July Newsletter Article

Despite not being much of a soccer fan, I am enjoying watching and keeping up with the World Cup. Any time nations compete I am interested in the outcome be it soccer, the Olympics, or even those lumberjack competitions ESPN broadcasts every once in a while. While I am pulling for the American team to do well and go far in the tournament, I have other “favorite” national teams that I like to watch and root for. I like Argentina, I like Nigeria, but my favorite team is Mexico.

The sports opinion website SB Nation published an article entitled 2010 World Cup Likability Ratings, Or How to Pick Your Team in Scientific Fashion and ranked Mexico #28 out of 30 teams on the likability index. Italy and North Korea being the only two nations less likable than Mexico when it comes to soccer, the author writes, “Mexico may not be pulled for at any time unless you are actually Mexican. If they play Italy somehow, root for a meteor to strike the stadium. There are no exceptions to this rule.”

Mexico gets a bad rap. They are a very physical team that some would call dirty. Their exploits are legendary and it is safe to say that most teams know what they will be in for when they enter the pitch with Mexico. With that said, most World Cup teams carry around with them baggage of some sort that creates expectations, and preconceived notions of their ability, play and style - true or not. It is the way the game works and when it comes down to it, it is up to the team to either cultivate or dispel.

Expectations, preconceived notions, & stereotypes are dangerous - that much is clear - but in a real way they also present opportunities. Just as a student who is dogged by expectations of unruly behavior can be hampered all year long with teacher expectations, we as a church have the great opportunity to change minds and hearts by the way we fight to change minds and hearts. Jesus said it best as he delivered the Sermon on the Mount, “You have heard that it was said...but I say unto you” (Matthew 5) - Jesus himself was at work breaking and transforming the expectations of life to something more full and whole. We as a church need to be mindful that transformation, reformation, regeneration is the most feared enemy of the stereotype and mundane expectation. Our fight will be uphill and won’t take place on a soccer pitch where the rules of the game dictate. Our rules come only from the Spirit of the Living God who moves within this community and calls us to abandon precedence and fear as we seek to live within the community of our common Presbyterian heritage and strive to be the church that thrills the heart of God.