God as athletic director

James Evans remembers an English professor in college who, after listening to two students argue over which team God loves better—Alabama or Notre Dame—finally said in exasperation, “God does not watch football games.” I’m not sure he’s right about that. The New Testament says God watches the birds, takes note when a sparrow falls, numbers the hairs on our head (that hits a little close to home!,) pays attention when little ones are at risk, seeks to protect rebellious children like a hen gathering her chicks, waits patiently for prodigal children, searches for us like a poor woman who cannot afford to lose a single coin, travels difficult paths to pull us out of the ditch. So why wouldn’t God watch football? The sticking point is that God may watch, but God does not take sides. God doesn’t care who wins or loses. Like all things in life, God is mostly concerned about the way we play the game.