The Offside Rule



Apparently one of the football rules that people unfamiliar with the sport find the most difficult to understand is the offside rule, or Law 11 according to IFAB. Many jokes and much mirth can be attributed to this fact especially when associated with the fairer sex. Often when one is unfamiliar with a sport, it's rules and regulations one cannot appreciate why others would spend a lifetime watching, participating, or following a certain team. When one becomes familiar, as I have recently with baseball, it is easier to appreciate and you can find yourself getting caught up in all the excitement and hype (let's go Blue Jays!!).

When I think of the apostle Paul and the years of effort he spent presenting the gospel to the Jews the majority of whom failed to get it it’s easy to put this down to lack of understanding but the thing is they understood ‘the rules of the game' so it's not like they couldn't appreciate the arguments Paul was making, they just didn't want to accept them. I guess one could say they were a little bit like VAR when it reaches a decision that seems totally illogical. I wonder if Paul was frustrated by this like I am often with VAR?, I imagine that we was more likely disappointed that his own people just wouldn't accept the wondrous realisation of God's promise to them. It reminds me of that old joke: there was a very righteous man who prayed and read his Bible everyday and went to Church every Sunday. One day whilst walking along the edge of a cliff it collapsed and he was left hanging by a root above a precipice. He prayed earnestly, "God, please don't let your servant die." A few minutes later a rescue team appeared at the top of the cliff, "Can we help?" They shouted. "Go away, my God will save me!" He replied. They went away. A little while later a group appeared at the bottom of the cliff with a safety net, "Jump, we'll catch you" they called. Once again the man responded "Go away, my God will save me!" After some time a helicopter appeared and lowered a ladder, "Grab the ladder and we'll fly you to safety" offered the crew. Yet again the man responded, this time indignant at his would be rescuers, "Go away, my God will save me!" Finally after about an hour the man grew tired,  fell and died. In heaven the man made a beeline for God and stood before his throne wagging his finger, "I was a good Christian but you didn't rescue me when I was hanging from that cliff!" God replied, "My son, I sent a rescue team, a safety net, and even a helicopter....." The thing is, God has revealed to us his rescue plan and it's not complicated or open to interpretation like Law 11, we just have to accept it to be saved.

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