People in NC love basketball. I used to pastor a church in the Research Triangle. The most well attended games in the state are right there – UNC, NC State, and Duke. March Madness was everywhere in the Triangle. We even brought a TV to the church offices for the staff to pop in and keep up to date.
But, today, the World Cup starts. And the world stops.
Now, even in Montana, many watch and cheer – and we wonder at the power of sport to gather people. Among those who watch will be our family. We used to be a basketball family (Via’s Dad was related to the legendary player, Bob Pettit). But, since 1998, when our son, Jordan, was recruited to play goalie for his high school soccer team, “the beautiful game,” has been the unrivaled sport for our family.
Last night, we watched a US professional game (MLS) between Dallas and Portland. Underdog Dallas went up 2-0. Then Dallas committed a foul – the penalty shot by Portland was good. And in the 86th minute, Portland tied the score. Drama!
Not having had access to ESPN for some time, I don’t recall the last time I watched an MLS game. The speed and skill of the players was impressive. But, I was most surprised by the crowd – the 60th consecutive sold-out Portland crowd – belting out their team song throughout the match. What enthusiasm!
In 1968, Arthur Hopcraft, in his book, “The Football Man,” attempted an answer for the allure of this sport. “What happens on the football field matters, not in the way that food matters but as poetry does to some people and alcohol does to others: it engages the personality. It has conflict and beauty, and when those two qualities are present together in something offered for public appraisal they represent much of what I understand to be art. The people own this art in the way they can never own any form of music, theatre, literature or religion.”
So, according to Hopcraft, soccer can be “art” – an accessible, engaging art that personally connects people in a way that performing arts – music, movies, literature – and religion do not. Soccer fans “own” soccer.
Such an allegiance is highlighted by the word itself. “Soccer” is derived from the same root as our word “associate” – one with whom we partner – one with whom we share the adventure of life. Grand. And, so we note: “soccer association” is redundant!
Now, without diminishing the passion fans feel for soccer, let’s pause to reinvigorate – to “own” – other arts. Some can rise to declare the wonders of music, movies and literature. But, I want to “own” “religion” – the humble grandeur of being befriended by Christ and following him.
In the past I’ve written about how we distance ourselves from God. Even those who claim some connection with God often reject the word “religion” choosing the word “relationship.” Of course, we need a reformation in relationships. But, we also need to be reconnected with God and our neighbor. True “religion” is just such a “re-ligamenting.” We are made in the image of the Trinity – we are made to connect with God and with others.
For example, John begins his Gospel with these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was ‘with’ God, and the Word was God.” The Greek word translated “with” is “pros.” It comes from a Greek word, “prosopon” meaning, “face.” In other words, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit love face-to-face and heart-to-heart relationships – forever. God “owns” community.
So, despite our ruin and the damage our world has sustained, we – his image bearers – can sense this God-nurtured core when we are with others – even at a soccer game.
Part of the appeal of soccer is also its physicality. We are very physical creatures – we resonate with soccer. Considering the Trinity may seem too “spiritual.” But, in our guts we realize these athletes cover a lot of ground in 90+ minutes. In a high level game a midfielder runs 11 miles – some at an all out sprint – some with schooled finesse. Here, as Hopcraft says, is “conflict and beauty.” Consciously or subconsciously, we agree and we admire.
If we “own” such effort, perhaps we will also “own” the physicality of following Christ. Physicality? Yes, our inherent sense of what it means to follow Christ may be too “spiritual” for God. He loves the material – the physical – he made a lot of it. When he came to earth, he chose carpentry – a very hands on occupation that required “conflict” – hammering, cutting, planning, joining, sanding – to make “beauty.” And what can we say about the way he chose to redeem us? It is difficult to think of a more physically demanding redemption than his chosen bloody cross. He “owns” physicality.
But there is more to God than community and physicality. He sings. “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph 3:17). He “owns” singing.
The Warrior who sings may be unusual to us – but it has not always been so. Newspapers reported troops singing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” as they marched in the streets of Boston on July 18, 1861. Armies from other cultures sing. January 26, 2014, media reported Syrian soldiers singing as they went to battle. Let’s pay attention to the longing of our souls to SING!
When we find that the holy God has loved sinners like us in Christ, we want to sing. A friend who came to faith in Christ as an adult finally had reason to sing. But, he had not learned how to sing. He joined a men’s chorus in his church – and was asked to leave. His range was about three notes. But, the song God planted in his heart helped him keep on singing – in traffic jams – in the shower – until he sang well.
It is remarkable to me that soccer games have fans – even in the US – who enthusiastically sing in public, I can think of no other place where such public raucous singing takes place. Usually, especially in public, we let the “professionals” do it. Even the church I often attend has defaulted and lets the praise team do most of the singing. We are much too timid. How odd. Even our word, “enthusiasm” (“in-theos” – “in-God”) shows us to what can be.
And what will be? The World Cup is a shadow of what awaits – the time when people will be gathered from every tongue and tribe and nation – not for soccer – but to sing a new song. John tells us he heard “the voice of ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:11,12). Oh, to be owned by him and to own him loudly with that countless throng.
