Whose jersey would you wear?

Our first Sunday of NFL football for 2015 is in the history books!

If you’re a football fan, it’s good to have the game back in full swing. I liked the outcomes yesterday … my second favorite team won, the local team here won, and my “arch rival” lost. My favorite team plays tonight.

Yesterday, I saw a father with his young son in a Starbucks, both wearing a “Tomlinson” jersey representing their respect for LaDainian Tomlinson who played most of his 11-year career in the NFL for the the local team for this area, the San Diego Chargers. The Chargers website notes this about their former running back, “LaDainian Tomlinson, one of the Chargers’ greatest players and one of the most prolific running backs in NFL history, will have his number 21 retired when he is inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame during the 2015 season …”

With Tomlinson’s record and his great contribution to the Chargers, this father and son picked a good jersey to share. As I pondered how this dad is likely teaching and sharing with his young son a sport for which they have a mutual “love” of, I thought it takes a level of respect and “fanship” to put on your back another man’s name.

That thought made me think of these words penned by inspiration of the Holy Spirit by the Apostle Paul …

“Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires,” Romans 13:14.

Paul takes us deeper with the idea of “clothing” ourselves with Christ when he writes …

“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes,” Galatians 3:26-27.

When you put on a football jersey, you select one with a player’s name on it that you respect. For me, I’d have to pick a Joe Montana jersey for players past, or I’d even go with a Colin Kapernick jersey for my appreciation of the talent he has shown and the the greater ability I think he’s capable of (and we need to see!). But as Christians, we do more than wear the name of Christ, we clothe ourselves with Christ Himself!

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,” Galatians 2:20.

But some who profess their faith in Christ are, instead, wearing different jerseys. Some say, “lukewarm,” some “talk the talk” or “syncretism,” and others have jerseys with things like “fear,” or “doubt,” or “cultural Christian.” For the authentic follower of Christ, there’s more than just His name brandished on their lives, Christ Himself lives in them and they live for Him.

They wouldn’t think of wearing any other name.

So, whose jersey are you wearing?

Scotty