Well the Super Bowl is behind us finally, and the season is
finally over. The promised entertainment of the ads at $4.5 million for 30
seconds are over, and the deflation of footballs is behind us. A few months
reprieve from Cris Collinsworth, Jon Gruden, and all the other ex-NFL personnel
who stumbled into their current careers due to their past, regardless if they
had the talent or not. For the next few moths Sundays will start to be occupied
by baseball’s spring training, Sunday afternoon rides, and getting out of the
house as the calendar tells us it is February, and only 10 weeks until spring,
or spring like weather everywhere. And churches everywhere will not have to
compete with the NFL for Sunday attendance. For those who remember the Sabbath
and keep it football, they will be left with one less reason or excuse to attend
church on Sunday. But as I was watching yesterday, it dawned on me that the NFL
has become not only a religion to many, but also a denominational influence in
our daily lives. And for many run their Christian schedule around it, which
explains Saturday night service attendance increasing on days the Chargers play
at 1030am, or like last Saturday night which was Super Bowl Eve. But let’s
take a look at the NFL, and its influence on us, and see if maybe it has become
a religion, and we just don’t know it. Or we do, and don’t care....
Sunday is considered the Sabbath, and football consumes Sundays,
all day, like many used to spend in church. You sit mesmerized listening and
watching intently, taking communion over chips and soda, or something harder,
and even more religious. Like today’s media, you can hear it while traveling in
your car, stream it on your computer, or go in person. Where they demand a fee
for your attendance, pass the donation plate please. Like any old line
denomination they have very set rules, a leader, and a board who makes the
rules, and they are there to administer punishment when someone screws up. In
less it is one of them, and any lie out of Mr. Goodell’s mouth is considered
truth. Until the next lie counteracts it. You either play by their rules or
you don’t play at all. Membership is available to only a chosen few, all others
just follow. Blindly. Official product endorsements are sold, like
indulgences, and the funds go to the mother, I mean father church, the NFL.
Which does not pay any taxes, set up just like it is a religious organization.
You either play by their rules or face ex-communication, unless you are popular,
have a good attorney, or are Mr. Goodell. All things are done for the good of
the league, individuals must adhere or their membership is revoked, they are
ex-communicated and must worship elsewhere. Rules and codes of conduct are
laid, and changed as social conditions prevail, and then their gospel is is
rewritten to accommodate them. Elders are present on the field to administer
and enforce the rules, companies pay huge fees to be associated with them, and
they worship the NFL, and its leaders all are held to a higher regard, but not
necessarily a higher standard. They have become like the infamous Borgias of
Catholic church fame, who once claimed they could do anything with the papacy as
long as they were pope. A family tradition handed down. But sadly like many
forms of religion breaking off from God, they have become a cult. Their way or
the highway, unless you can buy your way back in. Between the fans, the
players, the owners, and all the endorsements, the NFL has chose to remember the
Sabbath, and to keep it holy, if thy name is NFL. With players becoming heroes,
then gods to many who emulate them, parading around like they are Pharisees,
even the signing of their name commands a fee, and their yearly rally ends in
something regarded as Super, with only the wealthy able to attend. Seems more
than one cult claims entrance to their heaven based on works here on earth, and
that their members prosper in earthly wealth to prove their holiness. Yet on
the day of judgment, what they did on the field and off, and who they worshipped
will not keep them from hell. “But we gave huge sums to help build fields for
kids, we donated our time when available, and even the kids we fathered to their
unwed mothers we never forgot, we paid our child support.” How special one
defensive back, calling himself the best, was available for a phone call when
his girlfriend was in labor. He may become a father, does he have what it takes
to be a dad? From Ray Rice and others who abuse the women in their lives, now
we have ads telling us it is wrong, one ride along on a Saturday night can
reinforce that. You don’t have to be a star to be a loser. On or off the
field. If only OJ had known God instead of self adoration, two people may be
alive today. I wonder how big the screen was he watched the Super Bowl on? Or
Aaron Hernandez, whose new locker room is an 8x10 cell. With only a home
uniform for his new home.
Yet many will continue to worship at the feet of the NFL,
forgoing true worship and missing out on a true God, just to be entertained. To
follow a sport with so many rules to not get hurt, but yet so violent it spills
over into their daily lives. And for three hours on Sunday its fans worship
their team, yet cannot find an hour to worship God. As I watched the players
hugging and touching the Trophy yesterday, I saw how far we have really fallen
as a society, but also God’s grace at work. A trophy with a man’s name on it,
worshipped and adored, yet a man who died for us all forgotten. But He is
patient that none should perish, even sports stars. And when they or we turn
our backs on him, he still stays close, the spirit telling us we need Jesus,
despite the ads telling us we need the NFL. In a game where gambling is
illegal, but yet the odds are made every week for every game, duplicity rules,
and like a double minded man, it is unstable in all its ways. Just like a
cult...and we have all fallen for it.
Fortunately we have mercy, offered for when we screw up, the
condition needed to obtain it. No instant replay, or overturned calls, Jesus
gets it right the first time. No two minute warning, when he is in you rlife
you are aware of what is going on, and he matters more than time. And
forgiveness, with no fines, indulgences, suspensions, or blackouts due to the
inability to fill the home team’s stadium. God is willing to listen, and meets
you where you are. He is for every one, not just the chosen ones, and we even
find him in the NFL, as some are strong in their faith and choose God first.
Ambassadors placed among teams, just like many in prison minister to other
inmates, and those on the street minister to others. God is not a franchise,
nor Jesus a team you try out for, your sin makes you eligible, his forgiveness
and acceptance available to all. Rookies, veterans, and even those who never
played the game. His law is love, and his season never ends. And while the NFL
struggles with concussions and looks for a new way to protect, or more rules,
Jesus offers the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, and the breastplate of
righteousness, in a size that fits the person perfectly. With no number or name
on the back for identification purposes. He knows our name....and also the
score.
In the Super Bowl only one team can win, the other considered a
loser. Everything else it took to get there no longer matters, yet in life we
all can win with Jesus. He plays no favorites, and when our playing days are
over we retire to heaven and get a new body. Ask Joe Namath the importance of
new knees, or anyone with a concussion if all the pain and fame is worth it.
And now that the season is over, let me offer an invite to church. To meet the
real star, the real hero of heaven. Long after the season ends, the playing
days are over, and the Raiders move to LA, or will it be the Chargers, Jesus
will still be Lord of all. King of Kings, and still offering love and
forgiveness to all. Leaving the choice up to you. Maybe the NFL isn’t listed
on a cult list, but it sure has become cult like. Mirroring the things of God,
but with no true God involved. Accepting a facsimile, instead of the truth. My
season seat is reserved in heaven, right on the 50 yard line by God. Where you
sit in eternity depends on whose team you follow today. As for me and my team,
we will worship the Lord...what does a man profit if his team wins the Super
Bowl but loses heaven? How sad to get to the Super Bowl and lose. Or win and
fall farther away. No matter the sport, the wages of sin are still death.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthw25biker.blogspot.com