One for the Other Team

“Do not give the devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:27, NASB

By far, one of the most infamous moments in college football occurred during the Rose Bowl of 1929. It was a contest between two evenly matched teams: University of California and Georgia Tech. In the second quarter, Georgia Tech fumbled the ball at their 40 yard line. The ball was scooped up by Roy Riegels, UCal’s skilled linebacker. He turned to the left and began to run. A shove from the opposition careened Riegels into a tackler.  As he pivoted to get away from him, Riegels completely lost his bearings. Breaking free from the crowd of players, he began to run away– toward the wrong goal-line.
A teammate saw what was happening and began pursuit. He caught up with and was able to halt Riegels at the one yard line. Georgia players quickly tackled him there before he could reverse the damage. On the next play, UCal attempted to punt the ball away from their end zone, but it was blocked. Georgia Tech scored a 2-point safety. The final score of the game was 8-6, Georgia Tech. Riegels’ gaffe unwittingly gave the opposing team a victory.

Poor Riegels never lived the moment down. He was nick-named Wrong Way Riegels for the rest of his days. While we can chuckle at his embarrassing mistake, we might also learn from his story.

Paul wrote of his concern that the Ephesians could unwittingly help the enemy’s cause. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for the wrath of God comes because of these things upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:6-8, NASB, emphasis mine)

Who were these “sons of disobedience”? Commentators suggest various answers to this question. Some believe it is a general reference to those continuing to walk in the darkness of sin, citing an earlier reference to them in Ephesians 2:2. There is also a possibility that Paul is referring to those promoting a certain heresy which threatened to divide the Gentile churches early on. Whoever the sons of disobedience were, their purpose and motivation is clear. They walk in the spirit of the “prince of the power of the air” (Satan) and work toward disunity and destruction in the body of Christ.

Paul warns that we are not to be partakers with the sons of disobedience. The original word for partakers conveys more than a passing involvement. The lexicon describes partakers as “having a share with another in some possession or relationship; casting one’s lot with them.”

Years ago, Steve and I were involved in a church that struggled with a polarizing disagreement on the role of women. For a year or so, the issue seemed to become the church’s central focus. Anger and disunity resulted. While the various scriptures on women’s role can be controversial, the command to treat each other with love is not.

One night I stood outside the church talking to a young mother who had become a believer while attending our church neighborhood Bible study. She desperately wanted her husband to come to a saving faith in Christ. He had occasionally attended services with her but as of yet had not made a decision. Nor did it now appear he ever would. “He told me he will never come back here again after watching how people are treating each other,” she confided. “He says that the people in this church are no different than anyone else. In his opinion, belief in Christ doesn’t seem to make a difference.”

I was sick at her words, mostly because I knew I was as guilty as the rest. In my anger over the issue at hand, I had allowed sin to enter the controversy. I had unwittingly become a partaker with the enemy in his destructive scheme on the body of Christ.

Like Roy Riegels, we can facilitate the opposing team in scoring when we do not walk as Children of Light. The Devil seeks opportunities to carry out his destructive intentions. When we neglect honoring God in our actions, we unwittingly give him a foothold, which he will use to the fullest.