I love the start of football season. Whether college or pro, I am on board.
One of the perennial hallmarks of summer camp is the optimism. Everyone is excited. Everyone has a chance. One of the ways in which you see this confidence expressed in football is with daily demonstration of smack talk. I know some traditionalists and old school guys don’t like it, but I secretly enjoy the art. I also like how it effects the team and in due course the games. As these receivers aim to win spots they jaw with the cornerbacks and then blow them up with some quick hands to the face. They are asserting themselves. They are setting the tone.
In watching some clips and reading some notes of practice I was once again drawn to this aspect of camp. But this time, I thought about the Christian counterpart to it. I am sure you can identify with what I’m talking about.
I am highlighting the professing Christian who is always bumping his gums about all the stuff he is doing. Perhaps it is service or maybe it is studying theology. Maybe it is even witnessing for Christ. At any rate when you see this guy/girl they are quick to get the motor going and let you know about their game.
Some of the more obvious examples of this is the ‘like to fight…or debate…guy’. He is also known as an evangelist or apologist. But actually he is a trash talking egomaniac who sits around thinking up one liners that he can use in a crowd or drop like a forearm shiver on his Twitter account. He is a grade ‘A’ Christian trash talker who is no different than Ochocinco or Terrell Owens.
My point here is that there should be no such thing as Christian smack talk. If we have something to say it is not about how great we are but how bad we are and how great Christ is. It is pretty jacked up to use Jesus’ band-with to promote your own glory. We need to be about Christ and his gospel. And when people see us they should know it. There should be no confusion on this.