David Tarkington

When Sportianity & Christianity Collide

The largest religion in our culture is being challenged. People who adhere to this religion are having their faith questioned. 

This religion is known as Sportianity. Adherants gather weekly, and sometimes more than once a week, to celebrate and fellowship together. Some meet in large open-air facilities. Others meet in smaller venues. Others are proponents of the "house church" movement and gather with a small group of friends in homes. The more missional of the followers meet in public places known as Sports Bars, to engage with others in the community. 

Just as with all religions, different denominations have developed.

There are the Footballists and Basketballists. These two denominations, like many other mainstream ones, are divided. There are the College and Pro sect within each denomination. Sometimes they can fellowship together, but often they stay in their own arenas.

There is also the Baseballians. There is a small offshoot group here called the Collegians, but the vast majority are Major Leaguians. 

For the most part a follower of a certain sect is very faithful, but there are those - we call them "stadium hoppers" - who tend to just go where the biggest crowd is at the time. 

Meeting places for these denominational groups can be found throughout the nation. However, there are some pretty strong regional groupings. Where I live, the SECers dominate. I must say that recently, the SECers have expanded their mission program into Texas and most likely will continue to grow in that region.

In the north, there are some unique religious groups. These are known as Hockeyists. They're a uniquely northern denomination, but with snowbirds and the retirement of many, there have recently been more of these people spotted in the southern parts of the nation.

We can laugh about this, well at least I can, but at the same time it brings to mind some questions. As a follower of Jesus Christ, where does this sports world fit? I'm a proud member of the Y-chromosome club. I enjoy sporting events. I have my favorite teams. I have the hats, the shirts and the jackets with logos embroidered upon them. I enjoy going to the games. I like cheering for these athletes who do amazing things on the field of play.

So, does God care?

Does God have a favorite team?

There are a number of teams with religious names. Does that mean God likes them more? Is God a fan of the Saints, the Angels, the Padres or for my Catholic friends - the Cardinals? Or, as some have stated, is God a fan of the Denver Broncos because Tim Tebow is the quarterback?

I'm not a Tebow-basher. Neither am I big-time Tebow fan. I like him. I respect him. As a brother in Christ, I admire his willingness to verbally give glory to Jesus Christ. The Tebow story has pushed Christianity to the forefront of the sports page. This is why it's so interesting. Two of the nation's top religions are meeting - the religion of Christianity and the religion of sports. 

I think this is why so many people have a problem with Tebow. Much has been said about "Tebowing" and his camera ready prayer poses. Tebow even reached a pinnacle in pop culture. He was parodied on Saturday Night Live.

Does God show favor to certain athletes or teams?

NO - God doesn't show favor as many would define it. God doesn't care that Team A beats Team B so that a person's Fantasy numbers will go up. God doesn't show favor so those who have bet on games can beat the spread. God doesn't love the Christian on Team A more than he loves the Christian on Team B. 

YES - God does show favor on His children at times. This word "favor" has been used by some who teach a false prosperity gospel. This is not the biblical definition. A good biblical example of one in whom favor was shown is Daniel. There are others like Moses, John the Baptist, etc. 

Whether God is showing favor on Tim Tebow or any other athlete can be debated at length. Regardless of the influence of God in a football game, there is only one reason He would show favor on anyone - that is to bring Himself glory.

I don't believe God cares if the Broncos win. I do believe God cares about Tim Tebow just as he cares and loves all His children (regardless what team they're on, or even if they never even make the team.)

Even the fictional coach in the film "Facing the Giants" understood this. Win or lose, God receives glory. He said this over and over.

I like this quote former University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy made after his team was beat soundly by the University of Alabama in the 2009-2010 BCS National Championship Game. ABC reporter Lisa Salters interviewed McCoy and McCoy responded to a difficult question about how it felt watching the game from the sidelines, with the question alluding to how difficult it must have been that his college career ended so abruptly in the biggest game of his life.

Said McCoy: “I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know that if nothing else, I’m standing on the Rock.”

Win or lose - this is right response. To God be the glory.

2011 Christmas Eve & Day Services "The Light of Christmas"

01 The Light of Christmas

For the past couple of months we have been looking at stories in God’s Word that we believe are central to the bigger story which is the one we are involved in now. 

God is the author of this story and it has already been written. We have been invited into His story and that’s where we are now. What’s so amazing is that in this story of adventure, romance, betrayal and suspense (oh, if you haven’t read the Bible lately, you might want to pick it up. It holds all these elements and more) God, the author, enters into the story. In fact, he’s the main character and the hero. 

That’s what makes the gospel accounts in the Bible the center of it all. It’s the story of God coming down, with intent and purpose, for his glory. It’s the story of redemption and hope. It’s the story of battle and victory. It’s the story that makes everything clear. 

Oh, and you thought Christmas was just about baby Jesus in a manger?

As most of you are well aware, when a crowd gathers at church on Christmas Eve, the expected message is about the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem. The story is ripe with great imagery. The Nativity is a powerful image of God coming down into this story. We all know of the angels and the shepherds and the wise men who arrive later. They story is not foreign to most of us. However, there is a danger of being so familiar with the story that we no longer “get the story.”

 

The full meaning of Christmas can be summed up in one verse.

 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14(ESV) 

The Word became flesh.

This is the meaning of Christmas. God has come into the world, born of a virgin, in the person of Jesus Christ. 

In this age where Jesus Christ is apparently esteemed and honored by other religious beliefs (even Muslims state that they honor Christ more than Christians do because they do not believe God would allow him to suffer such a terrible death as the cross) proclaimed by off-shoot religions and cults and most recently lampooned as some type of “regular guy” who is more of a hipster.

There are many imaginary Jesuses out there, ones we create to fit our stories. That’s why Christmas is so important. It is here we look to the Word of God to see the Jesus who truly is, as revealed in the Word, not the Jesus we create. 

Back to the nativity.

When a baby is born, it is vital that an appropriate name is given to him or her. Parents struggle for months to come up with the very best name for their children. Names are given based on popular trends and famous actors, actresses and characters. Names are given based on family heritage. Names are given based on what sounds good. 

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17(ESV) 

Jesus Christ.

Where did this name come from?

Jesus – the name given to the baby boy in Bethlehem by his earthly father Joseph. This is what the angel told him to name the boy when he appeared to Joseph. He was told “you shall call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins.”

The term Christ was given as a title describing his role. The Christ referred to the long-awaited king of the Jews who would give victory to the people and bear the government of the world on his shoulders. When Andrew met Jesus and then ran to tell Peter, his brother, he said “We have found the Messiah, which means Christ.”

So, this little baby born in Bethlehem was Jesus, the Christ. He was the one who would save his people and also the long-awaited king.

He was the fulfillment of prophecies hundreds of years old.

This part of God’s story was more than just a cut little instance that led to nativity scenes, movies, church plays and plastic, lit up mannequins in the front yards of numerous Americans.

This is the real Jesus – not an imaginary one created in our image. This was the Christ.

This is the Word of God – God choosing to come down, wrap himself in the skin of humanity because he chose to dwell with us. Here. On earth. This sinful planet.

The hero has come.

I think we may miss this at times. Maybe in the midst of hanging up Christmas lights and attending parties, and even “fighting the war for Christmas” we miss Christ.

Christ – in the form of a little baby is God in the flesh, pitching his tent here in our backyard. He is the Word made flesh and he is life. In him life is available for any who would come.

Life. . .becomes light.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:4-5(ESV) 

How is this life, connected to Jesus, relate to light?

1. It enables us to see. When dead people are given life, they see. When you are born, you see. When you are born again, you see. Jesus gives life and that life becomes light – the ability to see spiritual reality.
2. Not only does it enable you to see, but Jesus is the Light that is seen. As unbelievers, we are blind to truth and beauty and worth – the glory of Jesus. 

So many, I fear, follow or at least acknowledge a Jesus of their liking. He may be a nice guy, a warrior, a peace keeper, a giver, focused on homeless, pointing out everyone’s sins, a legalist or any number of other almost right caricatures, but he’s not the real Jesus.

The real Jesus came to earth a little over 2000 years ago. His coming had been foretold for generations. His mother was a virgin, having never been with a man. His earthly father was a good man, a righteous man seeking to do the right thing. His family was in a strange town for legal purposes when his mother went into labor. There was nowhere to stay the night in this town, so it was in a cave that doubled as a barn where he was born. He was placed in a feeding trough and some shepherds came to see him, after being instructed to by a group of angels.

He grew up, lived a perfect, purposeful life. When the pre-determined hour had come, his life was taken. He died on a cross. That death was a payment for all the sin and wrongdoing everyone on the planet had and would do.

Three days later, he came back to life.

He shortly ascended in a cloud to heaven and there awaits the word to come back from His father.

It sounds amazing. It sounds crazy. It sounds wonderful.

It is.

Jesus is the light of the world.

What I find amazing is that in Matthew 5:14 Jesus said. . .

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14(ESV) 

I’m the light of the world now? If you are a child of God, you too are the light of the world. Really?

Yes, according to what Jesus, the Light of the world said, but here’s the catch. 

Just like my crazy Christmas lights, my light only works if I’m connected to His light. Yours too. 

And, the light that I am to show to others impacts other believers as well.