I learned some lessons while at the Colts/Browns game this past weekend.  The first lesson I want to share came in the fourth quarter of the game.  The Brown’s 2nd string quarterback, Derek Anderson, had to be carried off the field due to a torn MCL–a season-ending injury.  This is a scary moment for any football player or any one in athletics for that matter.  But what the matter worse was, as Derek lay on the ground in pain, the Browns’ fans crescendoed into one of the loudest cheers of the entire day.  They were exuberant over the fact that Derek Anderson was hurt and couldn’t play!!!!  A man’s season, career and livelihood are in question and people are cheering!!

My boys were completely bothered by this, along with many commentators later in the day.  What group of people CHEER when their own man goes down?  Can you imagine U.S. Marines giving each other high-fives when one of their comrades is shot?  Of course not!!!  It’s UNHEARD of!!!

Unless you are part of Church.  (I use the BIG “C” Church to refer to many of us who claim to be Christ-followers and pride ourselves in our “church” attendance.)  I say this because I have seen, too many times, people go through hard times our struggle with a debilitating sin and instead of helping each other, we usually:

1. Gossip about the “fall” to other church people.  Usually in the form of a “prayer request.”
2. Distance ourselves from that person because we don’t want people to think we are a part of their problem.
3. We “spiritually” glare, stare and/or point our fingers, with disgust, at the person who is spiritually wounded.

I once heard a pastor explain it well.  He said, “the Church is the only group of people who shoot their wounded!”  I haven’t forgotten that quote and the Browns’ fans reminded me of this even more just yesterday.

Here is what we can do, as followers of Christ, in helping our own who are wounded:

1. Come alongside of them–quickly!!  The more we wait the worse it is going to hurt.
2. Instead of a criticizing attitude, approach the situation with a heart of compassion.  It is the same attitude Christ had as he looked at the multitude.
3. Pray, genuinely, pray for those who are hurting.
4. Find practical ways you can help.  Maybe it is researching help or even accompanying them through the recovery phases.
5. Mainly, LOVE.  We have all seen it in the movies and in the news.  A soldier goes down and because of the LOVE they have for one another, they fight to get that fallen soldier to safety.

As a Church, it is not bad for us to share the same mantra as our soldiers–NEVER leave a soldier behind!!!!!