The Privileged Life: Faith Lessons from Football
“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that isgiven to us, let us use them…. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:4-6a,18)
“It’s football time in Tennessee!”*
Those famous words, a long-standing radio tradition started by announcer John Ward, herald the beginning of every University of Tennessee football game in Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.
I’ve attended quite a few games in that stadium, unforgettable and quite intimidating for opposing teams—picture 100,000 screaming Vol fans in orange and white. The noise is deafening. People go crazy.1 I wear earplugs and just try to stay away from flying popcorn and soda.
It’s also a cultural experience. We sing the national anthem, then we sing the Tennessee “national anthem,” Rocky Top.The Volunteer mascots—a Davy-Crockett-like pioneer and Smokey, the bluetick coonhound—dash between players along the perimeter. Boats pile together in the Tennessee River just below the stadium for the Vol Navy. The Pride of the Southland Marching Band members blanket the field in a massive display to rival any infantry on parade, blasting the bystanders with adrenalin-charged music. “Epic” is a good descriptor of the whole pageant.
Now I’m no expert on football or any other major sport…I couldn’t identify a tight end from a wide receiver. But I’ve seen enough games to have a vague idea of how things work on the field.
The quarterback corrals his teammates in a hushed cluster, arms over each other’s shoulders in what’s called a “huddle,” to alert everyone about the gameplan. After a few seconds and some back slaps, they separate to line up. Each player has a responsibility to fulfill, in order to successfully achieve the team’s objective.
The quarterback shouts out random words or numbers until he reaches the key call—the one that will launch players into action. (UT alumnus Peyton Manning was famous for using “Omaha” in his NFL days.) They all charge to take one oblong-shaped ball down the field and across the final line. Everyone wants a touchdown.
As this relates to our faith, I find football to be an appropriate metaphor for how we fulfill our role in the body of Christ. We have a quarterback, Jesus, who gives us our marching orders. We have specific gifts and tasks to use for Him. We have a mission, an opposing side, and daily challenges to reach our goals. Meanwhile, the whole world is watching.
And, football has two applications for our faith walk.
One, Christianity is a team sport. We’re members of the same body, with the same Leader, on a mission to be accomplished together. We’re not soloists. The Holy Spirit equips us with specific gifts and resources, giving each of us a unique role to perform. We’re not all linebackers or kickers. It’s important for each of us to pull our weight in the function/place we’re assigned and to work in harmony with our team members.
We accomplish nothing when we fight amongst ourselves. Just as members of the early church were “all in one accord,” we must remain committed to serving each other in humility, in obedience to our Captain, Jesus Christ.
But if we’re going to reach the end zone in triumph, there’s a second application—we can’t stay in the huddle. Once we’ve found that beautiful harmony among other believers, it’s hard to separate ourselves from each other…to go out into the darkened world again to bring others onto our team and to fight against the enemy. There’s a huge comfort and danger in spending the majority of our days isolated from the rest of the society in exclusive circles of Christian friends. I know. I live in the Bible belt, and it’s very easy to do here.
Pastor Alistair Begg warns of the risks: “We live in a world that’s hostile to Christ, hostile to His word, and hostile to a life lived in obedience to Him. The temptation for us, as believers, is to run away and hide, to gather into a little holy huddle and not concern ourselves with the world. But, as Jeremiah told the exiles in Babylon to seek the welfare of the city they were in (Jeremiah 29:7), so we are to seek the welfare of the world we are in. That requires us to be in this world though not of it, living lives and speaking words that point to a different place.”2
Friend, we need to know how Christ wishes to use us in whatever role He has determined for us. We need the guidance of His Holy Spirit and His daily game plan according to His word. We need to strive for a holy harmony that pleases God and fulfills His purposes.
But then, we must leave our “little holy huddle” to engage in His mission to the world. We’re called to appear different—sort of like wearing team colors. That’s especially noticeable when we go out of our way to be loving and kind to others. It requires, though, leaving our safe havens to face the opposition.
This week, strive for two goals: to demonstrate the love of Christ to fellow believers, serving them in humble deference and pursuing harmony with them; then, to take that same love to unbelievers, showing them a Savior who loves them sacrificially.
Unlike the flat gridiron football field, it’s an uphill battle for me. I have so little faith, so much reluctance to get my hands “dirty” in the mud of the world, so little courage to stand up to the giants before me. But it’s where Jesus is calling me, and I must go. Hope you’ll join me and cheer with me…especially when Jesus lets us yell “Touchdown!” for Him at the end of our day!
Jesus Christ, our strong Captain in the day of battle, be near me and let me hear Your voice as You command me to live for You. Teach me how to love my teammates in Your church and how to love others who need to discover You. Give me courage for the fight, humility to play my simple role, and joy of sharing in Your victory over sin and death. In Your beloved name, Amen.
*Soccer fans, this is not your football…this is American Southeastern Conference college football. It’s a LOT different….
1Last year when the Vols beat Alabama with a last-minute kick after a 15-year losing streak against them, fans tore down the goalposts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE2RBb-WLmE
2Begg, Alistair. Truth for Life: 365 Daily Devotions. The Good Book Company: 2021, page 269.
© Copyright 2023 Nancy C. Williams, Lightbourne Creative (text and photography–this time, old photos from 2011-12)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. #footballtimeintennessee #goalpost #peytonmanning #neylandstadium #govols #smokeymascot #tennesseevolunteers #volnavy #prideofthesouthland #Biblebelt #rockytop
