This is from Dr. John Thweatt who is pastor of FBC-Pell City, AL and a friend of mine.

Football season is about to close…did you hear my wife shout AMEN?!  In two days Alabama will play for a National Championship and I’ve heard so many people talking negatively toward the SEC that I’m actually going to pull for the SEC team in that game.  Notice I did not say I am going to pull for A@&*!#A, but I did say I was going to pull for the SEC—as an Auburn fan there is a difference!

When I started pulling for Auburn they were a wishbone team.  As the times changed Auburn changed to a straight I-formation and then Bowden brought in his offence and Tommy brought in his, and now Auburn has so much motion and commotion that I am not sure what you call it, but I do like it.  My point is simple—it didn’t matter to me what scheme they ran I watched the game because I was an Auburn fan.

Alabama fans didn’t quit being Alabama fans during the Shula years—they pulled for their team through the hard times and now they are enjoying the fruits of having a great coach and some great recruiting classes.  They pulled for their team, they attended the games, and watched them on TV because they loved their team.

What bothers me is that we don’t always take that same attitude into worship.  Church has become “What have you done lately for me?”  If the preacher, choir, musicians, or teachers don’t perform to our liking then we will just go somewhere else.  Where’s the loyalty?  Where is the commitment?  Where is the passion?

  • If the people around you know your favorite team, but they don’t know your Lord—there is a problem.
  • If you leave the game worn out from yelling, clapping, and pulling for your team with everything you have, but get bored in church—there is a problem.
  • If you arrive early for the game, cook and fellowship with family and friends, and stay until the last moment, but get to church at the last moment and leave at the first moment—there is a problem.
  • If you pay large amounts for tickets and love the thrill of overtime, but give little to the church and get mad if it goes beyond an hour—there is a problem.

I could go on and on, but let me just tell you the problem—it is idolatry.  Jesus should be the subject of your conversation, the desire of your heart, and the passion of your life.  If something else takes the place of that it is idolatry and I don’t care if that idol is Alabama or Auburn.  As we continue in this New Year—let’s evaluate our priorities and make sure we are worshiping the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

Good job John… uh… Dr. Thweatt, you nailed it!