Last night, I engaged in an American religious experience – I watched a football game.
Like many fans, I hold onto hope when it seems like hope has left the stadium and gone home. Still, I tune in. I watch until the end.
There is one thing that disturbs me (no, not seeing Taylor Swift during every Chiefs broadcast). It’s how much God gets pulled into it.
Lately, the displays of devotion have gone beyond the quaint occasional John 3:16 sign held by a fan that makes it on the television cameras.
There are players giving thanks to “my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” for a win. There are players who kneel and pray in the end zone after a touchdown. There are moments when an arm extends to point heavenward after a spectacular play.
I know, I’m walking a tightrope here. I’m really not meaning to disparage or judge anyone’s religious faith or expressions. I do believe many players and fans are sincere in their faith. But what I wonder every time I see such actions is where it comes from.
It seems to me as a close observer that modern Christianity is caught up in a phase where it’s a transactional kind of faith – if I do this, God will do that. There’s an expectation that everything will go my way if I am good enough, devoted enough, and show my allegiance enough.
If I do the right and correct things, God will then pay attention to me and bless me with good things.
So, when I see the raised arm in praise after a touchdown, I worry. I worry that the American Christian world is becoming tied to just the good stuff. The happy things. The moments of celebration.
What happens when things don’t go so well? When the game-winning catch gets dropped?
Where is a person’s faith then? Or, where is God in those times?
Too often when we are taught that God is a transactional force, we are also taught that when things go wrong, we alone are to blame.
We didn’t pray enough, kneel enough, say the right words. If we had, then we would be happy, and life would be all touchdowns.
I know about this transactional belief system. I was taught it when I was younger. I thought that the divine force of the universe was dependent upon my thoughts and my actions. I had to get God’s attention so that God would pay me attention. And, if I did everything just right, God would have no choice but to make everything go my way.
If it didn’t, it was my fault and my fault alone. That can be a faith-crushing expectation. It is also soul crushing and exhausting to believe God is only with you when you do something well.
I don’t believe in God in the same ways I used to. Even still, it concerns me that faith appears to be becoming a shallow act in times of good instead of a lifelong journey and connection that endures everything. It concerns me when faith is treated like a lucky charm we carry around in our pocket for when we need it.
I prefer to think of faith less about religion and more about relationships. I think about faith as how I relate to the earth, other beings, other humans. How we are in this together . Sometimes things go how we hope. Other times, they don’t, and it’s really hard.
In the end, we are all in it together through wins, and especially during losses.
I am right there too. We are all still on our journeys.
Lol it concerns me when someone says "it concerns me when". Maybe those football players are still on their journey, still figuring things out. Taylor Swift is awesome.