone else has. They call themselves successful, and claim to have 'made it’.

In our parable, our two teams have fans or supporters just as any other team usually have. The only difference between the supporters of our teams and the average supporter is that the supporters of our two teams appear to be exactly, as if 'carbon copies' of the team they support. With this difference we have the night-and-day difference of the two team’s supporters. The supporters of the dark team are rude, crude and completely obnoxious. These supporters greatly favor all things dark, gloomy and gruesome. As if this wasn't enough they implore anything shocking and demented in an attempt to intimidate. The light team's supporters are good-natured, gracious and usually well groomed. As you can see, the differences are truly polarized. This polarization continues into the game our two teams play. The game is intricate and very complex on the one hand; yet on the other hand it has easy to understand objectives, that once fully understood, are not so complex or difficult. However, because the game has an over all complex theme, the dark team along with their supporters, attempt to always 'cloud the issues' and reverse the objectives in hopes of throwing the light team into total confusion and dismay. This forces the light team's coaches to spend most of their time explaining and re-explaining the simple objectives of the game, in an attempt to help re-focus the light team as to, what is truly important.

With all the polarization and differences happening in our parable, remember that rarely does someone, not know which team a supporter, supports. Yes, of course, there are and will continue to be exceptions to the rule. However, when trying to understand the 'big picture', rarely do we ever want to consider the exceptions. Taking notice of another's actions and method of dress will usually point one in the right direction and solve most conflicts of interests. After years of expanding the limits of acceptable behavior and mode of dress, the dark team and their supporters have recruited more youngsters. The dark team and their supporters can be heard claiming that they and their supporters have 'way more fun'. They don't want to be a 'goody-two-shoes' or a square prude like the light team and their supporters. However, these accusations will not move a single light team or any of their supporters to expand their limits of propriety. Their collective rebuttal is 'prudence not prudish'.

By now, most people, I am certain, have come to understand my parable and have begun to make the connections that the dark team and their supporters represent Satan, the world and everything evil. The light team is Jesus, the Eternal Father, The Holy Spirit and all Christians. In the parable, the game that the two teams play has also been called, 'The Game of Life'. Complicated but not truly hard to know what's truly important.

So what else then can be gleaned from our parable? One of the biggest points I had hoped you get out of the parable is that as wrong as it would be for a light team supporter to wear the 'colors' of the dark team in our parable; the same applies to the 'real' world with regards to a Denver Bronco's fan wearing a Los Angeles Raiders jersey, it just isn't done! That's silly you say! Yes, it is and when you think about it for a moment and allow it to sink in, then connect the dots and see that it is as dopey for a Christian to dress up as a devil or demon for Halloween! It just shouldn't be done.

Secondly, just as it would be dumb to say that in our parable the dark team and its supporters really don't exist! Of course they do and of course there is a real Satan and a lot of satanic supporters loafing around looking for people to mess with! When someone claims they don't exist they love it! That way they can 'fly under the radar', so to speak! Don't go blaming every little thing that goes wrong on them because it makes you look foolish. Just knowing that they exist and are present most places is enough for any of us to worry about.

Thirdly, I had hoped you would see the reason behind not allowing the dark team or its supporter to ever intimidate or frighten you! They have absolutely no power over you as a Christian-truly! Let them say what they may. Allow them to come up with fake controversies and trumped up stories based on misunderstandings. Additionally as a Christian tell everyone you know and help to get the word out, that Christianity is about what Jesus did for us and nothing to do with how holy we are or will ever be! Of course there will be Christians that do wrongs! Unfortunately, as humans it's just our way. If you understand that ‘they’ are out there just waiting for you to do something to make Christianity or the Church look bad-please don't do it! Hopefully being mindful of this will help us in not giving the other side any more ammunition.

Lastly, we must remind ourselves daily that the fight is over, the battle has been won. We are on the winning teams’ side! Jesus beat the devil, death and hell! Yes there is sin and those bad guys are still around, it just means they are angry and looking for just about anyone to share their defeat and a spot in hell with them! Soon their time will be up and Jesus will reign as King everlastingly. God Bless you and yours and have a safe 'trick or treat night' with the kiddies, and remember that 'All Hollows Eve' is the night before our holy day of All Saints Day! Don’t forget to celebrate All Saints Day and/or Reformation Day and then have some more candy from the pillow case!