Why Christians should be more like football fans

[TomUK]

I am challenged by football fans.

The devoted football fan will be at the match every week - they will not miss a game. They don't just think "i can't be bothered with it today". They are devoted. Are you devoted to the Lord God?

Your devoted fan arrives early. A football fan is preparing himself for it always. He doesn't rush through it. The football fan then talks about it all week. When was the last time you were spending the same ammounts of time, energy and passion discussing things of God?

After you've had a bible study in your cell or home group, do you go to the pub and analyse every detail of it?

For the football fan extra time is a bonus, not a drag. If you were listening to a sermon that had been going on for 20 minutes and the Priest said the sermon was going to go on for another 30 minutes, would you be excited? Or would you be looking at your watch constantly?

The football fan isn't only happy to invest their time - they'll invest their money. They'll buy the shirts, the hats, the DVD, the flags to go on their car to let the whole world know what team they support. They don't mind giving their money to their team- to help their time become the team that everyone wants to join.

If he can't see the match, the footbal fan will catch up later. Real football fans will watch the midnight edition of Match of the Day if they have missed any footballing news that day. When you miss Church, do you make an atempt to go to a Monday mass instead? Do you get a tape of the sermon? Do you find out what the lectionary readings are and catch up? If you don't say your prayers in the morning, do you ensure you catch up later in the day?

The football fan knows the words to the songs. He doesn't need a large screen to project the words to 'Three Lions', or a dusty hymanl to known the words to 'England 5, Germany 1'. Why? Because he sings the songs everywhere he goes. Not just in the stadium, but on the streets, in the pub, at work. How often do you sing the praises of the living God, the Lord, the creator of the heavens and the earth? How often do you sing, not just because you're in church - just... because!

The football fan is unashamed to show their colours. An Ipswich fan (me) wouldn't dream of acting like a Norwich fan just to fit in. Why do we do that with God then?

We are put to shame by football fans. Our devotion to the one who saved us from sin is nothing compared to devotion of many to football. I think that's a challenge to us all.

[No Swansong]

What a wonderful post but how did you get a football score of 1?

[SirTimothy]

He's talking about soccer, jtbdad. :)

Timothy (Fully bilingual english-american translator at your service)

[No Swansong]

He's talking about soccer, jtbdad. :)

Timothy (Fully bilingual english-american translator at your service)


I am aware I just wanted to see if he would bite. :D

BTW there are times I could use a good English-American translator.

[TomUK]

At least you're admiting that Americans don't speak English! :D

[No Swansong]

At least you're admiting that Americans don't speak English! :D


Yeah I'm not exactly sure what we speak. It's English based anyway.;)

[Keturah]

Great post :thumbsup:

[RedneckAnglican]

that's why I'm a Saints fan...

[No Swansong]

that's why I'm a Saints fan...

Gotta go with my Cats here! (Bengals)

[TomUK]

that's why I'm a Saints fan...


Uhhmm...



:idea:


you mean St. John, St Luke, St Polycarp, St Francis, i'm a fan of them too i suppose.

[No Swansong]

Uhhmm...



:idea:


you mean St. John, St Luke, St Polycarp, St Francis, i'm a fan of them too i suppose.


Well he might like them but I think he was referring in this post to 'Nawlins'

[RedneckAnglican]

Well he might like them but I think he was referring in this post to 'Nawlins'

actually I was refering to both...

[No Swansong]

actually I was refering to both...

Oh I get it now! Wow, time that one with a calendar?

[RedneckAnglican]

Oh I get it now! Wow, time that one with a calendar?

when I played football that how they timed me...if I was in really good shape...they used a sundial...

[No Swansong]

when I played football that how they timed me...if I was in really good shape...they used a sundial...

I hear ya; Speed (or actually lack thereof) was the primary reason I played interior defensive line instead of cornerback. I was the only high school player in the district on the defensive line that weighed 135 #. (Top tackler on the defense too)

[contriteheart]

At least you're admiting that Americans don't speak English! :D

My folks once saw a sign in a pub in England: "English spoken here. American understood." :D

-Grace

[RedneckAnglican]

I hear ya; Speed (or actually lack thereof) was the primary reason I played interior defensive line instead of cornerback. I was the only high school player in the district on the defensive line that weighed 135 #. (Top tackler on the defense too)

OT/DT...all district 7A...of course that was in 1986...

[Colabomb]

He's talking about soccer, jtbdad. :)

Timothy (Fully bilingual english-american translator at your service)

Than why did he say football :P

Anyway, football season is just starting to show its face around here, so we yanks are getting all excited and red in the face.

[contriteheart]

The football fan is unashamed to show their colours. An Ipswich fan (me) wouldn't dream of acting like a Norwich fan just to fit in. Why do we do that with God then?

This is my favorite line. Ouch.

Thanks for sharing this, Tom. It was very good.

-Grace

[RedneckAnglican]

Than why did he say football :P

Anyway, football season is just starting to show its face around here, so we yanks are getting all excited and red in the face.

football is my life...if it were not for football...i would not be playing football today...

[No Swansong]

OT/DT...all district 7A...of course that was in 1986...

Regional honorable mention, When I played unfortunately the district had a rule against playing both ways. I was quite a guard as well. Unfortunately I got beat up pretty bad on offense most of the time.
My senior year we played a 5-2 and they put me at middle guard. The coach told me that my only assignment was to get into the backfield and cause as much havoc as possible. I loved it. I had more sacks that year than the previous 3.

[RedneckAnglican]

Regional honorable mention, When I played unfortunately the district had a rule against playing both ways. I was quite a guard as well. Unfortunately I got beat up pretty bad on offense most of the time.
My senior year we played a 5-2 and they put me at middle guard. The coach told me that my only assignment was to get into the backfield and cause as much havoc as possible. I loved it. I had more sacks that year than the previous 3.

we played a 4-6 zone...this was the same year the Bears used it to get to the super bowl...

[karen freeinchristman]

Hey, the subject of the OP was SOCCER! ;)


When I lived in San Diego, I was a Chargers fan.

I even got a job selling sweatshirts and T-shirts at the stadium when they were in the Superbowl in San Diego.

[RedneckAnglican]

Hey, the subject of the OP was SOCCER! ;)


When I lived in San Diego, I was a Chargers fan.

I even got a job selling sweatshirts and T-shirts at the stadium when they were in the Superbowl in San Diego.

soccer?....what is this soccer you speak of?...

I had a roommate in boarding school who was a big Chargers fan...I would see lightning bolts in my sleep...

[karen freeinchristman]

soccer?....what is this soccer you speak of?...

I had a roommate in boarding school who was a big Chargers fan...I would see lightning bolts in my sleep...
Most of the time they were rubbish.

[PaladinWithGun2]

I am challenged by football fans.

The devoted football fan will be at the match every week - they will not miss a game. They don't just think "i can't be bothered with it today". They are devoted. Are you devoted to the Lord God?

Your devoted fan arrives early. A football fan is preparing himself for it always. He doesn't rush through it. The football fan then talks about it all week. When was the last time you were spending the same ammounts of time, energy and passion discussing things of God?

After you've had a bible study in your cell or home group, do you go to the pub and analyse every detail of it?

For the football fan extra time is a bonus, not a drag. If you were listening to a sermon that had been going on for 20 minutes and the Priest said the sermon was going to go on for another 30 minutes, would you be excited? Or would you be looking at your watch constantly?

The football fan isn't only happy to invest their time - they'll invest their money. They'll buy the shirts, the hats, the DVD, the flags to go on their car to let the whole world know what team they support. They don't mind giving their money to their team- to help their time become the team that everyone wants to join.

If he can't see the match, the footbal fan will catch up later. Real football fans will watch the midnight edition of Match of the Day if they have missed any footballing news that day. When you miss Church, do you make an atempt to go to a Monday mass instead? Do you get a tape of the sermon? Do you find out what the lectionary readings are and catch up? If you don't say your prayers in the morning, do you ensure you catch up later in the day?

The football fan knows the words to the songs. He doesn't need a large screen to project the words to 'Three Lions', or a dusty hymanl to known the words to 'England 5, Germany 1'. Why? Because he sings the songs everywhere he goes. Not just in the stadium, but on the streets, in the pub, at work. How often do you sing the praises of the living God, the Lord, the creator of the heavens and the earth? How often do you sing, not just because you're in church - just... because!

The football fan is unashamed to show their colours. An Ipswich fan (me) wouldn't dream of acting like a Norwich fan just to fit in. Why do we do that with God then?

We are put to shame by football fans. Our devotion to the one who saved us from sin is nothing compared to devotion of many to football. I think that's a challenge to us all.

Amen, brother.
Think of the fire that football fans have in regards to their teams, their relentless loyalty even in the midst of adversity and ridicule (for all have their poor seasons, as it were). They can quote to you the statistics of their favorite players' performances this year, last, and career. They can even forego the fails of some in their midst because of the devotion they have to the team. Yes, we have much we could stand to emulate.

Shawn
fan of the Seattle Seahawks and Manchester United.

[RedneckAnglican]

Most of the time they were rubbish.

esp. in the mid 80's...when I was in boarding school...

[No Swansong]

Most of the time they were rubbish.

Does it matter? I have a Bengals fan since their inception.

[PaladinWithGun2]

Does it matter? I have a Bengals fan since their inception.

Nope. Loyalty is in staying true...I hate band-wagon fans.

Shawn

[No Swansong]

Nope. Loyalty is in staying true...I hate band-wagon fans.

Shawn


While I don't hate anyone I must admit that those who change "favorite teams" like the weather do get on my nerves.

Shoot I'm also a Buckeyes and a Navy fan (for personal reasons) I certainly know what it is like to lose. (Well not the Bucks so much)

[PaladinWithGun2]

While I don't hate anyone I must admit that those who change "favorite teams" like the weather do get on my nerves.

Shoot I'm also a Buckeyes and a Navy fan (for personal reasons) I certainly know what it is like to lose. (Well not the Bucks so much)


NAVY? Ah, well. No one's perfect lol.

Shawn
GO ARMY!!!!!

[Colabomb]

While I don't hate anyone I must admit that those who change "favorite teams" like the weather do get on my nerves.

Shoot I'm also a Buckeyes and a Navy fan (for personal reasons) I certainly know what it is like to lose. (Well not the Bucks so much)
One year, I had a friend that changed loyalty, the day after Ohio State beat Michigan.

[TomUK]

Well, let us for a moment ignore those who have backslid to the firey hells of American football.

Does anybody have anything to add to my inital post? Do we as Christians have anything futher to learn from football fans (football being the beautiful game, not the game where you have to wear a shield in case your adam's apple gets grazed by a blade of grass and you stop for rests every 23 seconds. )

[Colabomb]

Well, let us for a moment ignore those who have backslid to the firey hells of American football.

Does anybody have anything to add to my inital post? Do we as Christians have anything futher to learn from football fans (football being the beautiful game, not the game where you have to wear a shield in case your adam's apple gets grazed by a blade of grass and you stop for rests every 23 seconds. )
Yes. I agree with everything posted in the OP. And it made me ashamed of myself.

Part of my sinfulness however, is that if the word football appears anywhere in a post, that will become the subject of the post.

Same with the words guitar, or Star Trek........

[Colabomb]

Well, let us for a moment ignore those who have backslid to the firey hells of American football.

Does anybody have anything to add to my inital post? Do we as Christians have anything futher to learn from football fans (football being the beautiful game, not the game where you have to wear a shield in case your adam's apple gets grazed by a blade of grass and you stop for rests every 23 seconds. )
BTW, Football players stop for rest because they just got the living daylights knocked out of them.

I played soccer in middle school. I can attest to the fact it is not nearly as contact as football lol.

[contriteheart]

Okay, here's a couple: football fans will park miles from the stadium and not grumble one bit about having to walk, no matter what the weather. People at church grumble about having to walk more than about 10 steps.

A goal is an occasion for wild, jubilant celebration; whereas a yawn seems to be best many can muster in response to the amazing salvation offered to us in Christ (unlike King David, who danced with joyful abandon before the Ark).

Football fans are not ashamed to make complete idiots out of themselves reveling in their favorite teams. Church people rarely will do anything that deviates even slightly from the 'norm'.

[No Swansong]

Okay, here's a couple: football fans will park miles from the stadium and not grumble one bit about having to walk, no matter what the weather. People at church grumble about having to walk more than about 10 steps. As a matter of fact, people in church often grumble about a lot of things.

A goal is an occasion for wild, jubilant celebration; whereas a yawn seems to be best many can muster in response to the amazing salvation offered to us in Christ (unlike King David, who danced with wild abandon before the Ark).


OUCH!!!

Very good

How about the fact that football fans are already looking forward to the next game before the end of the one they are at. A lot of Christians look at the end of the Mass (or service) as freedom for six days.

[contriteheart]

Okay, here's a really cynical one (you've had fair warning):

When football fans get in a fight, it's with the opposing team. It's messy, but it usually only lasts a few minutes, and causes maybe a few injuries. When church people get into a fight, it's usually with one another, often lasts for years, and causes numerous casualties and widespread destruction.

[karen freeinchristman]

Okay, here's a really cynical one (you've had fair warning):

When football fans get in a fight, it's with the opposing team. It's messy, but it usually only lasts a few minutes, and causes maybe a few injuries. When church people get into a fight, it's usually with one another, often lasts for years, and causes numerous casualties and widespread destruction.

Very sad, and true. :sigh:


Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy

[PaladinWithGun2]

When you lose a game, all is not lost, for there's always next season.

[karen freeinchristman]

When you lose a game, all is not lost, for there's always next season.

Yes, and with God we are able to ask for a second chance (a new season), too! :)