Here are twelve reasons why I have quit going to sporting events:
- The stadium is so large that I don’t see many people I know. No one ever speaks to me or greets me at the gate.
- Saturday is the only day I have to sleep.
- The seats are too hard and not comfortable.
- I want to relax, but everyone else expects me to get into the spirit of the game.
- The coach never comes to visit me at home; he never calls or sends me a card.
- The coach expects too much of the players. He should be able to do the job single- handedly. After all, that’s what he’s getting paid for..
- I don’t like he rules of the game. They are too strict and outmoded. I think the players should be permitted to make up their own rules as the game goes on.
- They’re always asking for money. It costs me something every time I go. I think someone else other than myself should pay for the stadium facilities, the salaries of the coaches, etc.
- The band and cheerleaders sometimes try new songs and cheers. I prefer the good old standbys.
- There are some people in the stands who just come to be seen. They aren’t sincere (like I am).
- I can listen to the game on the radio without getting involved in person.
- I saw too many games as a child. If you’ve seen one game, you’ve seen them all!
Now, if these statements have a familiar ring to them, it may be because you heard them (or used them!) as reasons for not going to church. If they make you a bit uncomfortable, don’t be surprised. That’s exactly what they are intended to do.
Thank God that Christianity is more than an attempt to make you feel comfortable. Above all, the Christianity proclaims the good news of God’s grace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. This good news enables you to get rid of your excuses and rationalizations, and then to find reconciliation and peace with your God. It enables you to see how these rationalizations are depriving you of God’s Word, the Lord’s Supper, and the fellowship of the saints. (Why deprive yourself of the good news, the Gospel which spells the difference between really living and merely existing?)
Laughing at yourself and your excuses is a form of confession and a sign of spiritual health. But don’t let it stop with that. Join others as they joyfully celebrate the love and grace that has been given to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Be active in your local church! Worship the Lord Jesus Christ every chance you get!
Pastor Heide
