By Francis J. Kong
(The Philippine Star)
Updated September 24, 2011
I was working out in a gym one time, and standing
beside me was a tall guy who was smiling at me. Apparently he recognized
me. I smiled back and said, “You’re so tall you must be a basketball
player.” He replied, “Oh yes. I do play once in a while.”
The gym attendant looked at me with amazement. He couldn’t understand
what had just happened. When the tall guy walked away, the attendant
asked me, “Sir, you don’t follow basketball do you?”
“Unfortunately not,” I said, “Why?”
And the attendant replied, “That gentleman is a professional
basketball player in the country! He’s a superstar – and you don’t know
him?! Tsk, tsk, tsk…”
The funny thing is, I used to play basketball for my high school
varsity team, until one day I realized that basketball is not for
midgets like me. I’m 5’7” and a half.
I remember somebody saying that he doesn’t like sports. “I’ve had it!
I quit that business once and for all,” he ranted. “You won’t be able
to get me near one of those places ever again!”
Here are some reasons
why people won’t go to sports games:
Every time I watch a game, people ask me for money!
The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly!
The seats are too hard and not at all comfortable!
I went to many games, but the coach never came to call on me!
The referee made a decision I didn’t agree with!
Some games go into overtime, and I get late going home!
The band played some numbers that I’ve never heard before!
It seems that games are scheduled when I want to do other things.
I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.
I don’t want to take my children to any games because I want
them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.
I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites – they really
came to see their friends and what they’re wearing rather than to see
the game.
These reasons may sound ridiculous, but think about it: aren’t these
the same reasons people use to justify why they don’t want to go to church?
Sunday is the day many of us bow our heads. Some of us are praying, and some of us are putting.
I don’t blame those who don’t want to go to church on Sundays (or who
prefer to go putting instead). I used to behave the same way.
Before, when people would invite me to church, I would sarcastically
say, “Why should I go to church when all I see there is a bunch of
hypocrites?” But then I heard motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said,
“Every time I invite someone to come to church, and that person says, ‘I
don’t want to go to church. They are just a bunch of hypocrites in
there.’ I always say, ‘Oh come on now, you go to church – there is
always room for one more…” Now that doesn’t sound very politically
correct, but Ziglar continues saying, “If the only thing that is
standing between you and God is the hypocrite in church, then that
hypocrite is obviously nearer to God than you would ever be…”
Today, my family and I go to church. And I realized, no church is
really perfect. It’s because a church is made up of imperfect people. I
know of church leaders who behave like petty potentates and who bully
people around. And I have seen church members who are so legalistic and
self-righteous. These imperfect people… they remind me of me.
I believe God wants me to change. I go to church because, aside from
learning best about life skills there, it’s at church that I hear
messages reminding me not to behave like a jerk. It’s at church that I’m
reminded to love my family, help the poor and serve this country. I
believe that’s what God wants out of me.
I don’t avoid going to church. But I don’t go to church just to look
“good”. I go to church because my heart is searching for God’s Word that
would help me live my life correctly.
Love sports because your heart is in the game. Love the church because your heart is in God.
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