The Fans in the Stands

Several years ago while sitting at an athletic competition, I remember wrestling with the thought; is God being glorified by my cheering right now? If I am to glorify God in whatever I do, wouldn’t that include my actions and words in the stands as a fan? It is so easy for us to view our sports differently than we do other areas of our lives. As believers, we would all agree that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, yet how quickly do we forget our focus once the games begin.

Often as Christian fans at sporting events, we are the antithesis of bringing glory to God. In fact, we act a lot like the world in the way we cheer. How often do we trash talk in order to “gain an advantage”, or yell and scream to distract the opponent on the free throw line, or how about riding the referee so he might “make a call for our team”? How can God be glorified with such actions? Christ calls us to a much different spirit. Christ calls us to a different way of living, playing and yes, even cheering for our athletic teams. Consider Colossians 3:8-11; 13-14. “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.... Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” (NKJV)

Since athletic competition so often brings out the worst in all of us, what a great opportunity Christian fans have to display Christ likeness through cheering. What would a fan cheer from the stands look like? Since the bible says whatsoever we do, we should do it heartily as unto the Lord and not man (Col. 3:23), I think cheering should be loud and energetic. I also think cheering should be positive, not negative. God’s word says “let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that it will minister grace to the hearer” (Eph 4:29) for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt 12:36). So cheer like crazy for your team, but be careful how you talk to and about the “other team”. If anything is said during the competition, it should be to lift up and edify others. In fact, there may even be times when you actually acknowledge the opponent for a good play since true competition is the opportunity for both teams to perform at their very best. So whenever either team displays excellence through play, it should be celebrated by all with “a word fitly spoken” (Proverbs 25:11).

Of course, if left up to us, this type of positive cheering is not possible because it goes against what our flesh wants to do. But as Christians we are called not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed (Rom 12:2) reflecting our God who works in us, both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). When we respond with a God honoring spirit in our cheering, we bring Him pleasure. Since this type of spirit is so contrary to our flesh and the world’s system, it is obviously God who enables us to do so, and He receives the glory. So the next time you are about to cheer, stop and ask yourself: Will God be glorified by what I am about to say? If so, cheer with your whole heart, but if not, stop and ask God to help you be the right kind of fan in the stands.