So Manchester United won their third European Cup to go alongside the Premier league Championship they secured a couple of weeks to go.I promised myself that at the end of this season I would re-examine my commitment to football… so here goes.
Football is played on a Sunday and to watch it on a Sunday is breaking the Sabbath (I know we’re under grace not law but shouldn’t we have at least one day set apart for God?)
Many football teams are sponsored by Gambling companies or breweries.
A lot of people bet on football games (with the advent of spread betting done over the internet this has bound many people in serious addictions).
Footballers are paid obscene amounts of money.
Watching football doesn’t get anyone saved.
The early Salvationists were obsessed with saving the lost! They didn’t have any other interests apart from soul saving. They didn’t go to the theatre or watch football or spend time at parties - all their time was given to the task of getting people saved.Football and the whole culture that surrounds it, is definitely of the world and in 1 John 2:15-17 it says:
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
If we really desire to see the onset of revival, doesn’t the fulfilment of that desire demand that we focus on the job in hand and turn our attention away from the ‘tempting sounds’ and the ‘sights that dazzle.’
Tuesday night I went to a united church prayer meeting and on Wednesday I watched the European Cup – which made me feel more intense, which roused my passions more?
I recently said that I was going to attempt to live like a 1908 Salvation Army Officer – such a man certainly wouldn’t have wasted his time watching football.
I’m not saying that watching football is a sin but perhaps it is doubtful and holiness demands that I surrender everything that is both sinful and doubtful.
So I’ve got three months before the new season starts – three months to consider whether this is a healthy hobby or a debilitating distraction.
One thing however seems certain – I can’t really sing ‘my all is on the altar’ if a little bit of my heart is always at Old Trafford!
Love and prayers
2 comments:
I am sure that this topic will generate quite a bit of interest. Here are a selection of quotations to add some 'fuel to the fire':
"Five days shalt thou labour, as the Bible says. The seventh day is the Lord thy God's. The sixth day is for football." (Anthony Burgess)
"Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I'm very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that." (Bill Shankly)
"In the past, the officious interpretation of minor rules led to much conflict, with many choosing to leave the ranks accordingly. Such acts as attending the football on a Saturday could lead to disciplinary action – including on occasion being asked to march behind the band..." quote from www.brass-forum.co.uk on the early days of the Army.
"Do not have any other gods before me." (Exodus 20:2)
Also look at http://www.keepsundayspecial.org.uk
C
Perhaps support your local team then you could turn up to the matches in your uniform, hand out tracts beforehand, and turn it into a useful tool while having fun. Just an idea :)
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