My family and I have been enjoying watching the World Cup in many respects. The story lines of players, teams, and countries, with the added benefit that all the games are at times which are easy to watch, has kept glued to every match. If we don’t watch the game live, we watch all the highlights on YouTube during the evening. There are many themes that catch my attention, but one that keeps impressing upon me is the passion which teams and fans display. Soccer is enthralling that way, one moment the soccer ball is being passed around in a routine way, then all of a sudden a burst of speed, missed defensive assignment, fancy pass, unfathomable mistake, a remarkable goal. There is not much scoring in soccer, so when it happens the tension explodes from the players and fans alike. Grown men from around the world, dressed up like buffoons with paint on their faces, explode with tears of joy or sorrow. I love it.

Of course I have rooted for the U.S. and Germany and was disappointed by their final losses, but now my hopes are for Switzerland to beat Argentina. If you have been following the games you’ll know that Argentina won with some controversy in their last game against Egypt. I believe Egypt did not receive fair reffing which led to their collapse to Lionel Messi, Argentina’s best players. The entire Egyptian team was livid and rightfully so, even the coach was punished with a red card as even days after he continues to advocate for his players. Now I very much want Switzerland, not a historically strong team, to beat the defending World Cup champs. Why? Because I’m so wrapped up in the details of this whole thing!! All of a sudden I’ve become the fan in front of the T.V. cheering against a country I’ve never been to, and players I’ve never met.

My point here is that soccer brings out passion from fans and countries alike, (another example is the Cape Verde story line), and in an often cynical, indifferent world, that passion has been a breath of fresh air. When we get passionate about something, the details, like quality reffing and play, start to matter. This reminds me of my all time favorite quote by John Gresham Machen, “Indifferentism toward doctrine makes no hero’s of the faith.” I think about this quote all the time, and I have noticed in my life and others this phenomenon. Studying God’s Word and seeking understanding of God in theological discourse makes people more passionate about God. He is not boring, nor static, but rather interesting, alive, and moving. Soccer may draw passion out from people, God instills people with passion that is unsurpassed. The book of Acts tells of Peter and Paul who proclaim a doctrine not just as news, but as good news. They are passionate about their message, the gospel of Jesus, which turns them heroic in their behavior. My friends, we have a cloud of witnesses which have gone before us, surrounding us in the stands cheering us on, with crazy wigs and face paint, imploring us with passion to know and experience God deeply. Let our passion be placed in the One who laid His life down for us. He has won the match, His victory is assured and His presence is with us. 

Rev. Ben Melli