Football is our National Religion

Football is our National Religion

Multitudes of people will go to church this weekend. But the “church” will be a stadium. They will be involved in a worship experience, but the object of their worship will not be God, but a team of exceptional humans. Some might call this a violation of the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

The likenesses (and differences) abound. Surely there will be more people observing from home than in person. This happens in churches, or, out of church buildings, as well. People say they worship from home, but while they may be interested in what happens on the screen, they are free to go grab a yogurt from the refrigerator. I’m not sure when it slips from the level of “worship” to “auditing the class,” but lack of personal presence makes a difference.

Worship attire. It used to be in Christian churches that all the men wore ties and all that goes with it. You could tell they belonged. That day has passed, but not in the stadium. You would be out of place without your team colors, and if you are for the other team, you stick out and are ridiculed. You could put choir robes on the home crowd and they would not look more like a unit than these thousands of fans.

The preachers, however, are wearing suits, mostly men, and they wear far more well-fitting clothes than most of the preachers’ suits I ever saw. They may offer a few prophetic words, but most of their comments are analysis of the present situation. That seems true in Christian churches as well. There seems to be a lot less “thus says the Lord” these days.

I’m not sure if the song team is represented by the half-time show or the cheerleaders. Both seem to be important to the production, but there is a difference, I hope. The football religion uses the sidelines and show to attract people through blunt sensuality. Worship leaders in Christian churches seek to direct attention to Christ rather than themselves, or at least that is how it is supposed to work. But there is another difference. In recent times in our churches, the song time is now called “worship,” and after the “worship” is done, then comes the preacher. I’m not sure what they call his part. In football, the central event continues to be "the game," not the halftime show.

But what is the point of the “game”? It is to win. That is, I want my team to win and the other team to lose. The home fans want to go home happy, and they want the visiting fans to go home miserable. There is an enmity that is set in motion, and it may be "only a game,” and off-the-field violence is looked down on, but the word “hatred” is not uncommon. You love your coach and the other coach is a bum, or quarterback, or whatever. In churches, we cannot tell so easily the friends from the foes, and we are to love everyone nonetheless. We should not forget, however, that it is not primarily how one is welcomed to the church building, but what is their eternal destiny that should be of primary concern. If the Gospel message offends those without Christ, then that is an offense that should be risked. But no, we do not hate unbelievers, or, the other team.

There are likenesses and differences between fandom and Christendom. The personal and emotional engagement of the people is interesting. While churches have technological means to “amp up” the experience, I have never seen the level of engagement in church that I saw in the stadium, at least when there are high hopes of winning. And yet, Christians know that they are overcomers because Christ is the Winner. And yet, Christians can sleep their way through a worship service, something that never happens at a football game, the real religion of our land.

Away from Sin; Toward Sinners

 Away from Sin; Toward Sinners

The first time the word “sinner” is used in the Bible is Genesis 13:13: “Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the LORD.” An important part of this story is that Sodom is where Lot, the nephew of Abram, lived. He shouldn’t have been there, and it almost cost him his life. It did indeed take the life of his wife. So when should we move toward sinners, and not away from them?

Let me use my bicycle illustration. Bicycles are great for staying upright when they are moving forward. But when they stand still, they fall over. So also with Christians in relation to sinners. If Lot were in Sodom on mission with the intent purpose of converting sinners, he may have been ok, and the community may have seen benefit. But in that he appeared not to have a mind for mission, he and his family were deeply affected by the worldliness of that place, and they had little or no influence on the hearts of their neighbors.

There is no doubt that hanging out with sinners is dangerous business. But the very notion of “hanging out” argues against being on mission. I’ve heard so many youth pastors describe their ministry as “hanging out” with the kids. I have a hard time seeing how “hanging out” is a Biblical ministry strategy or part of God’s mission. Yes, sinners are dangerous. Do you remember the verse in Proverbs: 1:10 “My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.” Be on guard. Don’t merely hang out. Be on mission, or go home.

Even in a “mission” verse, care is advised: Gal. 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” We are commanded to move toward sinners, in mission. The mission of Jesus would lead us to this conclusion. But, be on guard.

So let’s look at a couple of points for the Christian who would engage with sinners for the sake of pointing them to Christ. First, as the title above suggests, we need to be those who continually turn away from sin. Not toward sin, but away from it. And the wrong direction can happen in our minds and hearts before we know it. We want to be liked. We want to be popular. We want to be funny. But when we begin to become more like the sinners to whom we are (supposedly) on mission and less like Jesus, something is wrong. We have not been watching our hearts. We have not been brutally honest about temptations that are working on us and in us. We have failed at the first point: turning from sin.

Secondly, have we substituted hanging out with mission? As I have said, they are two different things. How can you tell? Let me ask this question: Have you prayed for them, one by one, by name? If you are not praying for them, then you are not on mission. You are merely hanging out, like, you know, Lot.

Mission will seek to expose the worldview of those with whom you engage. Always with love and compassion, we show contrasts between the way they view the world and the view of the redeemed. We seek to point to Scriptures as illustration or direction to support our points. Sometimes we refer to Bible stories as illustrations of Biblical truth. We seek to mention Jesus. There is no pulpit nor sermon, and our words can be dismissed or rejected. But as real friends, we want people to know that there is something more than money; something far greater than the present order.

These principles apply in every arena where you are in contact with unbelievers - you are either on mission, or in grave danger. Either you are praying for the people with whom you do business of one kind or another, or you are in danger of being preyed upon. You are either bringing Christ into focus in the lives of others, or you losing the focus on Christ that makes mission possible.

Prayer List

Prayer List

Perhaps you are a “list” person. Perhaps you are not. In any case, if you are a Christian, you are to be a “prayer” person, list or not. Let’s think about it for a few moments.

Lists are helpful so that we revisit what we once thought was a good idea. We all have many good ideas, but if we lose track of them, what good are they? Lists help to create patterns and habits. These are good things. By the way: a new church directory is coming out - an excellent list from which to pray.

But habits and patterns can become wooden. It is not that they are wrong, but they can lose heart. Have you ever memorized a passage of Scripture so that you can say it without even thinking about it? Does anyone think this is a good thing? So as we use lists, we must still engage the whole person with the task, which in this case is prayer.

But the Spirit of God who prompts and directs our prayers in ways that are beyond us is not tied to your list. He has the freeedom to move you to brand new territory, or to bring up an old subject that you had no intention of praying about. And this is most definitely a good thing. It would be excellent for any of us, whether list person or not, to daily ask the Spirit what He would have us pray about today.

But apart from one’s view of lists, there is another divide that can help us broaden our prayers: my concerns vs. God's concerns. You might think that God is interested in your concerns, and you are right, at least partly. But God may also wish that you were concerned about bigger and better things. Let’s try an easy one: Jesus is coming again.

If Jesus is coming again, and He is, so says Scripture, then it should shape our prayers. It is the next major “salvation” event that will change everything. It is bigger than wars and world leaders. It is bigger than economy or health. Jesus’ coming will move us from this age of preparation to an age of fulfillment and consummation. Little will be the same.

And so if this is true (and, if it’s not, then why even bother to pray), then what kind of prayers should we pray? The prayers will have to do with essential activities before that Coming Day comes. There will be prayers about salvation and all that leads up to it, like consistent Christian living and evangelism. There will be a deep and consistent interest in the workings of the Gospel so that we can explain and defend the Good News well. There will be prayers prayed for those for whom we are burdened, and the Spirit will cause us to be burdened for those that we do not yet know. With regard to our own selves, there will be close attention paid to holy living and, conversely, stubborn sins. There will be prayers of repentance and humility. Now, is that how our prayers typically go?

There is an old song that goes, “Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.” If that is true, then our prayers will have an excitement about seeing Jesus, not merely by faith, but face to face. We study Him and fellowship with Him now, by faith, so that we might recognize Him when we see Him with our eyes. You might think that is silly, and that everyone would recognize Him on that day. But I would remind you they didn’t recognize Him the first time He came. Those who are excited to see Jesus may actually talk to Him more than they talk to any other Person. Would that describe your prayer life?

It seems that the Church as we know it does not take prayer all that seriously, nor do we take the Coming of Christ so seriously as it deserves. When we are more enamored by worldly issues that will matter not-at-all in eternity, then it seems we need to sit down and make a list. A prayer list.

Existential

Existential

We have heard the word “existential,” or, “existential threat” quite a bit in the news lately with regard to the upcoming election. One side believes that the election of the opposing party’s candidate would pose an “existential threat,” but it is not clear what exactly is the risk, or even the meaning of the word.

True to form, this article is not designed to favor one candidate or the other. Our purpose is to think a bit theologically about what is and what is not actually existential.

Biblically, I would point to three events that are existential. The first is the creation of the world by God, including the heavens and the earth, the waters and dry land, the plants and animals, and yes, mankind. We owe our existence to this act, and therefore it is an existential act from our point of view. God had existence apart from creation, but we did not.

The second existential event is in the future, and we can call it “Judgment Day.” It is not that some part of mankind will go out of existence based on the verdict of that day (though some would like to believe that), but the categories that are attached to the verdict are two: condemnation, or justification; continuing into eternity under the curse, or enjoy the blessing of God’s favor forever. Though existence is not in question, one’s experience of that existence is determined at that time, and without any hope of future remedy. One’s experience of existence is one of the ways that the word “existential” is used.

In between Creation and Judgment there was another event that brings focus and fulfillment to the first two events: the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, the eternal Son of God and intimately involved in creation will also be critical at the time of judgment as well, since each human’s response to Jesus will be determinative of his/her future relation with God. Have you bowed to Jesus’ authority and believed in His work and His words? Is He your Savior and Lord? It is an existential question.

When we as Christians frame the word “existential” in this way, in my opinion, it reduces arguments about other so-called existential threats as rather silly. If Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful man in the world in his day, could be reduced by God to a madman who ate grass like a cow, those who would have claimed him to be an existential threat would have been thoroughly wrong. When Scripture says that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39), then the outcome of human exercises and human prognostications may be interesting and important, but so long as God is on the throne and we remember the wonders of Creation and Judgment and the Cross and the Empty Tomb, we can, as Scripture says, risk losing our lives for Jesus’ sake and the Gospel’s, and save our lives (Mk 8:35). If not, we may “gain the whole world, but forfeit one’s own soul” (Mark 8:36).

It seems that other than what God has revealed as existential, we have little knowledge of the gravity of other events. Red lines are drawn for a reason, but we don’t really know what would happen when those red lines are crossed. If the world’s temperature, however it is measured, climbs above a critical point, we don’t know for sure how critical it will be. We never know how good, or how bad the new coach of our favorite team will be; or how a judge or Supreme Court justice will render decisions, or even how a President will perform under pressure. We just do not know.

But the consequence of using a serious word, like “existential,” in silly ways only serves to devalue its proper use. In any case, God is still on the throne, and it is existentially the only throne that matters.