Playing Within God’s System

In life, we are surrounded by systems. There are family systems, employment systems, government systems, religious systems, etcetera. Systems can help us to grow and to stay grounded. Playing within a system can be a joyful experience.

Soccer

Anyone who knows me knows I love soccer (football outside the US). I started playing the game at seven years old and it’s been part of my life ever since. In Brazil, they call it “jogo bonita” or the beautiful game. When played and watched you can see how this came to be. It’s not just the individual skill of the players. Soccer ebbs and flows on the field. There are moments of chaos and pure delight. It inspires a passion in the soul. For me, it’s as close to perfection as you can get.

Successful teams in soccer play in a “system”. There are several formations that can make up a team’s system. For instance, you have:

• 4-4-2: Four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards
• 4-3-3: Four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards
• 3-5-2: Three defenders, five midfielders, and 2 forwards
• 4-5-1: Four defenders, five midfielders, and 1 forward

The list goes on and there are variations to the different systems. The key to a good system is to have players who are willing to play within the system and understand their assignments. Teams that obtain players who fit the system, understand their assignments, and play within the system, usually enjoy success on the pitch.

When watching a match in person, you will hear coaches yell “keep your shape!” This refers to the system in which they play. Keeping your shape means you have the right people in the right positions at the right times to control the match and give the team the best possibility of winning.

Teams that don’t “keep their shape” expose themselves to different types of attacks by their opponents. The players spend time “chasing the game” and more times than not will find themselves on the wrong side of the scoresheet. If this becomes commonplace, the manager and players could find themselves looking for employment.

Because soccer is a free-flowing sport, players have some freedom to move around. It’s not uncommon to see defenders overlap midfielders to join an attack. Nor is it uncommon to see forwards defending set pieces such as corner kicks. This is an expected part of the system and adds to the beauty of the game.

God’s System

We read in Ephesians 4 that God “gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). In other words, God has created His system in which we need to play.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, each local unit called a Ward, has an organization (system). Every position in the organization is filled by volunteers who are called by the local leadership. For example, I currently serve as the Elders Quorum Secretary. The Elders Quorum is the organization of men 18 years and older. This organization is set up to help not only the men in the organization but to serve everyone within the boundaries of the Ward (not just members of the church).

As stated, each position in the Ward system is filled by volunteers. These members:

• Learn how to serve in the assigned position
• How best to fulfill the responsibilities of the position
• How best to help others come to Christ through serving in the position
• Receive blessing from God as they faithfully fulfill their responsibilities

When the members of the Ward fulfill their positions (we say callings), they “keep the shape” of the Ward. This allows for spiritual, mental, and physical ministering to all who live in the boundaries of the Ward.

God’s system has been set up to maximize the chances of His children returning to live with Him. What happens when a member of His church decides to not “play within the system?” The blessings of God are not given to that member. He or she may feel that God isn’t to be found in the church. They may begin to drift away from the gospel and the light that it brings. This, however, does NOT stop the other members of the Ward from loving them, interacting with them, and being concerned for their wellbeing. The invitation is always there to come and partake of the joy of the gospel.

In the history of the world, there have been times when the grand majority of God’s church has decided to not play within the system. This leads to a general apostasy from God’s church. In these cases, God removes His church from the earth for a given amount of time. However, when God’s children have humbled themselves and realized that they need Him, He restores His church. This happens when He calls a prophet and gives him power to bring back to earth that which was taken away.

This is how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came to be. During the lives of and after the death of Christ’s apostles, there was a “falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Apostasy occurred and God removed His church from the earth. This apostasy lasted until God determined the time for His church to be restored. It started on a Spring morning in 1820 when Joseph Smith went into a grove of trees to ask God which of all the churches then on the earth was His. He was told to join none of them and then Joseph was called to be a prophet to restore God’s church, and subsequently His system, to the earth.

Conclusion

Playing within a system can bring joy to a person. God has created His system to allow each of us the opportunity to grow and serve. Playing within God’s system can bring one peace and happiness. It allows one to draw closer to God and closer to returning to His presence after this life.