Pick the Sport. Baseball, tennis, volleyball, or soccer, they all have one thing in common. Lines! The field of play is marked out in clear lines that delineate sides and boundaries. James Naismith, the Canadian theology major who worked for the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts understood that his brand new game of basketball also needed boundaries, edges, clear lines. Today those boundaries are clearly spelled out in the NBA’s Official Rules. But rule #2, sub-section 2, article b has a very interesting rule. “The Officials shall not permit players to play with any type of Jewelry.”
What is fascinating is that God’s rule book (2 Tim 3:16, 17), also forbids outward adornment for the New Testament believer (1 Pet 3:1-4; 1 Tim 2:9-10). Why? one might ask. The answer is predominately related to pride. It was so even for Lucifer in heaven (Eze 28:13). And with God’s inspiration to not participate in the customs of the world, we would be wise to stay within the lines of God’s directives.
You can watch a full discourse on this by watching today’s sermon, The Edge of the Court. We also have a sermon handout that you will want to download and consider entitled “God Loves Things that Beautify, but for now…”