January 23, 2005
Is Christianity the Greatest Spectator Sport in the World?

TEXT: James 1:22-27
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

America is a sports-minded nation. Stadiums and sport arenas, with very expensive admission tickets, are sold out week after week. It is interesting that only a few of the spectators become seriously involved with the sport they go to watch. They are satisfied to watch the performance of great athletes.

At lunch the other day I asked my grandson if he missed playing basketball. He was an outstanding basketball player in high school. “Not at all,” he replied. “It was fun in high school, but now as a college student I am content to be a spectator.”

Can we make a comparison with the athletic world and our Christian faith? Could it be said that Christianity is the greatest spectator sport in the world? Every week millions of people go to church but never become seriously involved with the biblical mission of the church – to lead others to Christ. Weekly large number of people meet for Bible study. Are these Bible studies life-changing events, or are they primarily social gatherings around a lively biblical discussion? We know that great things have happened in lives where the Holy Spirit has worked through the word. However, many have refused to let the Holy Spirit change their lives as they have heard the Word.

Every congregation has the faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ who are being used mightily by the Holy Spirit. A few of these servants are well known, but the vast majority go about quietly living their lives for Christ saying a good word for him whenever there is an opportunity. These people cannot be overlooked. However, the truth is there are more spectators than participants in the Christian church.

Who are these spectators? They are good people, many who confess faith in Christ, but it stops there. They are very interested in the church and support it with their time and money. They criticize the church when it is weak, and praise it when it is strong. Nevertheless, they have never become involved in sharing the Gospel and telling an unbeliever what Christ has done for them.

It is to this spectator that James tells us, Move from the bleachers to the playing field. Do not merely listen to the word. Do what it says.

What pulls us from the bleachers and onto the playing field? It is a personal meeting with Jesus Christ and walking with him daily. If we are convinced that a heavenly home is awaiting us and a Savior who stands beside us, we will want to share the truths of the Gospel with others. If we are convinced that all we have comes from God, then we will hear his voice telling us to share our abundance with others who are in need.

When we hear God’s Word saying, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and it keep oneself from being polluted by the world,” we minister first to their souls, then to their bodies while we are citizens of this world.

Back to the athletic world. Athletes’ working days are limited. The more physical the sport the earlier they retire. Arnold Palmer, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Vince Lombardi, and a host of others will long be remembered. They are filed away in the Halls of Fame waiting for other great athletes to join them. Meanwhile, they have crawled onto the bleachers with the rest of the spectators.

Not so in the Christian church where there is no retirement for Christ’s ambassadors until they arrive at their heavenly home. What a joy to keep on playing until that day comes when we no longer are citizens of this planet!

Do you want an exciting life, not matter what your age might be? Then take these inspired words of James seriously, and you will soon see the difference between being the spectator and player.

Amen.

Rev. Dr. Homer Larsen
Christian Crusaders