politics and sports

In my last post I hammered a little on politics and sports. Actually I think both are quite alright in their good and proper place. And politics is important in that governing authorities are accountable to God to serve in a certain sphere.

Of course Jesus is political in that everything God does in bringing in the kingdom in Jesus touches all of life, including the political realm. There was not the separation we make between the religious and "secular" sphere back at that time, as we have now. And I believe politics, though never to be seen as "the second coming", is important. We need good policies and I am grateful for the religious freedom we have here, as well as for the strengths of our government, while at the same time acknowledging that it's not the kingdom of God, and that any utoia is out of reach in this present time and sphere.

Now to sports: My Ohio State Buckeyes- I'm from Ohio- get to play again on Monday night for the national championship. I like them in this game, though they may not win as LSU is a very formidable foe. But it should be fun. Maybe I'll even get a six pack and enjoy a couple through the game. Sports is good, especially to participate in, but it's fun to see a good game. It so easily gets too big for people like me, so I purposefully hold it at arms length, and rather out of sight, so as not to get too caught up in it. But it's fun, and we need some of that in life, to be sure.

In all things I want to be a true follower of Jesus. How would Jesus do it, and what is God doing in Jesus are two questions we need to ask, though I think the latter question is more the one we need to be asking so as to know how to live in Jesus now. Get into it; yes, I was even pulling hard for Michigan in their win against Florida! May God help us in this, and in all else to be growing in ways that please him and are a blessing to others.

Oh by the way, part of that is to be able to discuss both politics and sports with congeniality- a bigger word than I like, but meaning agreeably even when disagreeing. Either one can become a source of contention and can trip us up. We need to listen well, and learn. And see everything in its proper place. These things either have their limitations, or in the case of my Buckeyes, really don't matter at all. But having said that: Go Bucks! And maybe you can get a glimpse of the political debates on ABC this evening; I plan to, along with catching how big Ben -his father Ken was a high school classmate of mine, and a good quarterback himself- and the Steelers are doing in their game.

What about you?