How Far Is Too Far......?

To support a football team? To watch all the games? To celebrate and to be upset with the results? Are these way too far?

What happens when the jeering starts? What happens when football becomes more than just a game?

To be able to sit and talk about forgiveness and grace, then join in when people around are jeering and shouting abuse at a footballer whom they may have never met or known on any other level (apart from football)..... To me that makes no sense.

If I was a Non-Christian then I may find this way of life appealing.

But I am not, and I don't....so I cannot accept that as an acceptable way of life.

I used to get really pulled into arguments with other teams fans about anything I could. I would get really worked up and stressed out, but actually it wouldn't change anything. The game would be the same, the result would still stay the same and the events would still of happened. The only thing that would change is the feelings that I had towards the person making comments towards me, and the emotions of the that came with the person involved.

So how far can we go as Christians? Where do we draw the line? In my own opinion, I need to learn (more and more) about where the line is in what I say, how I act, and overall where my heart is at in the matter.

So what happens when its your football team that is involved?

What happens when it is your circle of friends?

How do you stand firm in what you believe when there is so much that feels so much more natural to do or turn to....?

Why do we always resort to arguing and fighting over something that was created to simply bring enjoyment?

The thing that I am trying to get at is that we CANNOT compromise in the way we support something, such as a football team; it is good that we support a team and enjoy our favorite things, but we need to be aware that we're not taking things too far. Rather, we ought to take it to the point where a divide between us and our communities is not an option.

This is something that I have been learning about personally, and God's been challenging me in. To teach about Grace and Mercy but then turn around and watch football and turn into a completely different person is not practicing what you preach.

As Christians we need to learn to control our emotions in earthly past times. As I said, we should be able to enjoy the things we do but in that comes great responsibility to not just let go of our beliefs and standards.

Ephesians 4:29 says,

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. (NLT)

My aim is to live out this verse as much as I can, I urge you to as well.

Thanks for reading.