Can we learn something from the GOAT?

GOAT as in greatest of all time. He officially and ceremoniously retired a while back. He's now toured the world anonymously, behind dark glasses and large hats. Bonded with his family, too.

But alas, he realizes he has a higher calling than retirement. So... it's back to the tennis court to do battle. And shake off boredom. See the above video caption.

Let me tie this into the world of alternative churches. In the scriptures, leadership roles are for life. Only under the rarest of circumstances do leaders "step down". And they never retire. For the vast majority of church leaders today, they should have never "stepped up" in the first place.

If a leader falls into a gross and public sin, and if he is repentant, he needs to hold his ground and be lifted back up. And with tears in his eyes, he can faithfully warn others of the deceitfulness of sin.

Yes, he or she can be restored. And yes they can and should continue to serve until "death do them part."

No one would say to a spouse who had gambled the retirement money away: "You must now be divorced, your family desolved." Nor would they say to a driver who ran a stop sign and caused an accident: "You can never drive again."

Instead, we pick up the pieces by the grace of God - wiser and more humble and determined to follow the Lamb closer than before. Following in his strength alone.

Satan's tactics have not changed over thousands of years. He still plots to keep people from their servant responsibilities toward their fellow Christian brothers and sisters. And fellow human beings, too.

"What? Who, me? Am I my brother's keeper?" Genesis 4:9.