Spiritual Implications of A Boston Red Sox Defeat

This is may seem like a ridiculous topic to blog about, and it is, but I feel I need to comment. Those of you who know me best are aware that I hate the Boston Red Sox. I hate the Red Sox so much that I would be satisfied if they lost every game for the rest of their existence as an organization! Harsh I know, but this is how I am aware that I hate the Red Sox so much. The other night the Tampa Bay Rays were on the verge of allowing the Red Sox to come back from 3-1 series deficit (not the first time the Red Sox have done this). It brought back haunting memories to the worst year in New York Yankees recent history--2004 when the Yankees blew a 3-0 series lead. As the Red Sox lost to the Rays--even though the Yankees did not make the playoffs--I felt like the year was a success. 

A recent issue of USA Today showed ran a story about a Boston Red Sox fan who used to root for the Yankees. He had moved to Boston and became a die-hard Red Sox fan. His comment to the paper was "The Red Sox grow on you." I cannot think of a more heretical statement that could be uttered by a Yankees fan. Scores of stories from church history ran through my mind as I thought that this man was a worse than Pelagius, Arius, perhaps even some of our neo-orthodox brothers.  A visceral reaction rose up in my bones as I heard this statement... it was then that I realized how much I hated the Red Sox. I felt betrayed by this young man. And being the Calvinist that I am I questioned whether he was ever a Yankees fan in the first place! The Arminian perspective may have allowed for more grace in this young man's changing allegiance. 

The whole story reminded me of the Church at Laodecia in Revelation 3. The Christians there were criticized for being lukewarm and falling away from Christ. I offer this young man from Boston as an example of a lukewarm Yankees fan who should be ashamed of himself. Folks, whatever team you root for... never. never. never give in to lukewarm cheering! We cannot lose our valuable faithful to our arch rivals. I hope and pray that the Boston Red Sox loss in this year's playoffs will begin a revival of the Yankee faithful to win more souls to our cause. We cannot be lukewarm... the souls of many depend upon it!