I once told a friend I could make a theological point based on anything. We then proceeded to have a theological discussion based on an odd sock…
However, I think I may have exaggerated. Because a different friend requested football in a post. I am not an avid follower of football, I much prefer playing sport to watching it. I know there are 2 teams who are trying to score a goal while defending their own. I know there are some serious rivalries between teams (growing up, it was a big deal whether you supported Portsmouth or Southampton…) I know a lot of young people join football teams or play it in the playground. I know that at games there is a sense of unity between fans, with spontaneous outbursts of songs, collective cheering and groaning and colour-coded clothing.
So, having shown off my ignorance, can I also write a post about football that links to God? I’ll let you decide that.
My sport of choice is badminton. I’ve been playing it since I was 6. I was part of a local club where I trained alongside others. I won, I lost, I fell over (a lot!) I got a few trophies for winning too. And when I progressed though the levels, I stayed and helped the younger players to train. I’d play in a way that would help them learn rather than win. And I’d encourage them. But I was much more of a player than a watcher.
Unless it was in a team match. Then I’d love to watch my team. I shout encouragement from the side and come alongside players when disappointment hit.
That’s something I can appreciate about football. Players cheering each other on and picking each other up, coaches on the side shouting and everyone striving for the same thing: a desire to win. And to get to that level, with football as with badminton, you have to practice basic skills and help each other out to get better. And when you don’t get it right, the coach/trainer is there telling you how to improve, pushing you to do better all the time. Well, the good ones do anyway.
And that’s a good analogy for God. If your a player on the field, God is right alongside shouting encouragement and advice. And when you get it doesn’t go your way, God has your back. And Christians, just like footballers, need to practice basic skills. (Unlike footballers, the practice isn’t in private – practice for Christians is everyday life and everyone sees when you get it wrong…) And just like a coach, God knows when you can do better and encourages/pushes/demands more. Not because it’s not good enough, but because you can do better.
And like on a football pitch where there is a team of players with the same aim working together, there are fellow Christians that should be working together too. Each with their own role and own skills and strengths, working together to get the best out of each other and win. Unlike football, Christians don’t win points or trophies, but they might be able to win hearts, and there is a promised goal of everlasting life to aim for.
OK, maybe pushing the analogy too much. But Jesus is like the coach who has been there, done that and know is passing on experience to us. He will defend us, but he will also push us to do better when he knows we can. And he wants as many people on the team as possible. I’m on Jesus’ team, and I’m playing to win.
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