Jon Taylor with some evangelistic thoughts in the run-up to the World Cup
Four years on and the World Cup is kicking off again.
This time it begins in Rio de Janeiro, the home of the greatest footballing nation on the planet; arguably the most celebrated and certainly the most popular event in the global sporting calendar.
However how can we as Christians use apologetics to make a meaningful connection between faith, football and eternity?
Keeping a clean sheet
Gordon Banks, Ray Clements and Peter Shilton kept a clean sheet in most of their matches, though obviously not always. That's perfectly understandable. They were pretty impressive keepers, though they were never able to maintain a perfect record and that's true of all people in all walks of life. The ultimate standard of goal keeping perfection is impossible to achieve because we are human and have innate limitations relating to our personal abilities, no matter how effectively or often we practise.
Ultimately all goalkeepers fall short of the perfect standard and the same is true of archers when they aim for gold. Missing the mark was originally known as a ‘sin’ or falling short, not even reaching the board. The bible teaches that we have missed God’s standard of perfection, 'for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God' (Romans 3.23).
Handing out the red card
To get to the root of sin requires us to take a quick journey to the first pitch (the Garden of Eden). Adam and Eve were permitted to eat from any of the trees except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Not surprisingly, they ate from that tree and were effectively given the red card, sent off the pitch and banished from the garden. You may consider that action unduly harsh. However, the judge of all the earth who is the perfect referee knew that if they had then eaten from the tree of life they would live perpetually in a sinful state, so it was in fact an act of divine mercy.
The perfect referee
Think for a moment. Refereeing is a thankless job and even the best referees make occasional mistakes! Yet without a good and authoritative referee, a football match would likely degenerate into an uncontrollable brawl, resembling mob football from previous eras. Furthermore, without a referee there is no authority or objective means of deciding which side is in the right or wrong and whether a penalty should be given. Without a referee there would be no sense of or imparting of justice.
The penalty and the substitute
Still more serious than being given the red card and sent off the pitch, our sin separates us from God. Concerning that penalty, Romans 6.23 confirms that 'the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.' Before they sinned, Adam and Eve were naked and blameless, though when they fell short they realised that they were naked. Their fig leaf garments were inadequate so animals had to be killed to provide them with clothing, hence a sacrifice was made.
The Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the sins of the world 2,000 years ago, offered himself as a sinless perfect substitute thereby making the only way and means of salvation possible.
The winning goal
I remember playing in a six-a-side tournament at middle school, at a time when we frequently practised using jumpers for goalposts. Four points were awarded for goals and one for a corner. In professional football, however, the only way to score is by getting the ball in the back of the net. That is the only way. Corners don't win trophies and our own efforts or endeavours outside of God’s grace will never earn us a ticket to heaven. Jesus taught that he is the only way to the Father when he said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14.6). The referee has the final say and since Jesus is Lord, we need to seriously consider and act on his decision.
Regret, remorse and repentance
Some players unashamedly show neither regret nor remorse after committing reckless fouls. Regret involves being sorry for our actions and remorse speaks of our sorrow, but repentance is turning away from our sinful lifestyle, confessing our sins and turning towards God. God requires everyone to repent (Acts 17.30).
Hooligans and supporters
Off the pitch there are football hooligans and football supporters. Many people unwittingly confuse Christendom with Christianity. You can purchase a season ticket, wear the shirt and scarf and know all the songs, yet be nothing more than a footballing thug. In other words, an excuse for a football supporter, not a real one. Similarly, you can attend church all your life, say nice things and be ultra-respectable, though never make a profession of faith, nor enter into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus and obey him. If someone truly loves God the requirement is that they obey his commandments (John 14.15, 21). The evidence of a godly person is whether they love God and their neighbour, and this will be evident by the roots of what they believe and the fruit that they bear in their lives.
Added time
There is a day of judgment appointed unto man (Hebrews 9.27). Unlike extra time, the next life shall continue forever and ever and continue on and on and on. It is never too late to confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. The thief on the cross next to Jesus asked him to remember him in his kingdom and Jesus assured him that he would be with him in paradise. Qualification for the World Cup is subject to progressing though the qualifying stages. Qualification for heaven is not achieved through good deeds or by christening or by being born in England or even by church attendance but simply by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.
You’ll never walk alone
Many players command massive salaries and live impressive high-flying lifestyles. But what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world yet loses his soul? For those who know God, he will never leave us nor forsake us. If you trust not in yourself but in Jesus, he will never leave you nor forsake you and you’ll never walk alone!