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 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.