Tents of Mercy Congregation
Kiryat Yam, Israel
The World Cup competition in Qatar of the Persian Gulf is now drawing to a close. Soccer or “Cadur-regel” (in Hebrew) is the most popular sport in Israel. Kids and adults alike love to play a pick-up game anywhere possible – whether on grass or asphalt, hill or plain.
Soccer fans root for local Israeli teams with fierce loyalty. Wearing the “wrong” colors in some circles is reason enough for antagonistic behavior – particularly on important game days, and certainly when in attendance at the games themselves.
What is humorous and even the brunt of a currently-running comical commercial, is that while Israel adores soccer, our national team was only once good enough to qualify for the World Cup – in 1970. Local Israeli championship teams do occasionally play their European counterparts, and dozens of our best players have even been drafted to European soccer teams.
In the absence of Israeli representation in the World Cup, Israeli fans root for other countries associated with their heritage or language, or merely a team that captures their heart and attention. Walking in downtown Haifa the other night, after a surprising and exciting win by the Moroccan team, we passed a diverse group of students loudly and gleefully celebrating the Moroccan success. Many, including my family, favor the Brazilian team for the way they play with passion, grace, freedom and joy. Following the World Cup together has been a pleasant and wholesome family activity for several weeks. As we have been watching, it has been fun to observe and identify national flavors and characteristics in the teams and fans. We enjoy the drama of it all, the fanfare, the emotion, and cultural expression that inevitably comes out in the way the teams play and the way the fans root for their teams – how they rejoice in their team’s successes and wins and how they grieve the errors and losses.
As we followed the progress of the tournament, the global relevance of the event really struck me. It has been particularly fascinating to watch how each country responds to our Israeli correspondents reporting on the games from Qatar. Before and after the Iran-USA game, some Iranian fans refused to speak to the Israeli reporters out of fear of reprisals for consorting with the enemy. Others spoke bravely, openly and amiably with the Israelis – expressing sadness over the animosity between the nations, and conveying hope that things may be different in the future.
Why does this international event garner so much passion and human interest? Perhaps because it connects us to insights that are much deeper than mere entertainment.
Here are five insights that link straight to eternity:
1. God is the ultimate winner and champion. He created us in His image. We are all looking for a win. We are all looking for a hero.
“Every athlete in training submits to strict discipline, in order to be crowned with a wreath that will not last; but we do it for one that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly…” (I Corinthians 9:25-26)
2. We identify easily with the desire, drama and determination of the underdog teams, who pick themselves up again and again and push forward, occasionally winning against all the odds. Our heavenly coach has called us to join in His winning streak, but we have to follow His lead which is not always easy.
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)
3. The players who succeed the most and the teams that win, are playing with everything they have. They hold nothing back. They play with all their heart and all their might. We are designed by God to do life with our all.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23 NIV)
4. God created us for connection. Camaraderie between the players of the same team and even different teams, is very endearing. The emotions stirred up in us when teams win and lose in dramatic circumstances is by the Creator’s design. In fact, research shows that fans who identify with and feel attached to sport teams gain positive impact on their mental health from the experience regardless of whether their team is winning or losing.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15 NIV)
5. Finally, we all are waiting for the winning team to be revealed. After watching each team stand together to ward off defeat (defense) and unite in every attempt to achieve victory (offense), the bottom line is: Who will persist till the end and win the game?
“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God...” (Romans 8:19 NRSVUE)
For the final game of the World Cup on December 18, we opened our congregational coffee shop as an outreach for members and their friends to view the game together, including some of the young new immigrants whom we have been helping in recent months.
Join us in prayer for guidance as we continue to open our doors to the community. May a taste and smell of eternity fill our ministry center in a way that glorifies God and draws our neighbors to their Creator, the ultimate and victorious Winner!
[Disclaimer: This article does not represent a promotion of or a condoning of all aspects political and/or sociological regarding the World Cup.]
