Types of Christians from a Soccer Perspective

I was raised in a Christian family that loved soccer. During the 1994 World Cup, my father successfully passed his love for the game on to me. Together with him, I watched every World Cup match, and also bought soccer books, team jerseys , as well as videos about the history of soccer. Those memories shaped me into a soccer fanatic to this day.

As I studied the Bible and began to know God's heart, a nagging question arose:

"What do I look like in God's eyes from a soccer perspective? Am I God's Cristiano Ronaldo? Or His Lionel Messi? Or could it be that I'm only a neighborhood-league player when it comes to Christianity?”

To examine how deep my relationship with God is through the lens of soccer, I came up with several classifications:

1. Spectator Christians

Soccer spectators usually go from stadium to stadium to follow the matches of their favorite team. They watch from the sidelines, meaning they are not involved in the actual game. Their job is only to sing and clap. Measuring the happiness of soccer spectators is easy: they are happy when their team scores and sad when their goal is conceded.

Similar to that character, Spectator Christians (like I used to be) are those who move from one church to another just to sing, clap, listen to the sermon, and then go home. Spectator Christians only sit in the congregation seats and are unwilling to get involved in ministry. Most of the time, they look for a church close to home, and if possible, one with a slightly later service schedule so they can sleep longer.

Just like soccer spectators whose happiness depends on goals, I too used to measure God's goodness only by His blessings. When I was receiving abundant blessings, I was immediately eager to seek God. When provision grew thin, I grumbled against God.

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and pure, children of God." -- Philippians 2:14-15

2. Commentator Christians

A soccer commentator is someone whose job is to predict and review the contents of a match, while observing the actions of each team. Usually they understand very well the history, tactics, and formations of soccer. However, a commentator is not necessarily skilled at playing soccer. His job is only to comment based on theory, not the practice of playing.

I personally once found myself in the position of a Commentator Christian. At that time, I felt I had already mastered the contents of the Bible. I knew the history and development of the church. church here and there because I felt the smartest and most deserving. I did not look within myself, and I did not carry out God's commands to guard holiness and to evangelize.

That was when I became a Commentator Christian: skilled at talking about the word, but not a doer of the word.

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. They love to pray standing in synagogues and on street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." – Matthew 6:1-5

3. Amateur Christians

Amateur soccer players (like I am now) make soccer not their profession, but merely a hobby or a sport. They do not have a regular training pattern, much less disciplined eating and sleeping habits. They are not bound by contract either, and they have other jobs for a livelihood. In short, soccer is not the main thing to be pursued with all one has in life, because it is only a medium of enjoyment.

Based on that analogy, Amateur Christians are those who are already involved in ministry, but do not make God their top priority. Ministry is treated as an opportunity for friendship or networking, an outlet for hobbies or pleasure, whether material or nonmaterial.

Amateur Christians consider holiness not something that must be fought for, just as amateur soccer players do not regard victory as important.

How many of us serve in a church only because since birth we have been used to being taken there? Or because fellow believers who are fun to be around gather there? Because we like the music at that church that is cool? Or could it be only because the church is close to home? I used to want to do music ministry in church only because I felt God had given me only musical talent. I selected ministry according to what I liked.

It cannot be denied that our main skills can greatly benefit a ministry, but try not to limit yourself. Or on the contrary, grow discouraged because you are not yet proficient in a skill that is needed. As a result, we forget the ministry entrusted by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." – Matthew 28:19

Whether we like it or not, we must go out and evangelize. Not instead sorting through which ministries are enjoyable for us.

4. Professional Christians

Professional soccer players devote all their heart and strength to becoming athletes who are highly committed and disciplined in their field. For example, Christiano Ronaldo trains regularly for five hours every day, plus push-ups and sit-ups 3,000 times to build his muscles.

Not only do they build excellent physical condition, professional players are also required to give their best in every match, namely victory. They must not depend on mood. Even when they are facing personal problems, they remain focused on playing for the team, rather than being ruled by their emotions. Professional players are also expected to achieve results, based on the number of goals, wins, and trophies they obtain throughout their career.

Professional Christians are those whose life and death are only to glorify and expand the kingdom of God. Their actions refer to the Lord's Great Commission, namely, "Make disciples of all nations." They are always ready to evangelize, baptize, and teach, wherever and whenever.

Not only are they skilled and bold in speaking the word, they are also champions in guarding holiness. They do not grumble in difficult circumstances. They are disciplined in having daily devotions as nourishment for faith. A Professional Christian will not measure God's goodness only by the blessings received. He realizes that being a disciple of Jesus is already the most beautiful gift that cannot be paid for by anything.

Professional Christians are skilled at loving their enemies and have a principle of overcoming sin every day. That, “My life must be perfect, because my Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48).

The achievements of Professional Christians are also seen from their fruit

First, the fruit of the Spirit, for example a changed life. Second, human fruit, namely how many people he has evangelized and made into disciples of Jesus. These fruits are tangible proof that the word of God lives within us.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:22-25

If at present we are not bearing fruit, perhaps we are still Amateur Christians. Let alone bearing fruit, our lives do not even change, and again we fall into the same sins. Still lazy to go to church, fond of commenting without solutions, like to grumble, serving God with the wrong motives, and so on.

This makes other people fail to see the character of Jesus in our lives. As a result, every word that comes out of our mouths becomes meaningless, because that word does not live within us.

So, where are we right now? A Spectator Christian, a Commentator, or an Amateur?

If not yet, let us be disciplined and work hard to train our spiritual muscles so that we can become Professional Christians!

This article was edited from the first-place winner (Yeremia Yordan Bijaksana) in “GKDI Writers Day 2018“.

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