Them's Fightin' Words

One Saturday afternoon I was driving down my street when I saw a very unfortunate scuffle. Two grown men were out on the lawn fighting. Blows gave way to ground wrestling and finally, the two men came to their feet bloodied and being held back by girlfriends and neigbors. Well, needless to say, it's that time of year again. The college football season has begun!

What had happened I am sure started with a seemingly harmless rivalry. Two men talking about their favorite teams and uping the ante with promises and derogatory comments about the others' alma mater (Ok, they probably hadn't been to college, if you'd been there you'd understand). So some folks get together. The brews get opened. The game gets tight. Some close calls go either way. In the end, one guy rubs it in too much. Next thing you know it's "hide the women and children."

While being a sports fan is great, ( I should know), we need to be careful about how seriously we take things that don't matter. For many people, daily attitudes, happiness, and even their personal esteem can change with the success or failure of their favorite club. Whether people compete as fans through simply watching, or getting involved in fantasy type leagues, friendships should never be endangered by sport. When this does happen, it is a sign of shallowness, and a evident lack of Christianity being displayed in the life of an individual.

I hope we can enjoy what is meant for recreation. I hope we can enjoy being involved in sports activites while imposing healthy limits of involvement.

If we are going to get upset about something, it should not be a game. But when someone defames our Savior, His church, or our brother or sister in the faith, that is a different story. It is not about whether or not their are times to fight for something. It is about knowing what to fight for, and knowing how to properly carry it out.

"Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life..." (1 Tim. 6:12)