Football and faith: the importance of being present

Last weekend marked the FA Cup First Round Proper - a significant event as professional teams from Leagues One and Two enter the fray, often facing non-league and semi-professional squads that have battled through the qualifying rounds. For football fans, it can be both thrilling and nerve-wracking.

I was delighted when my team, Cambridge United, secured a close 1-0 victory against Woking. Sunday evening found me in my favourite armchair with a comforting cup of tea, eagerly tuned in to the BBC highlights programme. I looked forward to that forty-five-second recap of my club's hard-fought win. However, as the highlights dragged on - 90 minutes covering 40 matches - boredom overtook me. I fell asleep, blissfully unaware that my team had been drawn against Wigan at home in the second round.

It's curious - I've never dozed off while watching my team play, perhaps because we're hardly ever on television. However, I have been known to snooze during Premier League matches. If you're a supporter of one of those elite clubs, you might find it hard to understand how anyone could miss the spectacle offered by Arsenal, Liverpool, or Manchester City. But I assure you, there's a logic to my slumber. When you're nestled in your living room with a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit, even the most extraordinary players and coaches can lose their lustre.

You might be watching a game with seventy thousand fans in the stadium, but from the comfort of your slippers, you're observing from a distance—removed from the atmosphere and excitement. If you were present amid the chants and emotions, you'd be wide awake, fully engaged in the match.

Recently, I've asked some Christian athletes about their church attendance, only to be surprised and disheartened when they named churches located far from their own hometowns. It soon became apparent that many of them watch church services online - usually at their convenience rather than participating in person.

Goodness, it felt surreal to think they were enjoying church as if they were tuning in for football highlights! In all honesty, I've lost interest in watching football on television. The most dazzling displays seem to lose their impact when experienced from the couch. To truly engage with football, I need to be present and immersed in the experience. And if that holds true for football, how much more essential is it for church? Christian faith, far more than football, demands a personal, embodied touch - an experience that far transcends the screen.

So, get your slippers off and put your tea cup away. I’ll see you at the game on Saturday, and then at church on Sunday.