The logjam of cars arriving at Arrowhead Stadium last night was all too telling.  Something special was about to happen.  The Guinness Book of World Records was on site as the Chiefs were going for the world record for the loudest stadium.  Kansas City fans, clad in their patented sea of red, flooded the stadium to become a part of history.  The Seattle Seahawks had broken the Chiefs record, and Kansas City wanted the title back.  The New England Patriots were in town, and Tom Brady and company were in for a rude awakening.  It didn’t take long for the Chiefs Kingdom to reach an unprecedented decibel level of 142.2, shattering the Seahawks record.  The record, displayed proudly on the scoreboard in the first half of the game, sent the crowd into a frenzy.  The Chiefs, riding the wave of the fanatics at Arrowhead shouting in all their glory, dismantled the Patriots 41-14 in an all-out rout.

My dad and I were there last night at Arrowhead, savoring every second of that loudest stadium in the NFL badge that the Chiefs faithful earned.  Midway through the game I looked around me and began to wonder.  Do I show that same passion for Christ?  When it comes to cheering on God’s team, am I as crazy as I am at Arrowhead?  The next day at the water cooler, many Chiefs fans will be reminiscing about Husain Abdullah’s pick-six and Jamaal Charles’ three touchdowns.  Do I ever skip out on the opportunity to boast about the One I should be boasting about?

My wife and I were doing a couples devotional together the other week when our discussion revolved around an intriguing question: if you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?  Think about that.  If the same question was asked last night at Arrowhead in regards to Chiefs fans being on trial for loving their team, there would be no question of their guilt.  Are we as Christians guilty of being just as fanatical for Christ?  Do I know the stats of Christ as well as I know the stats of my favorite Chiefs players?  Do I block out time for church and my quiet time with God the same as I block out time to watch the game?  Is my radio tuned in to K-Love on my drive to work as it is tuned to 101 the Fox on the drive home from Arrowhead?

I look at it this way.  If others do not see Christ through my actions, I am not doing my job as a Christian.   James 2: 26 states, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”   Every decision I make throughout my day at work is being observed by students, colleagues, and administration.  Are your passions and actions glorifying Christ?  Do you model forgiveness to the kid who craves it?  Are you building up your colleagues in a positive manner, or do you gossip about them behind their backs?  Do you complain about teaching, how it might be considered a thankless job with very little pay for the amount of work you put into your daily routine or do you consider yourself blessed, knowing your influence on young adolescent minds is absolutely priceless?

Being an avid sports fan should pale in comparison to my passions for Christ.  There is no question what should come first on my priority list.  God is and always will be number one.  Deuteronomy 4: 24 states, “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”  God tolerates no rivals.  If He is taking a back seat to your favorite sporting team, God has issues with that.  I must say that I have a problem with churches in the area that advertise by saying things like, “We are football fans too, and we will make sure you are back in time to watch the game!”  God is riding in the back seat there.  God isn’t a back seat kind of guy.  He belongs at the wheel, and the moment we kick Him out of His role to take over control of the vehicle is when God questions our motives and passion.

So, I close by asking you to reflect on the following questions.  Where are your passions?  Do you hide scripture in your heart as well as you know the stats of your favorite football players?  Do you sacrifice for God on a daily basis, carving out time for Him as you carve out time to watch your favorite team?  Are you a fair weather fan for God, cheering only when things are going well?  Or do you let His love for you spill through your every action no matter what the circumstance?  I don’t know about you, but I want to be a die hard follower of Christ, unwavering and unshaken, my passions driving my every action.  All for Him.  All for the One who sacrificed Himself on the cross for me, for you, for everyone.  Be a passionate teacher for Christ today!