In 2010, Lebron James shocked the sports world by leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers in his hometown state of Ohio for the Miami Heat. Cavalier fans were heartbroken over their hometown hero’s decision. James was supposed to be one of them. Why not stay in Cleveland where he can be a hometown legend and potentially bring Cleveland their first championship? After all, the truly great players inspire others around them and are able to elevate an entire organization. Instead, James joined forces with two other superstars in Miami, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Instead of doing the harder work of team building and development, he chose instant gratification.
At the time, James was heavily criticized by Cavalier fans for that decision. Shortly after his announcement, a few people set their number 23 jerseys on fire while others threw rocks at a large billboard featuring James in a Cavaliers uniform. The Cavaliers owner, sensing the fanbase’s hurt, posted an open letter on the team’s website calling James out for his self-centeredness. His hometown had turned on him.
When it comes to deciding whether to stay at a current church or to select a new church, I wonder if some people take a Lebron James approach to picking their team. Sound doctrine and biblical preaching should always be the top priority for Christians who seek to grow in their love for Christ (Phil 1:9). However, for some, church selection boils down to whether that church already has a demographic that suits their immediate needs. Instead of making the pulpit ministry and opportunities to bless others the top priorities, church selection comes down to whether a church already has a “championship team” in place.
I once met with a college-aged, newlywed couple who expressed frustration with the lack of other college-aged adults at their church. I asked them, “Perhaps God is calling you to be the couple that when another godly college student or young newlywed couple visits, they see that a godly young couple is already here?” In other words, it becomes a matter of calling. Over the years, I have given other people the same counsel who desired to be in closer fellowship with a people of a certain ethnicity, a certain interest, another family with youth, etc. In like fashion, perhaps the Lord is calling you to be the person who initially greets the next group of visitors who are looking for a church with similar demographics. If you leave your church to join another team with a deeper bench, who will be there to greet that new person who is considering joining your current team?
In 2014, James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He explained his desire to return this way: “When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission. I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city [Cleveland] hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.” The previously agitated fans welcomed him back with open arms. In 2016, he accomplished what he returned to do—bring the Cavaliers their first NBA Championship. James became a hometown hero again, and most sports prognosticators agree this championship is one of the most impressive in sports history and crowning achievement of his career.
Even though God’s kingdom consists of people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, it is not necessarily sinful to desire fellowship with people of similar interests and compatibility. However, instead of using what I call the Lebron James method of church selection, perhaps the Lord would have you be the person in your church that when someone of a similar background visits, they will say, “Oh, this church already has a young family” or “Oh, this church already has people in my phase of life” and say to themselves, “I want to join their team!” This approach to church selection is one way that Christians can go from having a consumer mindset to having a missionary mindset. I ask you, is God calling you to have a missionary mindset, either in the church you currently serve in or in your next church?