Jesus said
"The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath"
Mark 2 v 27
CHRISTIANS PROTEST AT SUNDAY FOOTBALL
September 8th 2008 was a sad day for local football in Northern Ireland when, for the first time in over sixty years, the Irish Football Association allowed a game to be played on the Lord’s Day.
The governing body of the sport voted last November to revoke ‘the never on a Sunday’ ban from June 2008. So when weather and ground conditions forced the cancellation of a match in Belfast on Saturday 7th September, the two participating teams agreed to play the fixative on the following day.
A substantial number of Christians protested by handing out literature at the gates of the Glentoran stadium, despite abuse being directed at them.
Sadly, one of the footballers in the Glentoran side was a locally well known professing Christian who, perhaps under pressure or responding to bad advice, decided to play. Within a few weeks further fixtures were played on the Lord’s Day. Clearly the pattern had been set—to the obvious delight of some in the hierarchy of the Northern Ireland game.
However, there is encouraging news, namely a statement signed by Evangelical Christians involved in local football. Fifty-one high profile players, managers, referees, coaches etc, including the abovementioned Glentoran player, have called upon the IFA and those running local football to ‘reconsider the direction we are going’.
Christians involved in local football who are actively witnessing to young people urgently need our prayers at this time. Pressure will be upon them to compromise their position and faith. It is hoped that the governing body of the sport will, even now, listen to the appeal made by these believers.