Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church – pt 9

Devotion

To sum up this 9-part series, Raiders fans would make a great church because of their devotion. Seriously! What other group of people do you know that are so passionate about a team that is… well… let’s just say, less than stellar in their performance… winning, on average, less than 4 of 16 games for the past FIVE YEARS?

From the pre-game party to the last whistle of regulation. From their hatred of the enemy to the Raider Nation pride… these fans are unswervingly devoted. Don’t get me wrong, when the Raiders play like crap, these fans let them know. But they would never veer from their unyielding devotion. NEVER! You don’t have to worry about ‘losing them’ to some other team. That’s just not an option. Once a Raider, always a Raider.

My first experience with Raider devotion led me out of Sacramento at 2:00pm for the Monday night festivities. We got back at midnight… and that included leaving the game a little early (they got killed). That’s 10 hours of investment. TEN HOURS! It takes devotion to leave work early, load up all the gear we had (including a grill, table, 4 chairs, cornhole, a 36” flat panel TV, Direct TV Satellite dish, generator, and cooler of drinks, tri-tip and brauts), and shell out money for gas, propane and food.

DEVOTION IS COSTLY! And Raiders fans don’t care. Why? Cause it’s worth it. To be a part of the team. To be a part of something bigger than they are. To be a part of Raider Nation. It’s not for the weak of heart. It’s the real deal.

THAT is what believers should take from this blog. Devotion is costly. It’s not for the weak of heart. Being a part of God’s “nation” (kingdom) is worth it. It is a privilege to sacrifice our time and treasure for the cause. To be a part of something MUCH bigger than we are. And our team wins… guaranteed. May those of us in the church, followers of Christ, be more like Raiders fans. The church would be more effective, more powerful, and a lot more fun!

Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church – pt 8

Participation

Kudos to Raiders fans when it comes to participation. All of them are totally on board with just about everything, including the tailgating prior to the game. And, as mentioned previously, most everyone had on Raider gear. Fans enjoy participating so much, they even have custom motorcycles, cars and this interesting 3-wheeler.

They even had their own language… sort of. You could hear sounds of praise being shouted everywhere. Once inside, I heard the insider lingo… “Raaaiiii – dddeeerrssss” repeated over and over. It was cool. There was a lot of other language used, particularly the F-bomb. These expletives can’t be condoned… but they did fit the atmosphere. I know that’s weird.

I suppose I was as uncomfortable not knowing (or agreeing with) the language as other people are stepping into a church and trying to understand all the Christianeze talk going on. With words and phrases like, born again, evangelical, accept Christ, be blessed, bestow, emblems, Lord’s Supper, etc, it’s no wonder many get confused..

And when the refs made a bad call… watch out! The fans all joined together in expressing their displeasure. In fact, when anything happened that wasn’t in the favor of the Raiders. EVERYONE joined in.

Wouldn’t it be great to see believers doing the same thing? Everyone singing to the ‘tunes’ on Sunday? EVERYONE cheering and clapping when appropriate. Sad thing is… some of those same types of die-hard Raider men… the ones that bleed black and silver… they go to church and sit idly by instead of honoring… no, worshipping, the best ‘Player’ to ever grace the earth’s surface… Jesus, THE MVP. But you would seldom know that from the reaction of the ‘fans’ in the audience on Sunday. Sad.

Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church – pt 7

Anticipation

If you’ve been reading my blogs about the Raiders – you know that I am more than impressed with their fans… much more than the team itself.

One of the most amazing aspects of my ‘first game experience’ was the anticipation everyone had. After spending three hours in the parking lot, grilling, playing cornhole and joining in on the festivities (remember, we were a few hours late), we made our way into McAfee Coliseum.

This is when things got crazy… IMMEDIATELY! There was so much cheering and screaming and yelling… and that was just out in the hallways. Once I got inside, WOW! The air was electric. Outrageous, loud music help set the stage for an incredible event. And let me assure you, the sound system was amazing.

Side bar here: no one was complaining because of the music being too loud. In fact, the music fit the audience perfectly (which helped lead in the anticipation). Whether it was AC/DC, Def Leppard, or Van Halen, everyone seemed connected to the music. Heads were bopping, feet were tapping, and numerous people sang along with the 80’s jams being projected through the airwaves. And even though a couple songs seemed to be Raider specialties (I did not know the tunes), I still felt drawn to participate in the music… which led me to anticipate a great game.

I think believers too often just show up at church. They go through the motions. They drive to church, get out of their cars, drag themselves into the worship area, and then sit back and, at best, take it all in. In fact, there are too many MEN who just sit and observe a church service. You won’t find a Raiders fan observing. You won’t find a Raiders fan just showing up. NO WAY! They anticipate their team coming out and ripping the heads off the enemy. I like that!

Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church – pt 6

Gear

I realize there are a lot of cheesy Christian T-shirts out there. And most of them cost less than $20. Often, they’re only around $10. Why? Cause they’re cheap. And, if we’re totally honest here, many Christians are cheap as well.

Think about it… if your church got a really cool Jersey with your church’s logo across the front… put it up for sale in the foyer for $80-125 – you would likely be laughed out of the church.

But not with Raiders fans… ALL OF THEM! I bet over 90% of those attending my first game had Jerseys and other gear in tow. Ummm – think about that. 63,000+ people at a sellout. 90% of them purchasing just one Jersey at $100. That would be over $5.6 million. And that doesn’t include the thousands of Jersey wearing fanatics that weren’t in attendance.

Let’s not forget about T-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, license plates, mugs, patches, towels, golf shirts, rugs, flags, luggage, watches, clocks, shot glasses, and so much more.

Why would Raiders fans spend MILLIONS of dollars a year on things they don’t really need? Why would they spend money they may not have on black and silver paraphernalia? Answer: passion, loyalty, pride, and love for the team. These fans are all a part of something MUCH bigger than they are. They are a part of Raider Nation. So of course they have Jerseys and other gear to display their devotion. In fact, the guy I went with actually brought three Jerseys to the game in case one of us didn’t have one (which I didn’t).

Once again, believers would do well to have such a passion for their team, their church, their God. Wouldn’t it be great if believers had no problem shelling out whatever money was needed to proudly wear the appropriate gear? AND… to not complain about the cost. That would be a nice change. After all, those of us in the church are a part of something much bigger than ourselves… including a Super Bowl.

Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church – pt 5

Proud

I’ll make this one short. There is such a pride with Raiders fans. You just don’t cross them. Not in any way.

I can’t prove this… I can’t even promise that it’s true. It could be just a rumor – but I doubt it.

It is my understanding, if you’re dressed in enemy colors at a Raiders game, you very well could have someone pee on you in the restroom.

From what I’ve seen, it would fit the mindset and environment. The Raiders are a proud group of people. You don’t cross them… not even in the can.

Believers in the church would do well to feel as strongly about God as these awesome fans feel about their team.

Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church – pt 4

Drunkenness

Now before I start getting emails about promoting a blatant sin, let’s not be too hasty. What does the bible say about drunkenness?

Eph 5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. NIV

We could apply from this scripture essentially being ‘drunk’ with the Spirit. So, let me assure you, Raiders fans have that part of this scriptural application down pat! The reason for their drunkenness, though, was not Spirit related… at least not the Holy Spirit. Could be that they started drinking ‘spirits’ around noon that afternoon. The parking lot opened five hours before game time. FIVE HOURS of partying, drinking, music, grilling, and more drinking.

And this was no happy hour. This wasn’t a social buzz. This was hard core partying. Take a look at this beer bong… it’s an eight seater (with no seats).

Rest assured, eight people drinking three beers in 15 seconds or less… there’s only one reason – DRUNKENNESS! And although the professional players lost the football game, these Raiders fans were incredibly victorious at their task.

If Raiders fans could somehow harness the intensity and creativity they put into drinking and transfer that into connecting with the Spirit… well – it would be “lights out” for satan and the red carpet would be rolled out for God.

Raiders fans have the right motive (drunkenness) but wrong spirit (80 proof). BUT… at least they’re making an effort… which is more than I can say for many professing Christians.

Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church - pt 3

Enthusiasm

To say that Oakland Raiders fans have enthusiasm is like saying the 2008 Olympics had some fireworks.

Unless you see it for yourself, you just can’t fully understand it. These devoted fans are enthusiastic about everything. From the beer they drink to the flags they put up on their vehicles – these are an excited group of people.

And this enthusiasm happens each time they meet. At every home game, the energy is there. It’s electric. It’s powerful. It’s intimate. When this Coliseum's rockin’… (sorry). It doesn’t matter what kind of season the team has. Let’s face it, since 2002 – the record has been less than stellar.

Year   W   L
2007  4    12
2006  2    14
2005  4    12
2004  5    11
2003  4    12

But the Monday night of my first encounter with these fans of a 5-year losing team, you would have thought they had won the Super Bowl last year. The place was bumpin’ to say the least.

I can’t help but feel extreme jealousy here. Seriously. If there were any way I could bottle up that enthusiasm and inject it into the often tired, lame, complacent and apathetic attitudes of many church attenders – I’d TOTALLY DO IT! If a Raiders fan attended church (not that they don’t), it would be the best church ever! It wouldn't matter how good the pastor's message was or the worship... they would just be glad to be a part of the community!  Hmmm, that's some good theology there.

Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church – pt 2

Hatred For The Enemy

Among a sea of black and silver pride, you never get confused about who the Raiders opponents are. My first game with the Raider Nation involved the rivaled Denver Broncos.

Now I’m not the smartest guy in the world. In fact, I’m quite dense on numerous levels. But even the most brain deficient devotee knows better than to wear their Bronco gear into the dark recesses of a den of Raiders. That’s like pouring honey all over yourself and walking into a Bear-filled woods (no Chicago intent here… but if the shoe fits).

The abuse these poor Bronco fans took was staggering. Verbal blow by verbal blow, the dim-witted (buy loyal) Bronco fan would be hounded, cursed, screamed at and vocally abused in almost every way imaginable. One guy used his camcorder to record the whole experience of persecution. Me… I wasn’t a Raider fan going into this – but I most assuredly, out of respect if nothing else, had on a borrowed Howie Long Jersey. When in Rome…

Wouldn’t it be amazing if true followers of Christ would HATE the enemy as much as Raiders fans hate EVERYONE? Seriously. Why can’t so-called Christians stop dancing around the edges of enemy territory in areas such as pornography, gossip and apathy?

Believers would do well to learn from Raider fans. Anyone who is not a Raider fan is the enemy! And let me tell you – the enemy of the church is alive and well. Satan and his demons should be hated with the same intensity as a Broncos fan in Raider Nation.

Why Oakland Raiders Fans Would Make A Great Church – pt 1

Accommodating Leadership

From the moment I got near the place of worship where the world’s most passionate fans were gathered some three hours before kickoff, I saw people partying everywhere… and the management, employees and even city police were all so incredibly accommodating.

These ‘disciples’ were paying $25 a carload to park in a dusty, dirt field over a ½ mile from the ‘church’… sorry, I mean McAfee Coliseum. And everyone loved it. They erected their pop-up tents, fired up their portable grills (and their special beverages of choice), and then commenced with the enjoyment of what is appropriately termed, “Raider Nation.”

I was fortunate enough to attend the season opening Monday night game (Sept 8) with a guy who had great seats and very special parking. We were privileged to land on an actual paved lot, not more than 100 yards from the ‘church.’ But the pictures below are all you could see… a ‘nation’ of tents, grills, coolers, food, and the smell of a great time.

Above all, it was the accommodation of the leadership that was off the hook. In EVERY professional or college sporting event I’ve ever been to, parking is a premium (especially up closer to the ‘church’). Not only did ‘the nation’ leadership let you take up more than one space, they would even skip entire ROWS of valuable parking space to allow for oversized pop-up tents, grills, tables, chairs, and even DJ equipment.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if the pastors, staff, employees, and volunteers in American churches would be as accommodating to their ‘church’ people? I was a newcomer to 'Raider Nation' and still felt welcome, accepted, and a part of the family. I didn’t need look for a place to feel at home. I didn’t even consider not being accepted. I was a part of the ‘family’ from the moment I arrived. But then again, I didn’t have a Denver Broncos jersey on either.