Thursday, December 10, 2009

The Religion of the SEC


In my part of the world - about 45 miles north of Tuscaloosa, Alabama  (For the uninformed and those outside of the US, that is the home of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide) there is a good bit of excitement concerning the Tide's number 1 ranking and defeat of the Florida Gators.  In the past few days numerous people, both friends and strangers, will stop others who are decked out in Crimson and White or Houndstooth to talk about NCAA Football and specifically Bama's rise to title-hood and their hopes for a 13th National Championship.  In the SEC Football is almost if not already on par with religion.  Most will change churches before they change which team they follow. With all this in mind I made the following observations.

1. We make time for football.  We will set aside time weekly if not daily to watch or read about our favorite teams and players.
2. We support football financially.  We buy tickets to games, travel great distances to attend those games.  We buy clothing and other paraphernalia in support of our team.
3. We raise our children to love football.  I have friends who refuse to let the colors of their rivals to enter their house.
4. We get excited about football. We love for our team to win.  We can't wait to go to a game or watch them on TV.

Now consider the following passages:
"I was glad when then said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'" Psalm 122:1
"Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice!" Phil 4:4

Can I and do I get enthusiastically excited about the things of God?

Scott

2 comments:

Tim Archer said...

I find it funny that we can do just about anything as a sports fanatic and be respected by society, but can't express the same sort of "fanaticism" in our religion.

I don't plan to paint my face before going to worship, but I hope to be a bigger supporter of my God than I am of my favorite team.

Grace and peace,
Tim Archer

Scott said...

Painting my face before worship -- LOL never thought about that. Half in Crimson for the blood of Christ the other half White being made righteous in Him with a Cross in Gray following my eyebrows and down my nose to my chin . . .