Sunday I shared ten contrasts between football fans and churchgoers. Several have asked for me to post those here on my blog.
This is a compilation of various resources and my own observations. I am guilty of having my commitment levels out of balance too. So, don’t think I am simply complaining about others. We all struggle to place our enthusiasm and priorities on the right things!
Hopefully, you will be able to both laugh and be challenged regarding your commitment to worshipping God with His family.
#1: Football fans willingly pay to get into the game and to buy obviously overpriced food. Churchgoers complain about any emphasis on the importance of the offering.
#2: Football fans are willing to wait in heavy game-day traffic, park far from the stadium, and walk a mile or more to the entrance. Churchgoers get upset when they have to park more than 10 spaces from the main door.
#3: Football fans will sit in narrow, hard, cold, backless, stadium seats. Churchgoers complain if they end up sitting in a different seat than usual – even though they are all padded with armrests and comfortable to nap in.
#4: Football fans don’t care if some people in the stadium are not focused on the game – they keep themselves focused on the game. Churchgoers point to the hypocrisy of others as the reason they can’t be focused and committed.
#5: Football fans believe the noisier the game the better. Churchgoers complain that the band and the pastor are too loud.
#6: Football fans have no expectation that the head coach knows them personally. Churchgoers get upset if the main pastor cannot return their call within an hour.
#7: Football fans never let pouring rain or cold temperatures affect whether they attend a game. Churchgoers only need a marine layer, a little drizzle, or temperatures in the 50’s to avoid worship and stay home due to “stormy weather.”
#8: Football fans demonstrate their enthusiasm by cheering, standing, stomping their feet, and chanting along with the cheerleaders. Churchgoers feel uncomfortable if someone suddenly shouts “amen.”
#9: Football fans join thousands sitting in the stands watching a few people do the work of the game. Churchgoers join thousands sitting in the stands watching a few people do the work of the church.
#10: Football fans get excited when games go into overtime. Churchgoers get frustrated when services go into overtime.
{ 5 comments }
This post says more about the Church than the churchgoers. Seems the message, format, and environment are not as fun or enjoyable as that of a game and that is a failure on the shoulders of the church and the leadership as the message of Christ and a loving community are for more enjoyable than strangers throwing around a ball. If this post were a challenge to the leadership…bravo. If it is intended as a challenge to the churchgoer, it is in bad taste and won’t resonate outside of the core already attending. There is nothing more fun, rewarding, or interesting as the salvation offered by God. When the public makes an excuse to not come to our church, it is a statement of our failure, not theirs, as we are “selling” the best thing going. They’re being polite blaming weather or choosing the game. The simple answer: what we are providing them is not as compelling, fun, or emotionally charged as a football game and that responsibility lies solely on our shoulders. The public is speaking through actions and we need to listen: the NFL is doing a better job marketing a game than we are the meaning of life….
Excellant! I will share with my church family.
two of my personal favorites:
Football fans would kill to have front-row center seats so they feel like they’re part of the action.
Churchgoers prefer to sit as far away from everything and everyone as possible and the back row is the preferred seating.
Football fans are in their seats and raring to go at the opening kick off (if not for pre-game warm-ups).
Churchgoers think nothing of showing up any old time during the first quarter (or even at the half) of services.
Brock:
I think it is a both/and. That’s how I used it. I included myself and leadership. Part of the difference is not just about fun and marketing, it is about commitment and responsibility. Both leadership of the church and the one who simply goes to church need to understand that balance. Thanks for the input!
Shawn
AMEN….Amazing..stuff, Sounds too familar
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