By Matt Osborne, Staff Writer

When you think about dominant players in Major League Baseball over the past decade, the first player that might pop into your mind is Los Angeles Angels outfielder, Mike Trout.

During his illustrious career, Trout has made 11 All-Star appearances, won three American League MVPs, and led the league in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) five times. He is a complete five-tool player who routinely produces highlight-reel plays as he makes the extraordinary look effortless.

But despite his impressive individual accolades, the Angels have failed to produce much team success during Trout’s tenure. Since Trout joined the Angels in 2011, the organization has only reached the playoffs on one occasion (2014), meaning that the best player in Major League Baseball has spent much of his athletic prime playing on below-average teams.

Though many people would have been understanding if Trout decided to force a move to a more successful organization to maximize his winning potential, Trout has remained loyal to the Angels.

He’s said on numerous occasions he’s committed to winning but desires the winning to take place with the Angels.

If you listen to baseball pundits talk about Trout’s loyalty to the Angels, some will say it’s a shame to see Trout waste his talent on such subpar teams. Others will recommend he immediately abandon ship and look for greener pastures elsewhere.

Regardless of what you think Trout should do moving forward, there’s certainly a lot to be said about someone who sticks with an organization when all is not going well and the players around them are underperforming.

As followers of Jesus, we’re part of an “organization” that’s even more important than a Major League franchise: the Church. Similarly to the case of Trout, each of us will experience moments in our walk with the Lord when our “teammates” will let us down and our “organization” will not be doing so well.

Yet, no matter how much chaos and disarray we may encounter in church, God has commanded us to demonstrate loyalty to the organization He’s instituted to help us mature in our faith.

In a portion of Scripture where the Apostle Paul is discussing the importance of unity in the body of Christ, he comments in Ephesians 4:15-16 (NIV), “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is, Christ. From Him, the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Being around our fellow believers in the context of a local church helps us grow and mature in our faith. Yes, the people in the church are sinners just like you and me, and they will undoubtedly let you down at some point.

But the flaws and shortcomings of others don’t negate the fact that we should demonstrate loyalty in participating in a local church where we can grow alongside other believers.

Even when things are not looking the best, our heart’s desire should be to see the Church (locally and globally) flourish and become all that God desires it to be.

Rather than abandoning the ship, we should move forward with love, grace, resolve, and biblical wisdom to become a blessing to the organization as a whole. (Sure, God may lead us to a different local church or call us to help start a new one, which requires discernment, but that’s another topic.)

There are many ways we could attempt to justify not being a part of a local church body but any excuse we might have should fade away once we recall the command of Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV):

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

So today, let’s not let the failures of others (or any other reason) keep us from being active participants in a local church. By doing so we’ll mature in our faith and bring glory to the One who purchased the Church with His blood (Acts 20:28).

I’m Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing me to be part of Your church. Please help me show mercy and grace to fellow believers when they sin against me, and help me be a blessing to others as I navigate life alongside them. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.