I’ve seen some events that make me wonder if it’s true that soccer is a religion.
At a funeral a few years ago, I read a sign posted on the chapel door. The family was busy and planned to watch the recorded game after the funeral, so they were effectively told not to talk about that day’s soccer match. Who do you think was the one who offered words of comfort to a grieving family and then brought up football or worse, teased them about the team’s loss? It seems like he didn’t care about the ball game that day.
This is the second incident I heard about from a friend of the music minister.
Baptist churches used to hold “Pack-A-Pew” nights at revival meetings, giving awards and prizes to the churches that drew the most people. A friend of mine held an Alabama/Auburn Pack-A-Pew night and encouraged attendees to wear team colors, but some of the members almost got into a fight before the service began. Said.
I know a church that sponsored an Alabama/Auburn canned food drive, and I once attended an Alabama/Auburn blood drive. In these events, even the “losers” won because they benefited a worthy cause. However, the idea of getting angry at reconstruction meetings is pointless.
A pastor friend of mine had a habit of writing a warning in his church newsletter the week before the Iron Bowl game (Alabama vs. Auburn). He reminded everyone that it’s just a game, some people will be sad on Sunday, some will be happy, and everyone should be kind. I was so impressed by this that I followed his example during that important week. (I understand that the Mississippi Egg Bowl evokes similar strong emotions!)
I once fell prey to this kind of well-intentioned trolling. Rhonda is a summer youth intern at our church and I noticed her on her last Sunday before going back to college. For some reason, I said something random about her school being different than mine. The next day Elton McGaha came to see me.
“Michael, you know I love you, but…”
Let me just say, I’ve heard this phrase so many times over the years that I’ve had time to brace myself for the “but!” that’s about to come.
He went on to say, “What we do in this church on Sunday is more important than football.”
I took his words to heart.
I told this story at Elton’s funeral in January 2020 at First Baptist Church in Selma. I remain grateful for his guidance.
As with everything else in life, we must seek the right balance and be sure that loving God and loving others are of paramount importance.
Reflections is a weekly faith column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of Siluria Baptist Church in Alabaster, Alabama. The church’s website is siluriabaptist.com.
