What Football Fans Can Teach Christians

During the 2004 Football season I saw a report on TV about the preparations many people make for attending football games. These activities included travel plans, elaborate tailgate/meal parties, expensive tickets, banners, makeup and more. It also showed fans braving incredible weather conditions with nary a complaint! The report was not covering playoffs or Bowl games just regular season games.

I do not recall a critical word in the report. In fact, it was nice to see people enjoying themselves, relaxing, getting together, and excited.

At the time, I did not think much about it. Well I did think the guys prancing about in their makeup and no coats or shirts in freezing weather were, well, crazy. However, reflecting back on it I think many Christians in North America can learn some important lessons from these football fanatics.

One lesson is commitment.
There are people who will do almost anything to make sure they get to the game. In some places I lived, I knew not to schedule anything on Friday evening because that is the time of the local High School football game. If you watch College games on TV, you see large numbers of fans who follow their teams all across the country to be at the games. They even arrange everything else around the games. Even today, people do that for a game they could watch at home on TV! Some people even have to plan their weddings around football games.

How does our commitment as Christians compare with that? A few miles are too far to go to attend a Worship service, whether at our home church or a special one across town. Rather than arranging our plans around Bible studies and services, it seems like any excuse is sufficient to keep us away. In other words instead of being high commitment items, they are very low on that list. Think of Paul making a point of attending Services in the various cities he traveled to, even though he often knew it would lead to trouble as well as opportunity.

Another lesson is the value of getting together. Why go to the trouble, inconvenience, and expense of going to a game instead of watching it on TV? One reason is that the live experiences are so different from the TV experience and the TV experience is in many ways inferior. There is something about a group experience that is more intense than a solo one. It is kind of like the difference between listening to a CD and going to a concert.

Again compare that to the behavior of many Christians. They are healthy enough and have the means to go to services or studies, but only watch the TV preachers.

These football fanatics can also teach us something about passion. When they enter a game they do not expect to be bored, they do not look for worst back row seat, and they do not plan to sit there quietly or inattentively. Instead, they enter the stadium excited and planning on seeing something great happening. Not only do they look for good and frequently front row seats, they pay extra for them! As far as being passionate, you see the fans jumping up and down, talking, screaming, and all kinds of behavior. They are definitely attentive and in touch with each moment of the game.

Contrast that passionate involvement with the behavior of the normal North American Christian. We do not expect much, typically look for the worst back row seat, do not pay much attention, and often do not get involved much at all. Unlike the people of Nehemiah's day, "And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away." {Nehemiah 12:43}

Think about your attitude toward Church Services, then plan / prepare for Sunday's Services like they are the great gatherings they can be.

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker March 2005



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker