Soccer, culture and Christianity

Well, if you know me, you know that I can’t just let a cultural study end at noticing differences. Not even during the World Cup.

I look at how people in the United States have such different tastes in sports than most of the rest of the world. I look at how what we like in sports announcing differs from that of many other countries. And I can’t help but wonder… could we possibly see the same thing in our Christianity?

I’m not talking about doctrines so much as I am the application of those doctrines. I’m specifically thinking about worship styles, although leadership styles and evangelism methods could also be examples of differing applications. Shouldn’t we expect, for example, worship among Latinos to be much more effusive and emotional than the typical U.S. worship style? Shouldn’t we expect the preaching style in Latin America to be more similar to the style of a Latin sports announcer than that of a U.S. sports announcer? Questions like that creep into my brain.

Maybe we need to study a culture’s sports as we contemplate the best ways to take the gospel to that culture.

9 thoughts on “Soccer, culture and Christianity

  1. Tim Frakes

    I’ve had similar thoughts regarding the Haj in Islam. There are many branches of Islam with a variety of theologies. However, they get together and put aside differences during the Haj in Mecca. Kind of like the World Cup. I don’t know of a Christian parallel.

  2. brian

    interesting, verrrryyyyy interesting.

    sport is helpful because it is so big in every culture, i think it’s a good way to compare, contrast, and learn stuff,
    of course, i love sociology and anthropology stuff in general

  3. Guy

    Tim,

    Not sure why but i stopped getting your posts via email subscription and just now noticed it (and went through and realized i missed a lot of good stuff!)

    i know it’s off topic–but how do you feel about saying the pledge of allegiance? i have mixed feelings about it but not decisive either way. i just know i always feel awkward at baseball games because of it.

    –Guy

  4. Guy

    Tim,

    well i resubscribed but never got the confirmation email. i checked and my spam filters aren’t set any different than they’ve ever been. What to do?

    Also–have you ever read “What Would You Do?” by John Howard Yoder?

    –Guy

  5. Tim Archer Post author

    Guy,

    I just finished “The Politics of Jesus,” which was my first Yoder book. Haven’t read any others.

    I don’t see your e-mail on the subscriber list. I’ll try and enter you and see if you get a confirmation e-mail.

  6. Guy

    Tim,

    just got the confirmation email. Why was i removed? i used to get your posts as recently as a couple months ago. i never unsubscribed. ?? It looks like its working now nonetheless.

    –Guy

  7. Guy

    Tim,

    Oh yeah–and is Politics of Jesus a worthwhile read? i just got a different book in the mail (THe War and The Lamb), but Politics of Jesus is the one you always hear about. Should i get it?

    –Guy

  8. Tim Archer Post author

    Politics of Jesus is not an easy read. It’s one of those books that I’d rather read somebody’s summary than read the book itself. :-)

    I can see why Lee Camp felt moved to write a more popular version.

    Grace and peace,
    Tim Archer

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