Emboldened

I spent the weekend at our second ever Faith Rx’D training camp at Crossfit Eternal in Charlotte, NC. Our mantra for the weekend was to prepare attendees to be good coaches and athletes as well embolden them in their faith. It is our desire to make sure that attendees leave the camp having experienced top-notch coaching and leave better than they walked in. The coach or athlete with the most influence is the one who is one of the best at their craft. We hope that we make coaches and athletes better at their craft when they left on Sunday.
On the other side of the camp, our desire is that we might embolden believers to leverage their faith in their gym. CrossFit is set up for the Gospel already. Successful gyms already know the value of relationships and community. It’s those relationships and that community that can be left at skin-deep OR become opportunities to express your faith.
During the panel discussion we were asked the question, “How do I break the ice to talk about my faith with people in my gym?” I can resonate with this question as I know that most often talking about our faith can isolate us or differentiate us in ways that we aren’t comfortable with. However, the level at which you have allowed the Gospel to impact your heart will be reflected in your expression of your faith. In practical terms what that means is that if your faith is not just a compartment of your life that you express when its convenient, but its something that embodies who you are, then the expression of that will be natural.
It’s no different than athletes who have created an identity for themselves in CrossFit. It is VERY easy for them and natural for them to talk about their training program or their recovery or their preparation for competition. Because that area of their life has often consumed them. The reality ought to be true for believers. If we allow the Gospel to consume and reach into every area of our lives then the natural outflowing of that will be expression of our faith.
I was emboldened by this camp to allow that to happen. There are always corners and part of my life that I like to put walls around or block the Gospel from really impacting. Often, I will reserve my faith for situations outside of the gym. This is compartmentalizing the Gospel! I am hiding the Gospel when I allow my insecurities and idols to mask who I am. Jesus didn’t die for pieces of me or to save part of my life. He was sent and died for ALL of me. And every part of my life.