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While we're thinking about idolaters, though, we are wise to look in the mirror, at the logs in our own eyes. "One can love religion like anything else in life: sports, science, stamp collecting; one can love it for its own sake without relation to God or the world or life," wrote Orthodox theologian Alexander Schmemann in his journals. "Religion fascinates; it is entertaining. It has everything that is sought after by a certain type of person: esthetics, mystery, the sacred and a feeling of one's importance and exclusive depth, etc. That kind of religion is not necessarily faith."

We believers have a knack for making idols out the most sacred things: the Bible, objective truth, pro-life causes, evangelism, hymns, prayer, good works, worship, missions, justice, to name a few. Anything that replaces a vital and humble relationship with the living God—well, that's idolatry.

And because we too are tempted, sometimes we unfortunately offer idolatrous sports fans nothing but another form of idolatry when we scold in the name of Christianity. Schmemann adds, "People expect and thirst after faith—and we offer them religion—a contradiction that can be quite deep and awesome." The 24/7 fan can smell another religion, and he will have nothing to do with that contradiction.

Still, he thirsts. And if he can be shown that it is in Jesus Christ and nothing else that "we live and move and have our being," he may realize that he's been chasing a shadow, and will turn around and worship the real thing.

Mark Galli is managing editor of Christianity Today.

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Galli's previous Play Ball columns include

March Madnesses | The layers of insanity know no end—thank God.(Mar. 18, 2005)

Spectating as a Spiritual Discipline | For those who have eyes to watch, let them watch something more than highlight films. (Mar. 11, 2005)

The Grace of Sports | If Christ can't be found in sports, he can't be found the modern world. (March 4, 2005)

Baseball Isn't Entertainment | The sooner we stop thinking sports are about the spectators, the more enjoyable the games will be. (Feb. 25, 2005)

Salt and Light in the Arena | It's going to take more than a few good Christians to clean up sports. (Feb. 18, 2005)

Rooting for T.O. | Why Terrell Owens irritates most of us most of the time. (Feb.. 11, 2005)

Freedom Between the Goal Posts | Sports is much more important than our culture lets on (Feb. 4, 2005)

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March (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49