Katy posed this question to me in the car last Saturday when we were driving through Hearne, TX on the way to watch our respective Alma maters compete in the gridiron version of the Battle of the Brazos at Kyle Field. Instantly I recognized that we had traveled all this way from Allen, TX without our game tickets!
This might appear innocent enough, and to some of you this dilemma evokes personal memories of similar blunders. Everyone has surely experienced something like this, right? But for myself and Katy, this was the SECOND time in two weeks we'd done it. I guess we both expected the other to get them both times, or it just flat out slipped each of our minds all-together. At least when we did it before the A&M v. Arkansas game we were closer to Allen and were able to swing back home to get them. Our realization in Hearne, TX though definitely fell under the category of "too late..nothing we can do about it now."
What made it worse was that both sets of tickets were gifts from my parents. Some son and daughter-in-law we are huh! I told Katy to just go ahead and call my Dad and explain the situation...but she couldn't muster up the courage necessary I guess haha...so she declined and proceeded to go into panic/scramble mode and attempted to recall all the people she knew coming to the game in hopes that they might be able to perform a miracle of some sort to get us in. Amidst the drama we eventually discovered that at the will call ticket office they frequently encounter forgetful and careless fans like us and that it was no problem at all for them to reprint the tickets. WHEW!!! Dodged a bullet there for sure, thank goodness! Some form of "Katy and Brooks-Aggie Jokes" undoubtedly and unavoidably will emerge from family and friends. Maybe one day we'll learn and change, but it's doubtful ha!
Moving on, every time I return to College Station, and particularly when attending a sporting event, I'm reminded of how I used to be such a big Aggie. I bled maroon as much as anybody. If you look at my room in Temple where I grew up you'd still to this day find it with A&M wallpaper, an A&M bedspread, pillows, trashcan, balls, stuffed doll A&M corps guy, and (if it hadn't busted some several years back) an A&M beanbag. In my closet if it hadn't been recently cleaned out you would have discovered countless A&M T-shirts, jackets, old baseball camp certificates, and pictures of A&M athletic greats and old inspirational 12th Man magazine articles. I could go on for a really long time, but just a few more items you'd discover in my room would be an R.C. Slocum autographed picture and hat, an old toddler play A&M football Jersey, pants, and helmet, a baseball Jersey signed by an early 2000's A&M team, and last but not least...a picture of me in a yell leader outfit when I was maybe 3 or 4 years old.
I used to wear A&M jackets all the time when I was in HS, even more so than my Belton High letter jacket. I had an A&M baseball cap that I wore ALL the time, so much so in fact that today it probably wouldn't even fit a pre-school aged Aggie fan due to having shrunk so much from my constant and frequent sweating while wearing it.
So you get the picture...I was a Texas A&M Aggie, and all that that encompasses, through and through. I was born into it, was surrounded by it, but also willingly followed and embraced the practices which were in line with it. It was part of who I was...a big part!
Now since I was such a big Aggie, it should come as no surprise that I desired to play baseball for them in college. But of course that's not how it turned out. And to make a long story short, I ended up getting an opportunity to play at Baylor University instead.
Hmmm...given my background...that sounds "interesting" doesn't it...to say the least! Some reprogramming was definitely in order.
All of these things again were called to mind when I went to the A&M v. Baylor football game a week ago. So why do I bring them up? Because what took place in my life by shifting my allegiance, loyalty, and identification from Maroon and White to Green and Gold must occur on a much larger scale for all who have accepted Christ. If you want to play on His team, if you want to serve Him and walk in the the good things for which He saved you, then you have to acknowledge that you are not under the old regime of Sin, but the new rule of Grace.
A great passage that is foundational for this truth is Romans 6:1-14. In my Spiritual Life class at DTS we've been going through it, and it definitely parallels my situation in shifting from Aggie to Bear. It doesn't fit exactly, and off course I'm not meaning that the A&M culture is synonymous with the ruling power of sin and the kingdom of darkness, nor that Baylor is on par with grace's new rule and the kingdom of light. Just hang with me and hopefully it will begin to come together and make sense.
The following definitions from and paraphrase/explanation of Romans 6:1-14 was one of my assignments for my Spiritual Life class. I've adapted it slightly to fit in with this post. Read through this passage if you'd like, then look at what I wrote below.
For this assignment I read for preparation Thomas Schreiner’s Romans Commentary.
Definitions
Sin in Romans 6 represents a tyrannical governing authority which exercises its rule and power over every unregenerate creature; a mark of the old era of history due to Adam’s sin. Sins should not fill a completely different category apart from sin, for it is solely because of sin’s ruling power over men prior to their conversion that causes them as slaves to naturally obey and commit various sins. The word continue when used here in relation to sin carries with it the implication of remaining under the authority sin wields as master, practically acting out of allegiance to its reign, obeying and submitting to its orders and regulations. When in this passage Paul brings up the concept of death, his main objective involves a statement of fact that upon conversion all who were in Adam, and hence under sin’s tyranny, are by all intents and purposes now dead to sin’s power; it’s a literal reality that sin’s hold on them has been cancelled out and nullified. Baptized when used signifies our identification and union with Christ, our belonging to and incorporation into Him, the last Adam, as opposed to the first Adam, who led us into the realm of sin's dominion.
The term Old self refers to the pre-Christ era reality that all were helplessly yet willingly enslaved to sin’s wicked sovereignty, and it serves to represent and explain the plight and identity of humanity, both collectively as a whole and each individual within the whole. The term body of sin means the physical nature of sin and the way the body was used for it. When brought to nothing is used, the idea is its exile or banishment, so that no longer it may control.
Paraphrase/Explanation
Paul’s argument in this passage is that it is inconceivable that we remain under the repressive rule of King Sin so as to allow grace to increase. It doesn’t work that way he explains. For once we have accepted Christ we are no longer alive to this evil emperor and empire. Paul is stating a fact that we have indeed been lifted up from underneath this corrupt governing authority. We may no longer act out of allegiance and loyalty to our old King. King Grace is our master now; to him we owe our dedication and commitment. We wear his colors, follow his agenda, bow and serve him alone. Through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we become set free from sin’s grip and stronghold. Whereas before we were under sin’s curse, now we are under grace’s freedom. Our identity is now wrapped up in Christ, unlike before when we were tethered to sin.
King Sin’s administration characterized by oppression left none in its wake unmarred. But because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, each individual that puts their faith and trust in Christ’s finished work has the same power that raised Him from the dead within them. The notions and powers that caused the body to commit sins compulsively have been banished. That which remains in the physical body should then contend to commit righteous acts that lead to life, rather than sins that lead to death.
A conquering King has plundered the old dynasty and has set up a new organization. His purpose in doing this was to completely obliterate everything from the previous dictator’s ruthless agenda, so that the people would finally experience liberty. Their desire now should certainly be to follow the new King’s instructions. To cut all ties with the past and get on board and in line with these realities and with what the new King is doing. The people should put the past behind them and focus ahead so to discover how best they might serve wholeheartedly this King that has pure motives and commands justly.
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Just as when a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly there is no turning back, so also when we become Christians the former reality is cancelled out. Same thing when I became a Baylor Bear. I signed with Baylor and consequently that meant signing off on everything A&M. I've got a new coach, a new assignment, a new group of teammates, a new uniform, a new environment. I might as well "know" this and act accordingly, "consider" myself dead to A&M, and "present" myself in full-fledged service and devotion to Baylor. Even today, after all the ways Baylor University and the baseball team blessed and provided for me, how bizarre and treasonous would it be for me to revert back to my old desires and ways with respect to A&M. I can never be an Aggie again, it's impossible! And why would I want to, I have a new home and a new family.
Same thing once you become a Christian. Know you've been united with Christ and therefore dead to sin and its authority. Ponder this and line your life up with this reality. Consider (some translations use "reckon") yourself dead to sin (why would you go back and serve a tyrant like Sin when you can flourish under Grace?) and present yourself as a tool for righteousness.
Understanding these truths is essential to Christian growth and maturity. Not regarding my A&M stuff alone of course, but how it relates to Christianity. I'll confess that you might occasionally catch me kissing my wife when A&M scores or swaying back and forth sawing Varsity's horns off in order to keep the peace in the stands. But I must take far more seriously my reverting back to sinful habits in line with sin, my former master.
Thanks be to God for saving me from sin's authority, giving me over to grace, placing me in Christ, indwelling me through the Holy Spirit, and granting me precious things such as redemption, justification, forgiveness, and eternal life. May the work of the Godhead in our salvation be our utmost delight and, a la "The Spirit of Aggieland", may our boast be of prowess bold. Of the ruler we think so grand - Grace!
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