Sunday sermon: Arise, Gideon, and fight!

Nov 20, 2011, 3:43 PM

I don't know how many folks know the story of Gideon. AS far as Bible heroes go, he doesn't carry the clout of Sampson or David or Moses.

Gideon wasn't the guy you'd spot coming up the street, with joyful throngs and maidens waving palm branches. He was a nobody from nowhere.

But when it counted, Gideon was the guy Israel needed. A warrior, not a champion.

And if there was ever we needed the former, and less of the latter, it's this week.

The champions showed up in Raleigh yesterday, in a game that didn't make a lick of difference to their championship hopes. A tip of the hat to the Wuffies, they painfully showed what happens when you let yourself get caught in the hype.

And it showed ... it showed mightily.

True, we've got the division hardware, and a date in two weeks with some team from Virginia. Now THERE'S a game that will matter!

Warriors don't give a crap about hardware. Warriors want to get the job done. Warriors might have lost at NC State, but they d@mn sure wouldn't have been cracking jokes about it on the sideline.

Somewhere over the last few weeks, it seems the Sons of Clemson ceased playing like warriors and began acting like champions. Just one problem though: we have no right to be champions. Not yet.

Gideon never thought of himself as a champion. He was a warrior. His only goal was to leave as many dead Midianites on the field of battle as possible.

Clemson need warriors. Warriors that are honed on the task at hand, not the glories that may wait beyond. Those who go into battle looking for glory rarely find it.

I'm calling on ALL Sons of Clemson to stop right now, pause, and clear your heart and mind of anything beyond this: South Carolina.

You want glory? Beat South Carolina.

You want redemption for that truly embarrassing effort in Raleigh? Beat South Carolina.

You want people to think of you with respect once again? Beat South Carolina.

Right now, the people of Columbia are laughing ... laughing at YOU. Like the armies of Midian laughing at the nobody from nowhere who stood before them, brandishing the sword and heart of a warrior.

There is no higher calling this week. For your brothers, your families, your hopes .... forget being champions.

Be warriors. Arise, and fight.

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Sunday sermon: Arise, Gideon, and fight!

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