If I were the Phillies Team Chaplain...

True story: Michelle actually called the Phillies last year and asked them if they needed a chaplain. Believe it or not, they weren't interested in me! But if I did land that job, here's how I might minister to Raul Ibanez when the Phils' return home from their road trip tonight:

Raul, I hear there's a firestorm brewing because some blogger said that your amazing numbers this season are cause to question whether you're using steroids. And I also read that you were pretty ticked off at the blogger's lack of integrity in writing what he did without the slightest bit of evidence that you've done anything illegal.

But Raul, this gives you a wonderful opportunity to see and love the glory of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Jesus can empathize with your frustrations, Raul. He also was accused and slandered, though He had done nothing wrong.

But He did not lash out in anger at those who cruelly mistreated Him. He did not say, as you did, that He would come after anyone who slandered or defamed Him. He did not say they were pathetic and disgusting, as you did. Instead, He died for those who opposed and ridiculed Him. The Apostle Peter explains this all in the Bible:

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:22-25).

When you grasp the wonder of Christ's love for you and see what He was willing to endure to atone for your sins against Him, you will not care so much what other people are saying and writing about you. You will know that you are loved and accepted by the King of the Universe, not because of your home runs or RBI's, but by sheer grace. And when others slander and falsely accuse you, you can seize these times as opportunities to point people to the One who suffered and endured reproach in order to give you the hope and joy of eternal life. I also tend to get frustrated when people say malicious things about me. But my only hope in those times is to remember that because of Jesus, I am more loved than I could ever imagine.

I am glad to have Raul Ibanez on my team. But I care more about his heart and his relationship with God than I care about his great stats and game-winning hits. So I am praying today for Raul, that maybe the Phils' chaplain will have something along these lines to share with him when he gets to the ballpark tonight.