For the next month or so, the lives of so many people would be affected in so many ways -wives became temporary widows during the England-France match, grown men cry openly when their team loses, legions of fans shout and jump when a goal is scored, and hearts follow Beckham, Thierry Henry every step of the way... that's Euro 2004! Many Care Group meetings postponed so that the guys can watch football first... heheh... with the pastor's understanding approval, of course. That's passion.
Now, I'm not anti-football. I know I'd be losing much sleep this month too!
But can we imagine this kind of zealous fervor among Christians for the glory of God? Rather, people dozing off and yawning during sermons appears to be a more stereotypical response to the shining truths of the Bible... No wonder the world got the hint that football is more important than any missionary enterprise!
The average Christian teenager today could probably recite the names of Manchester United or Liverpool or Arsenal team players without batting an eye. But more often than not, we are clueless about who Hudson Taylor, George Carey, David Livingstone, Jim Eliott
or David Brainerd are!
Jonathan Edwards lamented this fact when he wrote,
We find that people exercise the affections in everything else but religion! When it comes to their worldly interest, their outward delights, their honor and reputation... they have warm affection and ardent zeal. But how insensible and unmoved are most men about the great things of another world! How dull then are their affections! Here their love is cold, their desires languid, their zeal low, and their gratitude small. How can they sit and hear of the infinite height, depth, length, and breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus, of his gift of his infinitely dear Son offered up as a sacrifice for the sins of men, and yet be so insensible and regardless! (Religious Affections)
Now, I'm not anti-football. I know I'd be losing much sleep this month too!
But can we imagine this kind of zealous fervor among Christians for the glory of God? Rather, people dozing off and yawning during sermons appears to be a more stereotypical response to the shining truths of the Bible... No wonder the world got the hint that football is more important than any missionary enterprise!
The average Christian teenager today could probably recite the names of Manchester United or Liverpool or Arsenal team players without batting an eye. But more often than not, we are clueless about who Hudson Taylor, George Carey, David Livingstone, Jim Eliott
or David Brainerd are!
Jonathan Edwards lamented this fact when he wrote,
We find that people exercise the affections in everything else but religion! When it comes to their worldly interest, their outward delights, their honor and reputation... they have warm affection and ardent zeal. But how insensible and unmoved are most men about the great things of another world! How dull then are their affections! Here their love is cold, their desires languid, their zeal low, and their gratitude small. How can they sit and hear of the infinite height, depth, length, and breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus, of his gift of his infinitely dear Son offered up as a sacrifice for the sins of men, and yet be so insensible and regardless! (Religious Affections)
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