I had the privilege of playing for hall of fame basketball coach Lute Olson in high School before he was famous. I was a high-scoring offensive shooting guard, but never saw the need to worry much about defense. Olson pointed out this flaw in my game many times and finally was able to convince me that playing at both ends of the court was better for the team.

One of coach Olson’s slogans was: “Scoring displays talent, the hard work of defense displays character.” I had to “die” to the thinking process that scoring alone was good for the cause in order to become a complete player. Developing my defensive skills actually worked to bring me greater joy as a player. I could still score but also loved to stop good shooters. If I had not listened to the coach, died to the selfish and star-like thinking, and had not seen the whole team as more important than my scoring average, I would have remained a limited, incomplete, and less satisfied player.

I have great hope for The Church, The Universal Bride of Christ, to reach the “High Living water “(John 7) mark intended by Her Bridegroom.

To reach the goal of representing the Lord’s bidding the church needs to die. She needs to die to her pride, division, compromise, prayerlessness, indifference, take-my-ball-and-go-home mentality that is so often on display in the church today. Death to selfishness is painful for the prideful, but welcomed by the humble. Humility is the place where God dwells, creates, develops, exalts, and empowers us for His purpose.

“Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in a high and holy place, with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the heart of the contrite one. “ Isaiah 57:15

The thing is that humbling ourselves is something we all can do. No great talent is required, just a willingness to die off self-importance, defensiveness, and the sense of entitlement.

Death in Christ always leads to Resurrection. When pastors and priests, leaders in the Body of Christ, are able to humble, prefer, forgive, reconcile, pray, bear oneanother’s burdens, and lay down their lives for one another, you will see the seeds of revival and the Church moving toward her destiny. Are we ready?

It will involve, risk, humility, and other things we preach to the flock. They normally will follow our lead.

Fr. Mark Miller is the pastor at the Resurrection Charismatic Episcopal Church in San Jacinto.