“Whatcha gonna do when we come for you?”

Look at it this way: if you get arrested in Atlanta, at least the person reading you your rights knows how you feel.

Maybe the church can take a page out of football’s playbook

I was reading an article the other day about my beloved hometown Cleveland Browns and the ways in which political discussion is and isn’t appropriate in their locker room. And while I’m not very quick to make the sports-to-faith application (I usually find it pithy), portions of this football story have much to say to daily life in the church.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel made national news last week when he called his team together for a meeting in which he instructed them to use caution in their political statements and endorsements, especially when gathered as teammates. The meeting came a few days after linebacker Willie McGinest participated in a voter registration drive during which he publicly backed Sen. Barack Obama, and hours before quaterback Brady Quinn and tackle Joe Thomas participated in a rally for Sen. John McCain (Quinn was the person to introduce McCain to the platform at the Strongsville, Ohio rally).

For Crennel, the primary concern is that partisan involvement does not damage team relations.

“My main concern is that they don’t get up on a soap box here in the locker room and get it going back and forth about a particular candidate against another particular candidate.”

Crennel continued, “I just know politics. If you are stating your case for this guy, the other guy is stating his case for that guy, then there is room for potential confrontation. I let the team know whatever their feelings are about politics, they have a right to them, but the team is first. So they have to prioritize” (italics mine).

Coach Crennel isn’t dismissing the validity of political interest and involvement, but he is reminding his team that they’re on a big stage (as local celebrities) and are collectively fighting for a bigger cause (though some would debate that). 

Browns kicker Phil Dawson, who’s been with team since 1999, noted that the team is handling this election differently than the past two. “I can remember open, loud, lively debates over the last couple. This year it seems relatively quiet. You’ll hear guys talk at lunch a little bit, but there haven’t been arguments. Maybe we all know each other better and where everyone stands. I’d like to think that we’ve got a group of guys who get along well enough where even if we disagree on stuff like that, it doesn’t divide us.”

It’s an interesting point that Dawson makes: when people are really getting to know one another, truly immersed in life together, these hot-button conversations are less likely to become arguments. While Dawson advocates for the strength of those relationships, Crennel advises players not to carelessly push the boundaries of those relationships. Their points come together in that both are claiming that a “higher” purpose is at stake and that healthy relationships on the team are paramount to achieving those goals.

What if the local church took a cue from the Cleveland Browns locker room? What if members of the church were free to develop their political ideas, but were encouraged to spend the election season – like every season – focused on their collective objective, which is of greater importance than anything that happens in the polls and ballots?

What if church leaders, rather than risk their tax-exempt status, or, more importantly, their ecclesial influence, exercised some self-discipline and became people of balance and stability, calling church members back to their deeper, more significant purpose?

It’s funny that Romeo Crennel is functioning more pastorally than some of the church leaders who are making waves these days. And it’s amusing that the Cleveland Browns are doing a better job than most churches when it comes to keeping the relationships and goals of the “team” as their first priority.