I Love Football, But I Love Jesus More

Thoughts of a Super Bowl Fan who Loves Jesus

So “my” team is playing in a football game this Sunday. I’m pretty excited about it. I say “my” team even though I have contributed literally nothing to it; I don’t even subscribe to cable so that I can watch football games on Sundays. Yet like most fans, I feel emotionally invested in the players, who gets drafted each year, and how well the defensive line is recovering from injuries so they can dominate once again. I’ve read dozens of articles leading up to this game about “my” team’s chances, strategies, and keys to their victory.

I say “my” team because I grew up in central California in the 80’s when they won five Super Bowls. I grew up admiring their hall of fame quarterback, arguably the G.O.A.T. (although Tom Brady has something to say about that.) When I was in high school I wore one of those 90’s Starter jackets with my team’s colors, even though no one else I knew liked this team. And I had a giant poster of their hall of fame receiver catching a touchdown on my wall in the dormitory at school. I endured a decade of mediocrity, followed by a burst of excellence and another almost decade of losing seasons and bad coaches, until now. This season has been nothing short of spectacular. So yeah, I’m excited “my” team is playing in this game.

But here’s the thing: I’m not even going to watch the big game. Like, at all.

I’m not going to watch the biggest game, because I have something more important to do. Every Sunday afternoon I go to church to lead worship and Bible study twice, in two languages no less. I get to share Jesus with them. I get to proclaim the love God has for them.

Really the reason is simple—I love Jesus more than football. And I love God’s people more than “my” team.

Don’t get me wrong, I would really enjoy watching the Super Bowl. And I wish I could even watch the American version so I could see the hilarious commercials, which are blocked up here in Canada. (Fun fact: that was such an issue that Canadians filed suit and appealed it all the way to our Supreme Court! Sadly they lost.)

Not a Stumbling Block

By now you may be wondering why I’m beating around the bush and not coming out to declare my fidelity to this team. I never post about them on social media. I don’t trash talk with other sports fans. Who cares if I am a fan after all?

The answer is the reason for this post. But let me explain by way of an experience I had. When I was in high school I lived in a small town in Minnesota where the locals clearly supported the Minnesota Vikings. And naturally, the town largely despised the rival Green Bay Packers. I did not care about the Vikings at all. But I know that at my church the members did.

My church got a new pastor during that time, a man whose passion for his team, the Green Bay Packers, was the first thing you learned about him. It was hard to miss the giant “G” logo on his shirt. During football season, the Packers were his favorite topic. He talked about the Packers in his sermon. He teased the congregation when Green Bay beat the Vikings. On the rare occasion the Packers lost, he was expecting he would really “get it” from the other football fans. He thought it was hilarious fun.

He was wrong.

As a 17-year-old, I was too scared to go and talk to him about how distasteful it was to the other members, and to myself, to be constantly reminded of his passion for the Packers. It was a turn-off to listening to his sermons and Bible classes because I began to seriously ask, “Does this man love Jesus or Brett Favre more?” I know I wasn’t the only one to feel this way after a while. I heard others complain about this constant theme every football season and the summer weeks leading up to it. I don’t think he ever realized what a stumbling block to the good news of Jesus this became.

When I became a pastor myself, I vowed not to let personal loyalties to sports teams or political parties or other attachments get in the way of the Gospel. I was reaffirmed in this thinking starting in a congregation that had torn loyalties to the two nearest NHL teams—the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. (It’s Canada after all!) Living geographically in between them, I was surprised how relatively few in the city openly spoke about their hockey loyalties. It’s almost like we all silently agreed to put each other first by avoiding the topic. Later on, some Brazilians I met offered sage advice, “In Brazil, we do not discuss politics, religion, or football.”

For this reason, you won’t find me posting on social media or talking about “my” team with members. I love to discuss football, but I love Jesus more. And on the Last Day, I don’t want my loyalties to any team in any sport to ever be a stumbling block to someone hearing Jesus.

But a Stepping Stone

Last night, however, something strange happened. I got to share Jesus with an amazing woman who had never heard the story of Jesus before. What was strange was that, perhaps the first time ever, my loyalties to “my” team were a small part of the reason I even got to share Jesus, to begin with.

She walked into our church for the first time a few weeks ago. She came in late after the service was really over, wearing a sweatshirt with the familiar logo on it. I welcomed her and introduced myself. I whispered to her as if it was a shameful secret, “I like your sweatshirt. I happen to root for them as well!”

Over coffee we both rejoiced that our team was on the verge of a championship, but there was something far more important to talk about. I got to share the love that God gave her in Christ, a love that binds up the brokenhearted and offers peace. It was exactly what I think God put me there to share with her. Tears flowing, I could see her joy at hearing this good news far surpassed even a thousand championship trophies. Leaving the coffee shop, we rejoiced that Jesus gives us something far greater, far better than the fact that we both cheer for football players who dress in the same uniform.

Superbowl Sunday

On Sunday millions of people will watch this football game. I won’t be one of them. Instead, I am going to lead God’s people in our usual Sunday afternoon worship, even though much of the service is in a language I don’t speak. By the time I get home, it will be over—the game decided, the Vince Lombardi trophy handed out.

Since I have no way to record the game, there just is no way to watch it at all. This is no complaint. And no, I’m not sacrificing anything. It’s really simple. I love Jesus more. I want to be with God’s people more. I may sneak a look at my phone to check the score once or twice. I would be lying to say otherwise. And when I get home, I’ll sit and watch the highlights online. I will probably yell or cheer if I see “my” team won. And even if they lose, what a great season!

But then win or lose, my life will go on. Because no matter how I feel, the reality is—this is just a game between grown men dressed in different colored clothes. As entertaining as it is to watch them play, as invested as we might feel, I hope we never lose sight of this fact:

We love Jesus so much more!

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

I Corinthians 9:22-23

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Pastor Geoff Cortright