The Replacement Officials

I told myself when I started this blog that I was going to try and avoid the world of professional sports. But there is such a unique and important discussion that is going on in the National Football League. So, let's talk about officials. If you a conscious American, then you are at least aware that there have been replacement officials working in the NFL. Regardless of whether you side with the NFL or the NFLRA (NFL Referees Association), you should be able to tell that these replacement officials are not doing the greatest job,

and they are getting a lot of flack. Yesterday the NFL and the NFLRA came to an agreement and the replacement officials were relieved by the normal NFLRA officials.

In the hockey world, when the officials take the ice they are traditionally booed. They haven't even done anything wrong yet and they are already hated by everyone in the stadium. Last night for Thursday night football on the NFL Network the NFLRA officials took the field for the first time this season. For the first time in the history of sports the officials were given a standing ovation by the entire stadium. These are the same officials that football fans have been screaming at through their TV set for years, but now we have something to compare them to. We realize that they are the best and that they deserve our appreciation. But here's the kicker. I'm probably still going to yell at my TV this weekend. 

I have a couple of years of experience officiating both basketball and baseball, and I have been yelled at plenty of times while officiating. Yet I still yell at the officials all the time. It has become part of the culture of sports. 

It all boils done to our own issues. Our dislike of officials is a combination of our selfish desires to support our team in whatever way possible, and our egotistical nature to always be right. Selfishness and lack of humility are both issues that we as Christians should be trying to avoid. Our culture tells us that it's okay to hate the officials, but our scripture tells us that we need to love the officials. 

I introduced this blog as a way to share the ways in which we are able to use athletic ability to worship God. I realize that this post is slightly off topic, but it is important. If you simply a fan, then give the officials a break. As an athlete, I know that there is a temptation to disagree with a referee while playing in a sporting event. In these moments we must realize that all eyes are on us, and our response to a particular call can effect the way that the church is perceived. Furthermore, we honor God when we treat our officials with respect and share the love of Christ with them even in a competitive and intense situation. 

The Kickoff

If you are at all like me, then you have spent a considerable amount of time wondering how to use the gift of athletic ability to serve the Lord. It seems like some people are lucky enough to be blessed with the gift of musical talent, preaching ability, or relational skills. God has molded me in such a way that I am not particularly gifted in many of those areas; but I can run fast, jump high, and I have good hand-eye coordination. How in the world am I supposed to use those gifts in order to serve God? That is question that I will be attempting to answer with every post. Feel free to join in on the discussion and share how God has used your athletic abilities in order to shine Christ's light through you. Even if you don't consider yourself to be athletically gifted, please feel free to chime in. Participation in sports is not just for those who are good at them, it is also for those who simply enjoy playing the game or getting a good workout. Regardless, I believe that there are many people out there who both love Christ and love sports. This is your space just as much as it is mine.