Kill The Ref… Literally

If you want to see people on their best behavior just sit in the stand of a little league sports game. What you don’t believe me? Surely people foaming at the mouth screaming about a game involving kids that might not be able to put their shoes on the right feet is sound behavior? What is it that makes people who otherwise are normal everyday tax-paying folks turn into a raging lunatic that feels the greatest injustice in the history of ever was the strike call against their kid, who just so happened to be holding the bat upside down the whole time? Boy, people can lose their minds over sports.

It could be worse. Take for instance the people of Maranhão, Brazil who stoned quartered, and decapitated an official that had tried to eject a player in an amateur soccer match. Granted the ref had stabbed the player, who had refused to leave the field and proceeded to punch the ref but still seems a bit much to me.

It’s funny how we can compartmentalize our behavior. For some reason on the field or in the stands, we think proper behavior is paused. Maybe it isn’t just there, however. Like how we think gossiping isn’t’ wrong when it's a celebrity. Or how we are not supposed to lie, except when it is election season. Or stealing is wrong unless it is from some big nameless group. But right and wrong don’t have pause buttons.

The Bible tells us in 1^st Peter 2:12 to “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles” so that “as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation”. People are watching us everywhere we go, if we are to show Christ it has to be in ALL aspects of our life. It doesn’t have to get ‘over the top’ to undermine our example.

So wherever you are and whatever you are doing make sure to remember Christ is there with you.

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Ecclesiastes 12:10

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