What I witnessed at the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Colorado Rockies game on Thursday afternoon was a bit overwhelming. Tens of thousands of Phillies phanatics hooting and hollering, drinking and enjoying the merriment gave no thought to the truth that lies buried in our society. But never yet having been to the Citizens Bank Park, my husband was looking forward to seeing the Phillies play in the second playoff game of the season. Excited that he won two Phillies game tickets at work, he asked me to go with him. He had to convince me a bit because I feel differently than most people about sports games and what they represent. Knowing how much he wanted to go, I gave in. But before I did, I asked him if he was sure he didn't want to take someone else. His response to me was an emphatic but loving NO. He didn't realize what he was in for. Neither did I.
Since we don't live far from the ball park we planned to leave our house a little more than an hour before the game started but we ran ten minutes late, or I should say, I ran ten minutes late. I'm not sure if that made much of a difference or not but I somehow doubt it.
It didn't take long before my eyes saw for themselves what I haven't given much thought to for years. Knowing something and seeing something are two totally different things. You see, I knew that people went to ball games but I had no idea how many went, who went and what they looked like. Knowing it was a weekday afternoon I was overwhelmed by the masses. Young and old made their way anxiously through the streets of Philadelphia towards the ball park. Parking lot after parking lot was filled up and closed. I witnessed adults and children alike dressed in Phillies shirts and Phillies baseball caps, men approaching people in their vehicles in an effort to buy their tickets, street vendors selling t-shirts and soft pretzels, a man dressed in a red suit with a cane and karaoke machine singing on the street corner, tailgaters in the parking lots grilling food and drinking, police directing traffic and many people walking down the street with an open bottle of beer in their hands. I even saw one man set a beer bottle, empty no doubt, on the corner as he walked across the street. And when it dawned on me that this was a weekday afternoon I realized that everyone either took a day off or like us, were privileged to get time off from work to go to game, though I'm sure that was not the majority. And the kids? Just out of curiosity, how did they get out of school to go to a Phillies game? Is this an acceptable excuse now?
Thoughts went racing through my head as I tried to imagine all these people taking four, yes four, hours off plus driving time, to sit in traffic and pay for parking to go watch a game. This is in addition to purchasing tickets, food, drinks, programs, t-shirts, and other Phillies merchandise. These fans were spending more money than I thought most people had in our "recession". What recession? Just go to a professional sporting event and chances are you won't see any signs of one. Is this a sign that the recession is over or is it a sign of our mixed up priorities?
My mind was being flooded with thoughts about how fanatical these fans were about the Phillies and I wondered how fanatical they are about our God and Creator. Given what I saw, I thought this was a legitimate question. My intention wasn't to criticize or judge anyone but to simply question how long would these fans sit and get excited over a discussion about our Lord? How much money would they give to help those in need - their neighbor who lost their job or someone out of work because of an illness, not to mention the millions of babies and children who are starving throughout the world through no fault of their own. How much money would they give to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ? It saddened me when I realized I knew the answer to my question and how grim the truth looked. My heart became heavy and I was compelled to pray.
I have always had a soft spot for the underdog especially when teammates or fans would appear to be disrespectful to the opposing team. Booing someone has always seemed wrong to me. Does a competative spirit come from God? Didn't Jesus teach that whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant? And what about putting other first? So why do so many have the strong desire to win and be first? I can tell you for sure, it's not from the Spirit of God but from the flesh.
Worldly competition contradicts what Jesus teaches. I was taken back when the Colorado Rockies hit a home run and the Phillies fan who caught the ball threw it back onto the field. I questioned my husband about this and asked him why they would do that? He said they do this because they don't want to keep the ball that represents the opposing team's home run. This reaction demonstrateed the kind of sportsmanship we breed and even the lack of love, if you want to go deeper into it. Even if the Rockies were our enemies, we are to love them. Jesus tells us to love our enemies, not hate them. I know that hate is a strong word and that many would say they don't hate the opposing team, they are just rooting for theirs. I understand the difference, however, does God differentiate?
With each inning, it became more and more apparent to me what was going on. I felt like I had a new pair of eyes though it wasn't easy to see. My observations were making me a bit upset and it wasn't until later that I appreciated the experience that would help me grow and one that would become a topic of conversation. The activity was constant and every second was filled with either a boo, a jump to your feet, making noise, watching the "kiss cam", the "flex cam", being on the "kiss cam" or "flex cam", or waving the rally towel, the symbol of the Fightin' Phils which, by the way, replaced the wave. Though I have to say, with the constant activity I was more attentive to what was going on around me than I was in participating with the crowd. The helicopter that hovered around the stadium no doubt was covering the game, the excitement of the fans, the Phillies Phanatic executing his routine, the men who rushed onto the field to refresh the dirt, the cameras and news media who were there to get a story were just a few things I could't help but notice. What a big affair! What a big to-do!
I have to admit I had a hard time with most of what I saw and unfortunately some of my thoughts spilled out of my mouth and into my husband's ears. At first, he wasn't too pleased to hear what I had to say but later understood because the Lord revealed to him things he needed to know and see. Funny things is, my husband told me that he had prayed before the game, that if there was anything God wanted him to see that he would listen. It took him a little while to remember that God was just answering his prayer and then he, too, appreciated the experience. That's when he told me that he was glad that we went. I guess that makes two of us!
Comments
Even I root for the Phillies, genius
Ellis likes dudes.
This is the dumbest thing I've ever read.
lol wut
jesus is a phils fan, you crazy cat lady.
Jesus: a cosmic Jewish zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree.
As Ronald Reagan said, "There you go again."
Wait, this article isn't about David DeJesus?
God isn't real
And you can prove that?
Um...god sounds awful. Glad he/she doesn't talk to me. Instead, I get to actually enjoy stuff.
Ma'am, I don't think you understand. I'll start by saying that you are awfully judgmental. These people enjoy watching their favorite team; who are you to tell them that they are wrong?
You wonder aloud how many of these people would give their money to spread the Gospel, but does spreading the Gospel make someone a good person? What makes you assume that these people wouldn't help someone in need? People that toss around such unjustified insults are the reason that this world can't get along.
You say that Jesus wouldn't approve of competition and that we should love our enemies, but you aren't grasping sports. The point isn't that the Rockies are enemies, they are just opponents. If you have ever played a sport, you would understand the camaraderie and respect that develops between opponents. Do you also think Jesus disapproves of the Special Olympics?
I'm running out of space, so in closing, please stop spreading hate and people will stop returning it. Jesus loves Phils fans
I love the Rockies!
At least cheering for the phillies, you cheer for something real.
This article is a joke right? I mean, it can't be serious...you were upset people were spending money instead of donating it to charity or to help their fellow man? Insanity...if you look at it that way why do you have cats? All that money you spend on cat food/cat toys/cat accessories could be given to your church or to someone in need.
Just because something is not to your tastes doesn't mean you have to degrade it or the people who go to it. Donate the ticket to charity the next time you have one so it doesn't go to waste.
Let those without sin cast the first stone
Lighten up lady...you know nothing of my work.
I can't believe what I just read. Next time you win free tickets, give them to a real fan!! You don't deserve them.
I respect your views, but please don't push them upon others. Lisa, you may believe in a God, but I do not.
Die
This just put me completely to sleep.
I had money on the Rockies. Take some solace in that.
But, Phillies fans go to the park every game to see God. He is otherwise known as Ryan Howard.
Key difference between cheering for baseball and cheering for god: Baseball is real.
Wow - come down from your cloud of judgment. This is going to sound meaner than I intend, but it's garbage like this that turn a lot of people off from religion in the modern world. Seriously, lighten up. And your husband is a complete knucklehead for giving you that ticket. Even you tried to warn him - sounds like wishful thinking on his part.
Oh, I LOVE the headshot with the cat. That pretty much tipped me off about the content before I even read the article.
Realize that your belief system is based on a book, of which most of the original content was changed and skewed during translations from Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, etc. I believe that yes, reading this book is good. That the affairs of man can be aided by interpreting this book, but to so casually diddles on a social institution that provides comfort and points of reflection for so many is terribly un-Christian and overlooks the basic premise of Jesus' advice, (That's right, advice not edict) enjoy life. Besides, in a thousand years people may consider Harry Potter the son of God and the Messiah of our age. Boy, wouldn't they be unhappy to find out that an unwed mother penned that little piece of scripture.... They may live better lives if they take the stories as advice and realize it as allegory over non-fiction.
You must have learned some of that malarky in college. Do you know that if we took the writings of Christians in the first century we could quote pretty much the entire Bible from their writings? So we can trust the translations we have today.
And Jesus gave advice? Wow. Jesus loved and commanded and called and taught and rebuked and even condemned... and He left no middle ground, for Him or against Him, get to the Father through Him or don't get there at all.
I didn't see that Lisa blasted fans, but asked questions about the state of our present world. I think from the responses that she struck a cord of some sort... Did she step on the gods of the present age? From what it looks like to me she's being persecuted for righteousness' sake.
Amazing that of all the topics she's written on thus far, people have come out of the woodwork to crucify her on this one. I THINK THAT PROVES HER WHOLE POINT.
Jesus would be so proud of you walking around judging everything you could see!! Oh wait...
Point out where she judged... maybe I missed it...
And of course you know Jesus said not to judge by mere appearances but to make a "righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Wouldn't that imply we can judge?
Would it make any difference if I told you I was a Rockies Fan?
So, let me get this straight, you are looking down on people who took vacation time from their work to go watch something they enjoy?
You are disgracefully judgmental. You have a warped idea of what religion is. Remember Jesus talking about that sanctimonious fraud who knelt praying in church and then left and was awful outside of church? Sounds a lot like you.
And ugh, you are a disgrace to the rest of us who own black cats.
Would it make any difference if I told you I was a Rockies Fan?
Is this some sort of twisted joke?
Also, stop giving catwoman a bad name.
You should try to have some fun sometimes. Do you ruin everything you do by over analyzing it?
Why do Priest's get away with doing bad things and I can't go to a baseball game?
If Christ can rise from the dead, then so can I. Don't think I've forgotten about The Third Reich. By the way, I'm channeling my energy through a neo-nazi who prayed to me last night so that I could post this message.
You will rise again:
"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29).
I feel bad for your experience at the game, give me your address so I can send you some flowers to help cheer you up.
I agree 100% with this article. It is the best piece of literature ever written.
It's too bad people have to be mean about this, because Lisa has real concerns, and they aren't absurd. That said, as a baseball (Rockies) fan, I do have to disagree with what, to me, seems an overly simplistic take on professional sports. It is certainly true that there is a lot of raw emotion in fandom - much of which is irrational - but there is also a lot of respect and goodness.
I've been a visiting fan in a seemingly hostile environment, and can say that most baseball fans, while they'll say what they're supposed to say (heckling, jeering, etc), ultimately respect each other. I'd say that most baseball players feel the same way. The money in the sport - in sports, is not symptomatic of some cultural death. Indeed, baseball - as an elegant, challenging, cerebral, and emotional game - is one of American culture's best creations. There is plenty that is wrong with the world, to be sure, but baseball is not one of them.
Better to focus on creating good than destroying evi
Your husband should've done to you what I do to my wife when she gets all uppity with me
Oh, that was great satire. I didn't even know examiner.com let people write humor. I think I want that job, but clearly the competition is fierce.
Oh man, I'm still laughing. The part about throwing back the ball could have been a bit better. The timing was off, I think. Still, it's all very good. I think I'm going to read more of this Christian humor examiner.
"My heart became heavy and I was compelled to pray." Really? Is that how you people are these days? Life is so hard! My heart weeps tears of sadness! What you fail to appreciate is the overwhelming beauty of 45,000+ real people gathering together, putting aside whatever makes them different and uniting in the single, tanglible, REAL cause of supporting the home team. It is an unmatched camaraderie. Apologies if religion cannot entertain and bring together like that.
Judge not, lest you be judged lady.
To the one who thinks they know all there is to know about the biblical imperatives of not judging, please in your wisdom explain for me the following verse: "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment" (1 Cor. 2:15).
Yes, there are rules. I believe Lisa was simply sharing the thoughts of her heart... to a mostly Christian readership. But here come the torches and pitchforks...
well lady,
you can rest assured this...this...article (?) is being passed around my office and garnering big laughs. Keep up the crazy!
Hi Lisa,
It's me, your Lord and Savior. If you're as interested in helping those in need as you claim to be, you could have easily donated those tickets to a children's charity, or sold them and donated that money, or simply given them away, you selfish hypocrite.
Also, since you believe in Me, and you believe in My Father, then don't you think in all His grand omnipotence that He's able to figure out the difference between spirited competition and actual hatred? In all your hubris, you believe you can, but you're not sure He can? You stupid twat. I just talked to Him and He's really mad at you and wants you to move to Nebraska and never come back.
Peace and love, peace and love,
JHC
P.S. Your cat hates you.
Yeesh...lighten up lady. Why don't you take the next few plays off and just stop talking for a while, ok?
WOW! I didn't realize this article would provoke such anger. I simply reported on my reaction from a Christian point of view (I don't mean mainstream feel good, can-do-what-I-want-because-I-said-prayer-and-I'm-saved Christianity, I mean, real Christianity). Jesus said, "They will hate you because of Me". Judging or "discerning" from all the comments I would say Jesus is right. It appears that book that many say is erroneous has some truth in it. I'm not interested in being popular. My faith is not in people yet I love all people, including all you sports fans! And no one has to answer to me but to God. My skin is pretty thick so for what it's worth, I'm not angry at anyone for their nasty comments. Though some I will delete (FYI). Being a Christian isn't about saying you believe in God, going to church or reading the bible. It's about walking in faith and living by the Spirit of God-not easy when the flesh is at war with God's Spirit. Let him who has ears hear!
I think the way you came across is the problem. You may be coming from the right place, but you can't say that people attending these games don't love Jesus Christ. You're instantly offending even Christian's by saying that people attending these games should be donating their money instead. God wants us to lead a rich life, and we are allowed to enjoy the life he's given us. If someone wants to do that by going to a Phillies game so be it. I attend Phillies games all the time AND donate my time and money for the glory of God. Instead of judging Phillies fans, try a different approach, Love. This will get you much further in your case for Christ.
Sorry about killing Jesus, I hope we can still be friends.
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