Phil On .. 

Allegorical, metaphorical, figurative .. call it what you will, but I love when a writer of prose or poetry uses words to describe a scenario that is representative of something else. Of course, the New Testament is full of parables that are allegories. We can think of seed scattered by a sower and falling on good soil or rocky ground. Seed can flourish in soil and grow into a plant. Likewise, surrounded by other Christians, a person is more likely to live a life that encourages others to follow Christ. As a further warning however, seed finding it’s way to soil still has to contend with weeds .. which translates as, the Christian still has to be aware of secular distractions. It is clear that the use of metaphors in the bible paints a rich picture in our minds and so better reinforces the lessons we can learn from God/Jesus.
Recently, a daily bible reading drew my attention to another metaphor, namely how football can be representative of our relationship with God and Jesus. I have always enjoyed watching football very much, going to some Chelsea games from my late teens to early forties and, more recently, taking in a few Stockport County games (Stockport being my hometown despite me having Southern blood based on my mother’s side of the family). I know it’s not supposed to be the done thing changing teams (or following two teams) but I like to think that I have morphed from a Chelsea supporter/ Stockport fan into a Stockport supporter/ Chelsea fan! Anyway .. the happiest times following my teams have predictably been when they were winning consistently. This inevitably happens when there is a motivated team led by an inspiring manager. There are some strong parallels to our relationship with God here. The manager can teach and coach his players but ultimately the players are on their own once the game starts. Likewise, we can go to church, read the bible etc as a means of connecting with God, but sometimes we feel on our own in the game of life. In terms of Jesus, we can correlate across to either a team captain or a player manager. In the former situation the captain is chosen because s/he is most on board with the manager’s philosophy – s/he is perhaps like a prophet in religion. The latter case of the manager being on the pitch with his/her players is perhaps even more pertinent to Jesus coming to earth as God in human form.
Jesus of course represents the uniqueness of the Christian faith. Using our own efforts to follow what God says and trying to be perfect is futile. We all fail. We need Jesus as player-manager! I am reminded on the following lyrics written by a Christian rock band called the Maccabees that bring out (via another allegory!) the beauty of Jesus. The words are from a track called .Do you know Love at all?’ and you can catch it on You Tube at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5W-WzGW0LE
Religion sits upon the riverbank
He’s trying to teach you how to swim
But there’s no way that you can save yourself
So the Messiah dives right in …..
The only one to take your sin