In a recent post, I described my experience with crossfit and the difference it’s made in my life. I’m not alone in this. I’ve seen plenty of people cautiously step into a crossfit gym, give it a try, and have something powerful awakened within them. At the end of the post, I said that I’ve experienced more positive life change, in myself and others, in one year of doing crossfit than in 12 years of doing church work. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about why this is so. Here’s my first observation.
Not everyone who tries crossfit sticks with it. For some, it’s too hard, too sweaty, too complicated, or too expensive. But for others, it’s life changing. For those who do stick with it, there’s a certain predictability to their experience.
Walk into a crossfit gym and visit with a trainer and he or she will say something like this: Learn the fundamental movements, do the program, clean up your diet, and stick with it and you’ll get in the best shape of your life. You’ll be stronger, faster, leaner, and feel better. Follow this path and it will change your life.
To the uninitiated, such claims can come off sounding arrogant.
Why does crossfit have a cult-like following? Why won’t crossfitters shut up about crossfit? Why are we always inviting our friends to give it a try? Because it delivers on it’s promises in a way that few programs do. Crossfit works. Guaranteed.
One of the biggest differences between my experience with churches and with crossfit is that in most churches there is very little expectation that what they are doing will actually change someone’s life. Every now and then someone at a church will wake up and have their lives changed by the gospel, but this usually happens in spite of what is happening at the church, not because of it. God will occasionally show up to remind a sleepy church that he’s still there by transforming someone. Some are shocked when this happens; others are embarrassed. (Of course, I’m generalizing here. I’m not talking about your church. I’m talking about the church down the street.)
When was the last time you said something like this to someone who was checking out your church: Walk this path with us as we follow Jesus, learn the basics of the gospel, listen to the collective wisdom gathered here, stick with it, and you will be transformed. You’ll find spiritual freedom, emotional peace, deep relationships, and the ultimate purpose for your life. Being a part of our community will get you ready for anything life throws at you. We’re walking an ancient path that has been validated by the countless experiences of those who have gone before us. The gospel works. Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Why aren’t more people excited about what’s going on at their church? Why don’t they spend more time talking about it and inviting others to give it a try? Because lives aren’t being changed. Transformation isn’t a normal part of their church experience. They can make no guarantees that being a part of their church will make any noticeable difference in anyone’s life.
Why do crossfitters seem to have more confidence in crossfit than Christians have in the gospel?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
The world is a funny place! I have noticed that people in general are just different. This post is great and I am happy for you, however, I think God gave you crossfit just to make you look inside your soul. And, God gave Christians confidence to help others and tell others about the gospel. love and miss you guys!
From a long-time Christian and new CFer-
Great post and something that I have thought about recently as well. I actually started thinking about this as I realized that I was eagerly sharing everything I do in CF whenever there was the slightest opportunity, and I don’t do that nearly as readily with my faith. It was convicting to me personally because I realized my own lack of confidence in sharing my faith.
I don’t have any great answer yet, but I am thinking about it!
Churches are mostly about, “We can’t do that here.” Crossfit and things like it are about, “You can do anything you’re willing to work hard for here.”
In both cases the key is desire. With crossfit, those who stick with it desire transformation. The reason we don’t see much transformation in most churches is because most people don’t desire transformation, they desire comfort, fuzzy feelings, security, and being around people like themselves. In my experience however, in the inner city, it is not hard to find kids who desire something other than what they see around them, the problem is that there are few christians around to show them what it looks like. Inspire the desire! Or put another way: “If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to go to the forest to gather wood, saw it and nail the planks together. Instead, teach them the desire for the sea.”– Antoine de Saint Exupéry
I couldn’t agree more.
Real discipleship comes to mind. And, likemindedness. There may be many reasons to come to crossfit, but for those who stay, the program results in likemindedness through discipline and results.
Most local churches claim to be likeminded around the Gospel, but far to how little time is actually spent, per capita, on being the Good News.
In most churches, there’s usually only room for one to preach the Good News (a small few even in megachurces), a mere handful more to teach it, and few more hardcores who are “dirty feet/smelling like sheep, Jesus-in-the-world Gospel ambassadors.” There just isn’t any expectation for the other 90 to be actively involved, let alone committed.
I think you’re on the money that if I don’t really believe that lives are being significantly changed, I don’t commit to the Gospel. And, unfortunately, too many of us have been more than willing to fill in the gap with programs and building plans and busy work.
How do we build that discipline/likemindedness/passion into assembling a group of equally committed disciples, ready to test the Spirit’s Crossfit program?
Wade,
This is a very thought-provoking post. I, too, have practiced Crossfit for the last two years and it is inspiring and challenging. I probably do not experience as radical a change as you do because I do it at a globo gym and therefore don’t experience the CF community like you do, except on-line. At any rate, your post struck a chord in me about what expectations we have for how the gospel/Jesus/the church will change us. I am a preacher. Keep up the thoughtful posts and best wishes as you form your church in Austin. — Matt Soper