Excerpts from: " Fanatics "
2/4/07

Is there anyone here who doesn't know that it's Superbowl Sunday?
Here is The Super Bowl version of 1 Corinthians 12:12-26:

"For the team is one and has many players, and all the players of the team, though many, are one team ... Indeed, the team does not consist of one player, but of many. If the defensive end would say, 'Because I am not the quarterback, I do not belong to the team,' that would not make him any less a part of the team. And if the right tackle would say, 'Because I am not a wide receiver, I do not belong to the team,' that would not make him any less a part of the team. If the whole team were tackles, where would the running backs be? If the whole team were running backs, where would the kickers be? And if the whole team were kickers, where would the cornerbacks be? But as it is, the coach has arranged the players of the team, each one of them, as he chose. If all were quarterbacks, where would the team be? As it is, there are many players, yet one team. The quarterback cannot say to the tackle, I don't need you.' Nor can the defensive ends say to the running backs, 'We don't need you.' On the contrary ... if one player suffers, the team suffers together with him; if one player is honored, the team rejoices with him."

Well, this evening is "the game." It is Super Bowl Sunday. The kick off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Some of you are saying, "Can't wait." Some of you are saying, "What is the big deal?"

Part of the big deal is that the Super Bowl has become a cultural event.

Let me share with you some interesting facts. The Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts are playing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. That trophy will become the permanent possession of the winning team. It is made from sterling silver with a sterling silver regulation football on top of it. Cost--$15,000.

Each player on the winning team will receive a ring that cost $7,000 each. Each member of the losing team will also receive a ring that cost about half that amount. Each player on the winning team this year will receive over $70,000. Each player on the losing team will receive over $30,000.

The economic impact on the state of Florida when Super Bowl 41 will be played in Miami will be over 300 million dollars.

Most Super Bowls generate over 100 million dollars in merchandise sales that bear the Super Bowl logo alone. If you stacked the soft drinks and beer side by side that is sold during the game, the line would stretch for over 40 miles.

If you don't watch the game, most people do watch the commercials. 30 second ads are going for 2.6 million dollars this year. A 19 year old college student won a contract from Chevrolet to produce a commercial this year. He may well earn over 50 thousand dollars in revenue.

It is the top "at home" party event of the year. It is the second largest day of food consumption in this country--only Thanksgiving exceeds it. The average "at home" party has 17 people. Ninety-five per cent of all those who watch the Super Bowl on TV watch it with someone else. In the history of television, nine of the ten most watched TV programs were Super Bowls.

Antacid sales typically increase 20% the day after the Super Bowl, and 6% of the American work force call in sick the day after the Super Bowl. Super Bowl weekend is the slowest weekend of the year for weddings. Large screen TV's increase in sales 5 times the week before the Super Bowl.

Indeed, not only has "the game" become a cultural event, but it is seen around the world-even in Iraq and Afghanistan and anywhere else American troops are stationed.

Maybe this "cultural event" tells us something about who we are, and maybe where our priorities really lie. We'll get to that in a minute.

Here is some "football-speak" theology/definitions that will help the football challenged parishioner.

• Backfield-in-Motion - When the choir breaks out in dance.
• Bench warmer - Those who do not sing, pray, work, or apparently do anything but sit.
• Blitz - The rush for the restaurants following the closing prayer of morning worship.
• Extra point - What you receive when you tell the preacher the sermon was too short.
• Flex Defense - The ability to allow absolutely nothing said by the Holy Spirit during the service to affect your life.
• Fumble - When the pastor drops an infant at dedication.
• Halfback Option - The decision of 50% of the congregation not to return for the midweek prayer service.
• Halftime - The period of the service when the offering is collected
• Illegal motion - Leaving before the conclusion of the service
  Instant Replay - The preacher loses his place in the notes and repeats himself over and over.
• End Run - Getting out of church quickly, without speaking to any guest or fellow member.
• Staying in the Pocket - What happens to a lot of money that should be given to the Lord's work.
• Sudden Death - What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes "overtime."
• Tackle - what an alert parent does when their child is walking around during the service.
• Trap - You're called on to pray.
• Two-minute Warning - The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and begin to gather up your children and belongings
• Wide Receiver - an overweight usher coming down the aisle to receive the offering.

Ah, well. the point of it all tonight is to have one team finish out on top. To be the champion, to be the victor to whom go the spoils. It comes down to two teams who have worked hard, prepared for their opponents and answered the whistle every Sunday. It comes down to one team.

One team, one dream. As a Christian, this is how we should live our lives: With one purpose, one vision, one goal, one destiny, one chance, one life, one passion.

In comparison, very few athletes have the giftedness to compete at the professional level. Most retire to the backyards, to the gyms or sandlots. Then there are the fans. You will find all kinds of fans, whatever the venue or genre. NASCAR fans, hockey fans, baseball, basketball and football fans. There are golf fanatics, star war and star trekkies, sci-fi and horror fans too.

You do know the origin of the word "fan" right?  The word "fan" is a shortened form of "fanatic."    We know a fanatic is "one who is unreasonably enthusiastic or overly zealous, going beyond what is reasonable"   and, "one who is enthusiastic about a sport, pastime, or individual.

The dedication and zeal that a fan shows for his team or sport might be considered fanatical if the object of that enthusiasm was Jesus Christ and the things of God.  I wonder if many Christians stop short of full surrender to God because of "what people might say."  After all, we don't want to be fanatics, do we?

Paul thought of himself this way in Philippians 4:9, 10 ". for it seems to me that God has put us on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men. We are fools for Christ, but you are rich!

In Acts 26, the great Apostle Paul addresses King Agrippa and Festus the governor at the judgment seat at Caesarea.  As Paul expounded and preached Christ the two leaders had totally opposite reactions.  To paraphrase, King Agrippa said in verse 28, "Keep this up much longer and you'll make a Christian out of me!"

Festus, on the other hand, had this reaction: Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are mad, insane. Too much study has made you crazy!" But Paul replied, "I am not mad, nor insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth."

The word in verse 24 that is translated " mad " in the English is the Greek word " mania. "  This is the only time in the Bible the word "mania" is used.  It is still used today across the world as a psychological term.  It means " excessive excitability, a persistent, obsessive enthusiasm." O that we would be fools for Christ.

Paul was accused of the same mental conditions many committed Christians down through the ages have heard.  Festus was saying, "Paul, you are a fanatic!  You are excessive about this "Jesus."  Festus thought Paul's words were unreasonable and overzealous.  Yet politicians in his day thought nothing of murdering potential rivals to their power.  Paul was fanatical in the eyes of Festus, but I suppose murdering for political gain was okay.

I believe we can learn a lot from sports "fanatics" of our day.  It is socially acceptable to be a sports "fan" and they are ready illustrations for us to study.  The average fan can provide a window to us as we consider our faithfulness to Christ.

True Fans Are Faithful  -they don't conform ! Fans like to identify with their team.  They have hats, shirts, socks, even underwear with the logos of their favorite teams on them.  They don't mind being different.  They enjoy being the only one in a crowd with the logo of their team on it.  They are "representing." It has been said that Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player of all time, wore his North Carolina Tar Heel gym shorts under his uniform while he was winning championships for the Chicago Bulls.  "Once a Tar Heel always a Tar Heel," he has said.  Sadly, I know of some fans who have even been buried in a replica jersey of their favorite player.

So if sports fans are emboldened by representing their teams, why are Christians so shy about being a witness for Christ?  The Browns or Indians fan can leave Ohio and wear his colors wherever he might go, but do we as Christians get in the marketplace and lose our voice?
Jesus said in Acts 1: 7-8 , "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem , all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world." The witness of the Holy Spirit represents Christ to the lost; he testifies of what Christ has done for him.

Let God transform you. He has given us his Spirit, don't be shy, be faithful and let God speak through your life. 

Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, not to be conformed to the world, not to copy it's customs, but to let God transform you. I think The Message Translation says it well:

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Are you embracing what God wants to do for you?

True Fans Are Spenders---they don't holdback
Another truth about true fans that we could emulate is their reputation for spending money in support of their team or hobby.  Every year during the Christmas holidays and New Year's, thousands of fans follow their college teams to a "bowl" game.  This game is their reward for a winning season.  Fans order tickets for the game, airline tickets, and hotel reservations before they leave. An individual fan could spend as much as $3000 on his bowl trip.  NFL Super Bowl tickets, World Series tickets, and college basketball's Final Four weekend cost in the hundreds and even thousands of dollars.  No sacrifice is too great for true fans.

Contrast this attitude to that of many Christians.  Remember the definition of "sitting in the pocket"? Concerning the grace of giving Paul said to the Corinthians, ...see that you abound in this grace also. (2 Cor. 8:7)   Abounding in giving actually means to "exceed what is expected."  When we consider all that Christ Jesus has done for us and the heavenly blessings awaiting us, we should be eager to worship God in our giving. 

Someone said, "You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving."  How much do you love Christ?  Giving is a true test of our love.

Giving from our heart means that we give of ourselves. Not only do we give monetarily, but we give of our time and talents. We have been called to be servants.

True Fans Are Tireless   -they don't rest!
True fans will travel for hours to see their team or attend a convention.  Some fans will travel to road games no matter how far away.  Fans of college teams join booster clubs to further the efforts of their teams.  Little league moms and dads will sell candy and other items to help buy uniforms.  Ann and I have logged in thousands of miles because of Andrew's interest in basketball. Sports fans are tireless in their works  --they never rest.  Further, they are emotionally attached to their cause.  They feel that they are accomplishing something.

Now examine the good works of many Christians.  Our service should be from the heart, with both our Savior and our fellow man in view.  Our good works are a testimony of our changed life and God's residence in our hearts. 

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (James 2:14-20)

You see, our service is also a test --a test of our love and future rewards.  How is your serve?

True Fans Are Loyal   -they don't switch
If you enjoy sports at all, then you have probably heard of someone jumping on the "bandwagon".  These are the (so-called) fans who switch from one team to another according to wins and losses.  They are always on the side of the winner.  But these fans are held in derision by most true fans.  Most fans choose their loyalties based on their parents or their childhood experiences.  Once you become the fan of a certain team, the bond is for life if you are a true fan.   Win or lose, sink or swim ---they are your team!

Christians should have the same attitude as Paul taught the Philippians in Chapter 3: That I may know him...I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Salvation is a lifetime bond with the Savior.   The personal relationship with Christ Himself is primary to the believer.  No one has ever been disappointed in Him. 

True Fans Are Passionate   -they don't give up
Another distinguishing characteristic of the sports fan is their passion for their teams.  True fans will never give up until the last second ticks off the clock or the last out is made.  They never stop believing in their team no matter what the circumstances.  One of the most exciting era in Browns football were the Kardiac Kids. They would pull off a victory or upset in the closing moments of the game. Some teams seemingly give their fans more misery than excitement, but the fans continue to support them.  Some of the greatest sports stories are about those who did not give up in the face of great adversity.

In John Chapter 6 we read of followers who walked no more with him.  They heard hard sayings that were difficult for them to accept.  Jesus watched them leave, and asked His disciples this question, Will ye also go away?  Peter replied with the great acclamation:  Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Our relationship with Him is the reason for anything good and blessed in our lives!  There should be no "going back" to our old lives; there should be no doubting His love and compassion for us, His children.  So many Christians lose sight of His goodness to us.  It's easy to let other things crowd our minds to the point of temporarily forgetting His great blessings.

Paul stood before Festus and was ridiculed for his faith.  Festus was fearful of Paul's words and beliefs.  So is today's society.  We must realize that this world is no friend to grace; it does not comprehend true faith.  It seeks to label our stand for God as some type of madness or fanaticism.  The victorious Christian life is an existence of fullness of joy.  It affects us deeply and thoroughly.  It can be no other way.

G. K. Chesterton said: Why is it at first, that when a man steps over the line and finds Christ he so often leaves his common sense, and his business ability behind him and in passion embraces the cross and everything it stands for?  When Christ arrests a man, He wants the whole man; every part of him, every ability he has....The supreme thing is that we should be wholly, absolutely mastered by Christ, that we should be captives of the Lord.  That is the ideal...our one and only ideal.  (pg. 233)

May we never lose the passion and joy of being His. What is your one purpose, one vision, one goal, one destiny, one chance, one life, one passion?