Armchair Quarterbacks
Wednesday, March 06, 2002 (01:00:00)

Posted by Rod

Armchair quarterbacks consider themselves some of the greatest warriors and strategists in history. They know all the plays. They know each player's name and their scoring history. They know what formation the team should use, how accurately to pass the football and how to run a 90 yard touchdown. Unfortunately, they don't get a chance to play. If they did, the game would surely be different.

When my sons are watching a game on television, I will usually listen to see who they favor and then root for the opposing team. It usually takes them about 30 minutes of arguing with me before they realize what I am doing. I like to keep things interesting around our house.

I never really understood some people's all-consuming passion for sports. Wouldn't it be interesting if athletes played without all that protective clothing and there were no rules against clipping, slamming and punching? THAT would make the games more exciting. After all, every sport, with the exception of golf, is based on the art of war, isn't it? What's a war without a few casualties, and I don't mean some huge fellow sitting on the sidelines with a sprained toe. It's easy to be brave when you are wearing all that armor and padding.

Imagine a football game where there were no rules of engagement. Thugs would beat a runner to a pulp and take the ball away from him. People would drag his limp body to the sidelines and the game would continue until there was only one man standing. Baseball? The pitcher would actually aim at the batter. If the batter hit the ball, he would try to run the gauntlet, I mean the bases. Millions around the world would tune in to watch the bloodbath. Advertising rates would soar. I think hockey fans are the most honest sports fans in the world. They will at least admit they go to the games to watch the fights.

Before you sports enthusiasts write to me about these outlandish ideas, consider the following.

Long before we had television, the Romans had gladiators. We, however, arrogantly consider ourselves too "civilized" for that. We host the same type of events. Our stadiums are strikingly similar to the ancient coliseums. Like the Romans, we have our favorite warriors that we regularly pit against each other. We just make rules to make sure no one dies. And if they do, we make our beer drinking, bar fighting, gladiator into a hero, just like the Romans did.

The difference is our sporting events stop shy of bloodshed and death, but the basic emotions are the same. If you don't believe me, watch the crowd during any large sporting event. Imagine them wearing Roman garb. You'll see the similarities. Crowds stand to their feet and shout when their favorite team squashes the competition. When one team has a better score, we say they "beat" their opponent. We used words like squashed, annihilated, slaughtered and blasted and whipped. I can imagine sports enthusiasts moaning at the mere idea of a commentator saying "Denver had a better score than Kansas City." YUCK! It lacks pizazz. It lacks style. It lacks aggression. GRRRRRR!!!

The armchair quarterback is a phenomenon, exclusive in our modern society. Unfortunately, we do not stop with the role of the quarterback. We have armchair politicians, rock stars, detectives and even Christians.

You know the type. They can spout scripture and know the right things for everyone else to do and say. Unfortunately, they do little and say much. Some Christians can easily tell you how a church should be managed, how the pastor should act, how the choir should sing and how missionaries should reach people. The problem is, they never get out of their pew and do it. It is easy to criticize a sermon or a song that someone has written. It is easy to criticize how a television ministry conducts their affairs or how a Christian webmaster manages their site. You will find, however, that people who are busy working are usually not the ones criticizing others. Those who are eating should not complain with their mouth full. I was taught that if I am hungry, I should not wait for someone to feed me. Rather, I should get up and fix something to eat. While I am doing that, it takes little or no effort to make enough for others. Funny how that teaching can carry over to our Christian walk. 

Ephesians 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Verse 10 says "be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." People who don't excersize never get strong. You lose muscle tone when you sit in a chair too long.

Verse 14 says "Stand therefore" It is silly to dress for spiritual battle and stay seated. If you have put on the armour of God, do something about it.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Look at these key portions of that scripture.

"Fight the good fight of faith" It is not enough to sit comfortably and pretend to be in the battle. You have to be on the frontlines.

"...lay hold on eternal life..." Imagine sitting, watching the battle on television and saying "Lord, while you are up, would you bring me a soda from the refrigerator?" What do you think His response would be? Hmmmm? Lay hold on eternal life! It takes action on your part. No one is going to get it for you. You have to get up and get it yourself.

"...whereunto thou art also called..." Your pastor is not the only one called. Missionaries, webmasters and radio preachers are not enough to spread God's word. Get in there and help. You can do something even if you are bound to a wheelchair. Look at Joni Eriksson. http://www.joniandfriends.org

"...and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses." Have you professed a good profession before many witnesses? If so, just how many have you really professed to?

If you see something that needs to be done, get in there and do it. If you know something should be preached, then preach it. If you think you can put up a Christian website, get online and create it. There is no shortage of work to be done. I just wish there were a shortage of armchairs. Maybe we should take the pews out of the churches.

- Rod

You can't win if you don't get in the game.