In my preferred version of football, Rugby League – the greatest game of all – there is an umpiring unit called “The Bunker”. It’s a place where a second referee sits in front of many TV monitors, to handle calls for the review of on-field decisions. But not a week goes by when somebody doesn’t call for it to be blown up. (Except of course when your team wins – then the Bunker handled the game quite well, don’t you think?)

The Apostle Paul must have liked his sports because he used many illustrations in his letters from the world of athletics; and even on one occasion, spoke of the Bunker. In his letter to the Colossians, he said: ‘Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.’ The word he uses for ‘rule’ is from the root ‘brabeus’, meaning an umpire or judge, whose role is to arbitrate, decide, govern; and especially in the world of sports to ensure a fair contest.

How does this spiritual umpire work? In two ways: personally and corporately. When I sin, I am a mess of disappointments and self-recriminations. But then the second umpire steps in. Your sin was paid for at the cross. So be at peace. Rest in his work. Resume the game, but not to sin. And when others sin against me, and there is conflict in the church, this second umpire takes the same line of reasoning, about the power of grace, and calls for concord and calm.