I couldn’t help it last night. I couldn’t turn off the TV. I couldn’t stop smiling. The Washington Nationals won the World Series! And every local TV station had reporters scattered throughout the region to cover the celebration – for over 2 hours after the game. It was a volcanic eruption of ecstatic, festival joy. It was everyone from every corner coming together. It was dancing in the streets. It was nobody going home. It was “we are the champions!” And isn’t that something? I mean, think about this. Tens of thousands of people were partying, shouting, laughing, crying – and yet, not one of them had done anything on the field to earn the victory. Oh, they had invested. They had exercised faith in their team through the jerseys they had bought, the games they had attended, and the time they had spent. But they didn’t hit a single ball, they didn’t catch a single ball, and they didn’t throw a single ball. But unreservedly and unapologetically they chanted “WE WON” and “WE ARE NUMBER ONE” and “WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS”!!!!! And, I must confess, even as a lifelong, diehard Yankee fan, even as a Buffalonian who has only been living in this region for one full baseball season, I felt it too. And there in the privacy of our living room, even Meg – who was rarely enthused by baseball until being baptized by the Nats’ wave this season – lifted her hands, twirled her rally rag, and might have done a little dance. And we woke up this morning with heads lifted higher than normal, feeling like we won something last night. Because, well, WE DID!

This is how victory works. It’s a collective experience. This, Church, is how church is supposed to work! “Thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:57). “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!” (Romans 8:37). Do you hear that? WE WIN! We didn’t make a single play on the field. But we have a great Champion who defeated sin and death! And through our placement of faith in Him, we share in His victory! “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith!” (1 John 5:4). And this ultimate victory – this assurance of sins forgiven, this promise of a home in heaven, this secure seat at God’s table – is infinitely grander than the most outstanding wins of this world.

And so with our gatherings should come uncontainable joy! With our worship should come unprecedented unity! Festivity should follow our faith to every corner of the earth. Our heads should be up, our hands should be high, and our mouths should shout praise long into the night! Because we live in the city of champions, and this is what happens when you win. Oh I know the trouble is still real and we are still waiting for the final victory parade. But the headline is already written, the newspaper is already printed, the championship gear is already for sale. We are the champions!!!!!!! Let’s feel and live and love and sing and shout and dance a little more like champions today!