Who Do You Play For?

January 29, 2025

I’m deeply saddened by the division in our country, especially among those who claim to follow Christ. I believe much of this division stems from finding our identity in political parties rather than in Christ. We often forget that the right wing and the left wing are both parts of the same bird.

There is a great story told about Alexander the Great, one of the great military generals in history.

One night during a campaign, he couldn't sleep and left his tent to walk around

the campgrounds. As he was walking, he came across a soldier asleep on guard

duty - a serious offense. The penalty for falling asleep on guard duty was, in some

cases, instant death; the commanding officer sometimes poured kerosene on the

sleeping soldier and lit it.

The soldier began to wake up as Alexander the Great approached him.

Recognizing who was standing in front of him, the young man feared for

his life.

"Do you know what the penalty is for falling asleep on guard duty?”

Alexander the Great asked the soldier.

"Yes, sir," the soldier responded in a quivering voice.

"Soldier, what's your name?" demanded Alexander the Great.

"Alexander, sir."

Alexander the Great repeated the question: "What is your name?"

"My name is Alexander, sir," the soldier repeated.

A third time and more loudly Alexander the Great asked, "What is your

name?"

A third time the soldier meekly said, "My name is Alexander, sir."

Alexander the Great then looked the young soldier straight in the eye.

"Soldier," he said with intensity, "either change your name or change your

conduct."

When we come to Christ, our identity is now found in that relationship. Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Furthermore, after giving his life to Christ, Paul explained, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Just as the soldier had to align his actions with his name, we, too, must align our actions with our identity in Christ.

When we accept Jesus and begin a relationship with Him, we commit to serving Him as our Lord. We understand that, as His followers, we are called to represent Christ in the world. AsC.S. Lewis described, “ Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”

As Christians, our identity is rooted in Christ. We are no longer defined by labels like

Republican or Democrat, American or Mexican or Korean, Liberal or Conservative, Orthodox or Progressive, Right or Left. These distinctions do not define who we are. We are followers of Christ—imperfect men and women who have fallen short but have received God’s forgiveness through the blood of Christ, with our sins covered. We belong to a new, unified community: the Christian community.

This community is not defined by a building—it’s a remarkable gathering of “aliens and

strangers” who, as Paul writes, have become “citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).

It is a diverse body, formed by people from every tribe and nation, every background and opinion, those who were once far away and those who were near. This is the place where God dwells, where His presence resides. Within this community, each of us discovers our purpose. When others encounter such a community—a community where Christ is the cornerstone, uniting a beautifully unique and diverse group of people working together for a shared mission and loving one another despite their differences—they witness the presence of God.

There’s no denying the challenges we face. The issues are complex, the mission is demanding, and the work is often difficult. Yet, we are called to do this work together, representing Christ in all we do. This calling is far from easy. When we lose sight of Christ—His mission, His love, His sacrifice—and allow our focus to shift solely to our groups or specific issues, we harm the very community God is building. Worse still, this misrepresentation can drive people away from God instead of drawing them closer to Him.

There’s a powerful moment in the movie Miracle, which tells the story of Coach Herb Brooks (played by Kurt Russell) and the U.S. hockey team’s incredible 1980 Olympic victory over the seemingly unbeatable Russian squad—a moment forever known as “The Miracle on Ice.”

In the film, after a tough loss, Coach Brooks calls the team back to the ice for grueling sprints. He repeatedly asks each player, “Who do you play for?” One by one, they respond with the names of their colleges: “University of Wisconsin... Minnesota... Bowling Green... North Dakota... Boston University.” Brooks keeps pushing them, making them skate back and forth from goal line to goal line until many are on the verge of collapse. Finally, after endless effort, one exhausted player answers differently: “I play for the United States.” In that moment, the team’s identity shifts from individuals representing their schools to a united group playing for something far greater.

Throughout American history, leaders have emphasized unity and collective purpose. For instance, President Ronald Reagan (Republican) stated, "If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen." Eleanor Roosevelt (Democrat) also warned against division, stating, "Pitrace against race, religion against religion, prejudice against prejudice. Divide and conquer! We must not let that happen here."

For those who claim to follow Christ, it is crucial to start by grounding our identity in Him. Our identity in Christ isn’t defined by external labels but by our status as beloved children of God, redeemed through His grace. Embracing this truth unites us with a higher purpose that goes beyond all earthly divisions. This shared identity calls us to love one another as Christ loves us, to serve others selflessly, and to collaborate toward His kingdom.

We must ask ourselves:

• Who do I serve?

• Do my words and actions foster unity or create division?

• Am I reflecting Christ's love and living out my identity as His child, or do my actions reflect something else?

• Do I view others through the lens of Christ’s love?

• When others see me, do they recognize “a little Christ”?

As Alexander once told the young soldier, you and I must "either change [our] name or change [our] conduct." The change begins with us. Only when we see ourselves and others through the lens of Christ’s love will be able to truly heal divisions and bring about the transformation we seek in our world.