Football for Dummies

Football seems to be a simple sport. You have a ball that is carried, thrown, kicked, or defended. Based on varying success in these areas, you may or may not win. But what if we were approached by someone that had never watched a football game? What if they wanted you to explain each portion of the game so that they fully understood it, at least to the degree that they would understand the game as they watched it? When you really sit down to analyze the game, the complexity of it is overwhelming. Let's just look at football terminology alone,

blitz; touchdown; touchback; punt; field-goal; zone; cover 2; cover 1; prevent; fumble; interception; safety; kick off; kick return; shotgun; sack; holding; passing interference; facemask; 2 point conversion; line of scrimmage; first, second, third, and fourth down; turnover

This is just to name a few of course. This also doesn't even touch on position names and the numerous rules and regulations. When just touching on these different complexities of the game, one would be able to see the difficulty in explaining the game to someone that is first introduced to it.

In attempting to teach the game we may even be tempted to do so on a very high level as to not confuse this person. Keeping the complexities at bay, and attempting to walk through the game in the way of "football for dummies", this may not be a bad direction to go. Yet, two things have to happen in order to succeed at even this. First, the person that is presenting the "high level" view of football would have to have extensive knowledge of the game even with all of its complexity. Second, the person with this extensive knowledge of the game would have to 'translate' the game in such a way to be understandable. (On a side note, it would not be be a bad idea to avoid sounding patronizing while doing so.) So even teaching the game like this involves great diligence and knowledge.

Jesus can be simple. Following in the way of Jesus at its core is simple. You love God, and you love others. But can we not get caught in the complexities to those looking on with a curious or skeptical eye. As we did with football, let's look just look a the terminology that exists in Christendom,

theology; doctrine; atonement; eschatology; repentance; baptism; rapture; discipleship; fellowship; Trinity; apostle; epistle; Pharisee; Sadducee; zealot; herodian; gentile; Sabbath; communion; worship; praise; Greek; Hebrew; omnipotent; omnipresent

As with the football terminology this represents the tip of the iceberg. This isn't even concerning the fact that the book that those that follow Christ refer to mostly is the Bible which is authored by many different personalities with various backgrounds in many different times. Those that follow Christ have an important consideration when talking to others about why we do what we do. Do we dive with in the depths of the complexity that exists within Christendom? Or do we present the biblical narrative at a very high level? These are questions we must embrace as those that follow Christ in a world that is becoming increasingly "post-Christian". We must realize that Christianity is no longer the culture norm/expectation. Our lingo is no longer easily recognized. Are we willing to address the fact that what we say may no longer be easily understood? (Not that certain aspects of the Christian message is ever easily understood.) And what should we do about it?

I remember when I was a child I knew nothing about football. I went to an Oklahoma Sooner game where I froze my butt off, and still knew nothing about what was going on. Today, I can watch football, and follow along like anyone else. How does one move from confusion to clarity? I think it can only come from overall experience. I have watched numerous football games over the past 20 years. I cannot remember having one moment where everything clicked. It just happened. I understand where I came from, and I know where I am today. Somewhere in the experience of watching football throughout the years I now know the game with some clarity. So instead of presenting the deeper complexities to someone that may not know the game, maybe we just invite this person to watch the games with us.

Is it that simple? Instead of defining all aspects of Christendom, do we simply invite others to experience it with us? Instead of handing a track that details doctrinal bullet points, do we just share a meal with someone? Often, I have been tempted to push Jesus on to those around me without considering other alternatives. I do believe that I am not the only one that has struggled with this. I am realizing that Jesus does not come with a bunch of man-made baggage. (He expects a high price of His own, without any additions from His followers.) I believe if we present Jesus with a living breathing doctrine, (How we live, breathe and act) then the rest will take care of itself. Somewhere between the time we are willing to create meaningful relationships with those that are around us to the present, we may look back and realize that we do not have to participate in a full theological-doctrinal exposition in order to share why we do what we do.

- Dan Jones