Are we like Mark McGwire?

On Monday, Mark McGwire confirmed what many people always suspected – he used steroids for much of his career including the 1998 season in which he broke the home run record.  In case you do not follow baseball at all, since the 90s (maybe even before that), many players have chosen to take steroids and other PEDs (performing enhancing drugs such as HGH) which many fans, sport writers and others believe have caused the players to, among other things, hit a lot more home runs and smash batting records.  Many athletes will claim they did it so that they would heal faster from injury, but none-the-less, it gave these players a huge advantage on the field.  For Mark McGwire to come forward and say after many years of speculation that he used steroids is a very admirable thing to do and, as a fan, I am glad he spoke up.  HOWEVER, I do have one problem with what he said and I feel that there is a direct correlation to Youth Ministry in it.

In an interview with Bob Costas on the MLB Network, McGwire firmly believes that he would have hit all those home runs even if he had never taken steroids or other PEDs.  He said, “There’s not a pill or an injection that’s going to give me, going to give any player the hand-eye coordination to hit a baseball.”  He went on to say, “I truly believe I was given the gifts from the Man Upstairs of being a home run hitter, ever since … birth. My first hit as a Little Leaguer was a home run. I mean, they still talk about the home runs I hit in high school, in Legion ball. I led the nation in home runs in college, and then all the way up to my rookie year, 49 home runs.”  When he was asked if he would have hit all those home runs had he never taken steroids he said, “Absolutely, I truly believe so.”

This is what I have a problem with.  McGwire firmly believes that he would have hit as many home runs as he did (he is currently tied for 8th in the all-time home run record books with 583) with or without steroids.  This is what I question.  Take a look at these 2 pictures to the left and right.  Based on their physical appearance alone, do you think these 2 people would be able to hit the same amount of home runs?   Sure, McGwire is right that it is ultimately hand-eye coordination that allows you to hit the ball. But, once you hit the ball, it is the power and strength behind that swing that makes the ball go further.  He believes the he could have done it alone and did not need to the steroids to hit as many home runs as he did.  I find this hard to accept.  It is my opinion that while he would have hit home runs without steroids, he would have never hit as many as he did had he not taken them.  He needed the steroids and, unfortunately, he doesn’t see it that way.  The source of his strength was steroids.

So you might be wondering how does this pertain to youth ministry at all?  Well, I’m glad you asked.  Here is the link that I thought of when I heard this. As youth ministers, we will get our fair share of criticism of how we run things.  But we also get a lot of praises for when things go well.  When you get these praises, how do you respond?  Do you give God the glory and praises or do you take those praises and continue to build yourself up thinking that you are some great person and have your act all together.  Almost like you could do all these great things with or without God, that your strength and wisdom comes from you and not the Lord.

I have found in my ministry that it can be very easy for me to take the praises of what is going on in my ministry and think it is about me.  That I did this and I did that.  It was not a conscious decision on my part to think that I was so special, but none-the-less, there have been times where I believe that it was more about me and my ideas than anything else.  It is almost like I have this Mark McGwire thinking that I could do all this with or without God.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t go around all day thinking that I am some great youth minister and that God has no part of what I am doing.  But seeing Mark McGwire on Monday talk about steroids gave me a great God moment.  It was here where I remembered that all things that have happened in the ministry I have been honored to be apart of has been ALL GOD and less me.  He is my strength and wisdom.  Because of this, I wanted to encourage all of us youth ministers that we need to stay grounded and focused on who really makes things happen – that is the Lord!  He is the one who changes hearts and gives us wisdom and discernment – not a great talk we gave or a small group we led.  He is the power and the ultimate authority – not a cool youth room or event we created.  Again, it can be very easy to think we are the all-star youth minister and that we have done some great things because we are constantly told so.  But, we have to remember who it is that ultimately impacts all things – God.

As I strive to keep myself grounded and focused on God and His power, strength and provision, I am encouraged in these 3 passages:

• Jeremiah 9:23-24 – “This is what the LORD says:  ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”

• Philippians 3:1-11 –  Here Paul challenges all believers to stop boasting about who we are and start rejoicing in and chasing after who Christ is.

• Philippians 4:13 –  This is a great verse that reminds us where we get our power from – Christ.

So, where are you?

TAKE A MINUTE and

1. Examine your heart.  Are you finding yourself more like Mark McGwire – believing you can do all things on your own strength or more like Paul who strives to give God the glory, praise and honor as it is his passion to get to know his savior better?  Spend a few minutes praying and examining your heart as to where you stand.
2. Then, take some time to give the Glory to God.  Remember all that he has done in your ministry and give him the praise and honor He deserves.

If you have a thought, comment or encouragement about this, post a comment so that we can all benefit.