I consider myself a fan of the NFL. I watch a game or two a week, know many of the players’ names and can name the teams by city and mascot. I appreciate and enjoy my Seahawks. I have my frustrations with my team, and all teams in general. I tend to think players are overpaid, but can live with that (so are actors for that matter). I understand how the game is played, the rules, and some of the nuances of the game. I know most of the rule infractions and try to watch with an open mind. It was incomplete though I wish otherwise and it was probably holding even if it was on my team.
Today I found out how little I know about football. I was having lunch and the table next to me had guys discussing their fantasy football league. Most of what they said I didn’t really get, as I don’t do fantasy sports. They talked different ways to assemble a team, how to spend cap money, and what kind of players to draft. I kind of followed that, emphasis on kind of. What surprised me was the depth of knowledge they had about players. This guy was the number 6 or 7 quarterback for the season. This player might earn 7 points for 12 weeks but suddenly get 30 for 4. Was it good or bad to have that kind of player. They talked the whole hour I was there in detail, only occasionally checking their phones for confirmation. One of my phrases I use regularly is “I don’t know most things.” Well, I don’t know most things.
Sometimes, we as Christians are guilty of being at one of these two tables. Either we have a lot of knowledge and talk among ourselves over the head of those around us. We talk Calvinism, Dispensationalism, mysticism, or some other (and quite interesting and important) point of our faith. We are not intending for those at the other table to be listening, but they are. And too often when they do and get lost and they dismiss our faith altogether.
At other times we are at my table, who knows a little, enjoying our faith, but are lost in details. We seem content to let all that other ‘stuff’ go by the wayside. “Just love my neighbor and worship Jesus, that is good enough for me.” And to an extent it is. Yet, there is so much more to our journeys than that. “Study to show yourself approved” was Paul’s admonition to Timothy. I.e., know what you’re talking about. Learn stuff, know things. And most important, have something worthwhile to say.
