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FIRST-PERSON: Lemon: From Clown Prince to preacher by Tim Ellsworth Date: Jan 19, 2006 |
JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--As a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, Meadowlark Lemon became known as the Clown Prince of Basketball.For 50 years his antics on the court entertained basketball fans across the world. He was a man with a bright smile who provided laughs for children and adults alike. Now 73, Lemon’s best basketball-playing days are behind him -- but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to connect with people in a positive way. In 1989, Lemon established Camp Meadowlark, a co-ed sports camp to educate children on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. He and his staff conduct the camps across the country, with a message that “if you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem,” according to Lemon’s website. Lemon is also a preacher. He received a doctor of divinity degree in 1998 from Vision International University and travels widely to proclaim the Gospel. “I’m playing for the Lord,” Lemon said in a story in the News-Press of Southwest Florida. “This is what I do.” But as much good as Lemon seems to be doing, some might say his theology appears to be lacking. In the same story, Lemon had the following to say: “My message is about spreading the good news. I don’t have anything bad to say. Everything I talk about is positive. That’s the way I want them to see me. It’s the way I want to see the church. A lot of people don’t come to church because they think someone is going to be looking at them or judging them.” I don’t want to infer too much from a single quote in a newspaper. It’s always possible that Lemon was misquoted or taken out of context. But his statements sound similar to an approach that’s increasingly common in the church today, and one that’s off the mark. Yes, the Gospel is good news -- the message that Christ offers salvation certainly should be welcomed news to the ears of sinners. But if Lemon and other preachers with similar philosophies want to preach a Gospel that’s biblical, they’d better have some bad things to say as well. How can you effectively preach about the good news unless you first make it clear what the bad news is -- that sin condemns, and that a life apart from Christ results in eternal damnation? The Bible is explicitly clear on this. Trying to preach only the good news without having “anything bad to say” is similar to going to up to someone on the street and saying, “Hey, I’ve got good news -- there’s a way for you to get out of the burning building.” “Well, um, thanks a lot,” this person might say. “But why does that matter to me if I’m not actually in a burning building?” It sounds to me like Lemon is taking lessons from preachers who prefer smiling over sobriety. I’m glad Lemon is doing what he can to make a difference in the lives of kids, and I’m glad he’s using his platform to talk about Jesus Christ. I just hope he does so biblically. --30-- Tim Ellsworth writes this column from his home in Jackson, Tenn. Write to him at timellsworth@gmail.com or visit his blog at www.timellsworth.com for additional commentary on sports, religion, culture and politics.
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