Does God want us to do the Wave?

From time to time I’ve heard grumbles that the enthusiasm shown to sports teams is not in turn shown by Christian for our faith.  We yell and shout when an athletic contest goes our way; we moan and wail when it does not.  Outside of the Charismatic movement, Christians rarely show such emotion for their Church.  Is that because we hold the Church less dear, or because the type of emotion that we heap on our beloved Lions, Tigers, and Red Wings is not what God requires of us?  The love that a fan shows for his favorite team(s) may be over-the-top at times, but it is also in many ways, shallow.  When our team isn’t playing, or during the long regular season, we often lose some of our interest.  We care more about games against heated rivals than against other foes.  We lose heart when our team stinks, and become fair-weather fans.  Yes, our passion boils over during a close playoff game, and we dance around like maniacs when our team wins a championship, (Indeed, how crazed would I be if the Lions win the Super Bowl; perhaps I’ll never know) but is this the sort of passion that the Church of God needs?

            The Church needs passion that works 24/7/365; passion that works when times are good and when times are bad.  God requires of us a changed LIFE, and not simply a burst of enthusiasm from 11:00 to 12:00 on Sunday.  If you want to get excited while at church, that’s fine with me, but don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’ve fulfilled your obligation to God.  It is on those quiet somber days that God requires the fire within us the most.  In acts of kindness when nobody is looking; generosity that costs me dearly, and love that endures through the mountain top and the valley.  I’m sure that God loves the guy who wears the rainbow wig and holds up the John 3:16 sign, but in the end, it’s the helping hand extended in love that shows where our true passion lies.