Pele from Brazil called it the beautiful game. It is the most popular sport in the world.
Television networks have several channels dedicated to this sport alone. This year the African Nations Championships (CHAN 2014) will be held in South Africa from January 11 to February 1 2014. The FIFA World Cup which was held in South Africa in 2010 will be in Brazil during June and July. If you are not a fan, you may not know what I am talking about. I am talking about football. The Americans call it soccer. As for South Africa, we are confused. We dont know whether to call it football or soccer.
I have always been amazed by the Christian spiritual language used in football. Look at the following headlines and comments:
The resurrection of Diego Maradona, Financial Times. Christianity talks about the resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Messi on a mission, FIFA.com. In Christianity we talk of missions, and many Christian players are using football fields as their mission fields. I will not forget the Zambian National Team huddling together for a prayer of thanksgiving just after winning the final of the African Cup of Nations.
Maradona says Ill snatch glory, Daily Star. Well, from Christian perspective, all believers will snatch the glory when Jesus returns, when they will appear with him in glory.
I touched Thierry Henrys hand, I know it is not like touching God, but it is close to it. A fan at the airport when French National team arrived in South Africa for 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Football is not a matter of life and death, it is more than that. Jose Mourinho, coach of Real Madrid at the time, now coach of Chelsea in England. We believe Christianity is a matter of life and death. Christianity is about how to obtain life and escape death in Jesus Christ.
There are many such quotes made by footballers, coaches and fans alike. One of the telling scriptures in the Bible is Romans 1:20. (NLT) In essence, it says that everything is spiritual, the universe and all that is in it. I believe this includes football! For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualitieshis eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
From a Christian spiritual point of view, let me tell you about the five things I believe football can teach us.
Firstly, in Christianity, all nations are included.
FIFA has 203 member countries whereas the UN has only 192 member countries. All countries on earth are members of FIFA, the world Football Association. Talking about Christianity, Paul says There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus(Galatians 3:28).
He also says, Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all (Colossians 3:11).
Secondly, in FIFA, all members are ranked according to their performance.
When the FIFA World Cup was hosted by South Africa in 2010, South Africas ranking was 90. Due to the improved performance, South Africas ranking improved from 90 to 38.Using apocalyptic language, John wrote these words of Christ to Christians, Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds (Revelation 22:12).In Christianity, those that work hard get their rewards, and football reminds us of that.
Paul clarifies that there is a difference between salvation (eternal life) and the rewards. In 1 Corinthians 3:15 he talks about those who will experience great loss, even though they will be saved. The rewards Christians will get are much better than the golden trophy FIFA gives. In Gods kingdom, streets are paved with gold. The scriptures give us images of the future reward, but the reality of that future reward is something we cannot imagine. No eye has seen, no any ear heard, and it has never entered the mind of humans, what God has in store for believers.
Thirdly, Jesus reward is an eternal prize.
All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:25-26). Paul says we do it for an eternal prize. Therefore when I see Messi or Ronaldos discipline, it reminds me of the eternal prize we are waiting for. Once you get that reward, it will be for eternity, you can never lose it again, and you will enjoy it forever.
Fourthly, all humanity watches the game, and will witness the prize-giving.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa was shown in every single country and territory on Earth, including Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, generating record-breaking viewing figures in many TV markets around the world… based on viewers watching a minimum of 20 consecutive minutes of coverage, the 2010 tournament reached nearly a third of the world population with 2.2 billion viewers, or three per cent higher than in 2006, according to data compiled by KantarSport on behalf of FIFA. (From www.fifa.com) More people will watch the Brazil tournament this year.
However, the Bible tells us that when Jesus returns, All the nations will be gathered before him (Matthew 25:32). It will not be only 33% of humans watching. All humans will be watching the final of humanity, the prize-giving, and gnashing of teeth by those who would have lost the ultimate prize.
Fifth, but not least, Christianity is a team sport.
Christians exist as part of the body of Christ, the Church. They are a community. They do not exist as individuals. Their success is in the community. Their growth is in the community. Paul reminds us that even as we strive for our prize, that the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8). In football, 11 players are in the field in any given moment. Each one of them has a specific role. The church functions in the same way. There are many members of the church. Speaking of the church, Paul puts it this way:
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christs body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly (Romans 12:4-8).
In any football game, the players that play as a team win. I have seen many teams comprising highly talented players, but they lose nonetheless. When you analyse the game, you realize that individual players wanted to shine alone, and when that happens, nothing comes of it.
As you watch your next football game, remember these lessons from football. The 90 minutes of football need not be time wasted for Christians. They can be your Aha! moments of Christian spirituality. Enjoy the game!