Shuttlecock Scandal: A Parable of Poor Service

Last week’s Olympic badminton scandal (I really relish that phrase) provides an apt metaphor for many Christian lives. Our Lord was fond of these real-life snapshots of poor stewardship and its consequence. The New Testamant parables are peppered with stewards who didn’t try hard enough (e.g. Luke 12:45; Matt 25:26-27).

A quick recap of the shocking slackness that made history. At the London games last week eight of the ladies’ doubles badminton players from China, South Korea, and Indonesia were disqualified for, in the words of the International Olympic Committee’s VP, Craig Reedie, “not using one’s best efforts to win a match.” I love it.

The players had all made it through the elimination round and were apparently attempting to lose their games in the hopes of attaining a more lenient placing in the next round. Can you fathom the spectacle of having expert athletes trying to lose to each other?
These national superstars (evidently badminton is big in Asia) weren’t simply lagging a little in their enthusiasm, they were all deliberately throwing their matches.

The comical self-sabotage was hard to miss. Here are the eight best female badminton players on the planet, repeatedly serving with such lackluster effort that the shuttlecock couldn’t muster the height to even clear the net. I don’t mean it tipped the top as it rocketed out of bounds, I mean the iconic capsule sagged in a pathetic arc under the net…a lot.

Of course, this happens all the time when I try my uncoordinated hand at any sport with a net and a projectile, but these are Olympians. They could have tried to look at least mildly disappointed when they lost a point.

Their dastardly attempts were handled decisively with a no-decision decision from the Olympic authorities. Not a single medal was awarded, and the finalists were all DQ’d on the spot.

Drama, drama, drama.

Needless to say, back in China I’m sure a red-faced apology will either need to be accompanied by a type of public mea culpa reputation hara-kiri by the disgraced Shuttlecock-gate villains.

I commend the IOC for the honor they accorded to the sport. (Pity they hadn’t warmed up that the concept in the cruel case of Shin Lam’s fencing fiasco).

There is an unfortunate parallel in the spiritual realm.

Grace by faith alone is a precious doctrine the Reformers spilt their blood to defend. But ever since its most popular publication (i.e. the Book of Romans), there have been professing believers who were tempted to rest on the laurels of free forgiveness.

Paul addressed those who would sin under the banner of “Once saved always saved” with these unambiguous words…

Rom 6:1-2 ”What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?”

When Christians feel as though they needn’t tackle their sanctification with blood-earnest zeal, because they are guaranteed a spot in heaven anyway, they dishonor the blood Jesus spilt to win them for His service and glory. Not only does God save us in order to serve Him with good works (Eph 2:10), but He promises lavish reward for those who are good stewards of their gifts. For those who are contend to behave like slack servants there will be a forfeiture of reward (1 Cor 3:13-15).

How’s your sanctification? Have you stopped trying?

Let’s heed Paul’s locker room pep-talk in 1 Cor 9:27 “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”