The Christian Life: A Life of Discipline

April 18, 2023

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.  1 Corinthians 9:24-27

It was the Spring of 1963.  The Baptist General Convention of Texas in cooperation with the Southern Baptist Foreign Board and the Japan Baptist Convention entered into The Japan New Life Movement.  A large contingent of pastors and lay persons from the United States cooperated with the churches in Japan to conduct evangelistic meetings.  The kickoff for the movement was held in the Tokyo Baseball Stadium.  Thousands attended.  

Japan was preparing for the Olympic Games in 1964.  I served as the stateside coordinator and enlisted well-known Christian athletes to travel to Japan and share their testimony of what Jesus meant to them.

Among those was Wilma Rudolph who had won three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Wilma was a dedicated believer in Jesus.  She agreed to go and speak for the Lord. She was immensely popular in Japan.  

Books have been written about Wilma.  The following is a brief synopsis.

Wilma Rudolph was born in 1940, the 20th of 22 children in her family. She was stricken with polio when she was very young. As you can imagine, she grew up in poverty and in very challenging circumstances. Her family had a deep Christian faith, though, and they taught her that God had a purpose for her life.

1940 may as well have been the Middle Ages for polio patients, compared to what medical science can do today. Wilma’s doctors told her family over and over again, “She’ll never walk.” Wilma’s mother refused to give up, and she faithfully massaged Wilma’s legs every day for years. It worked. Wilma eventually improved just enough that the doctors put her in leg braces. Her mother was still determined not to give up until Wilma was completely well, and Wilma Rudolph was able to walk without those clunky braces by the time she was 12.

Wilma learned something from her mother about not giving up and not giving in. By the time Wilma was 15 years old, she could run so well that she started winning races. She won so many races that she came to be known as the Tennessee Tornado. She made the 1956 U.S. Olympic team when she was just 16.

 In her testimony, Wilma cited that she owed her life, here and in eternity, to her Lord Jesus, her Christian family who loved her and the Apostle Paul’s words on discipline.

 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Col 2:6-7

Frank Gillham