When You Look Like Your Opponent

 

  Back in February, the Oklahoma City Thunder had to make a dramatic halftime change. It wasn’t their play that was the problem, it was their jerseys.

  That night the Thunder were hosting the Atlanta Hawks. Now once upon a time the rule was home team wore white uniforms and the away team was the color but the NBA has for several years now, has allowed several alternate uniforms that teams can wear. This is great for jersey sales but it can create some mix-ups. So, the combinations have to get league approval before the game.

  Somehow, they didn’t realize that Atlanta’s red "icon" uniforms and the Thunder orange "statement" jerseys were almost the same color. So, for the first half, both teams looked exactly alike. The players didn’t seem too affected but for the fans, especially those watching on TV it was a nightmare. The league made the call at halftime that somebody had to change and since the Hawks only had brought the one uniform, the Thunder went back to white.

  Opposing teams shouldn’t look the exact same.

   For the Christian, this should be the case as well. We are called to be ‘set apart from the world. We must be distinctive from them. However, there are some that call for us to have ‘alternative’ looks. Rather than black and white distinctions, some think we must” shade” our rules for the sake of popularity. Yet all that does is cause confusion.

  It is hard to spot the people of God if they look and act just like the world.

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord.

2^nd Corinthians 6:14-17