Tailgating with Jesus

by Katie Wilson

It is that time of year again. You can hear the roar of a Saturday stadium in every college town.   Houses all over America put out their flags and bring out their wardrobes sporting the colors they pledge allegiance to. Group ME’s are in full swing coordinating dates and menus for game day festivities throughout the fall, and prayerfully the Holidays, which means your team made it to a bowl and possibly the national championship… That last sentence probably made the hard-core fans almost faint, imagining the glory of going all the way and winning the game of all games!

 

Let’s back up just a bit. After all, we don’t even have a hint of fall chill in the air yet. Game day attire is still shorts, sleeveless and sweat rings! Old friends are making travel plans to meet up, reminisce and catch up on where life has taken them since the carefree college days. The “seasoned” crowd is feeling young and the young crowd is aiming for “all grown up.”  The generations come together at the TAILGATE!

 

What might one hear at the TAILGATE?

 

Our language is reduced to short strange chants, here are just a few:

 

Anchor Down

Hotty Toddy

Roll Tide Roll

War Eagle

Hog Call

Gator Chomp

Rammer Jammer

Cowbell

Rocky Top

Go Cocks

Geaux Tigers

Go Big Blue

Hook’em Horns

etc… (Just to name a few:)

 

What might one see at the TAILGATE?

 

There are creative movements that accompany most of the chants. Body language expands in the most dramatic, over-exaggerated way. Painting body parts is not out of the question and extreme bouts of joy and fury are to be expected.

 

Football season is here. Fans are in full “GAME ON” mode. Gathering to watch the pigskin is probably never going to stop in our lifetime and that is not a bad thing. But a really cool thing would be to invite Jesus to the TAILGATE in our generation. Don’t get me wrong. I am not saying Jesus is not there. God is omnipresent; I know. I simply believe we could do a better job of letting HIM know HE is not only welcomed to stay, but that HE is invited to be the Guest of honor.

 

I believe Jesus would cheer on every team using that teams love language; thus, Jesus would be joyfully rolling the rally cry of each university off His Holy tongue. He was the ultimate encourager; therefore, I can see Jesus proudly cow belling, Gator chomping, or hook’em horning!

 

Jesus was not a stick in the mud; if he had been, children would not have flocked to him.

 

“Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” (Matthew 19:14 MSG)

 

Jesus was not judgmental or scandalous sinners wouldn’t have anointed his feet.

 

“When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” (Luke 7:37-38 NLT)

 

Jesus loved a good meal with close friends and He was never intimidated by large crowds. In fact, he specialized in inviting everyone to “HIS TAILGATE.” He didn’t send the freeloaders home to eat. He told them to cop a squat on “alumni lawn” and enjoy the food and fellowship.

 

“Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. After everyone was full…” (Luke 6:10-11 NLT)

 

I believe when Jesus laughed, His whole face lit up; He may have doubled over and slapped His knee, while crying those “happy” watery-eye tears. I have no doubt He enjoyed games with children, as well as HIS band of brothers, otherwise known as the 12 Disciples. Joy and peace radiated from this man named LOVE, yet we often check the “life of the party” at the door, leaving HIM behind in search of a thrill, abandoning abundance to embrace empty.

 

Jesus isn’t telling us to skip the party. HE is showing us HE is the party. Jesus isn’t shutting down the tailgate. HE IS “The Gate!”

 

“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” (John 10:9 NLT)

 

 

Matthew the Tax collector asked Jesus and the disciples to dinner. Jesus and his bros showed up with bells on. Matthew didn’t give his “rowdy” friends a big talk before Jesus showed up either. Matthew simply invited his motley crew to come to dinner and meet his new friends.

 

“Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.” (Matthew 9:10 NLT)

 

As you read on in the story, you don’t hear one complaint about Jesus from the “party people.” The only complaints you hear about Jesus are from the “holy rollers.”

 

“But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” (Matthew 9:11 NLT)

 

Jesus does not need to be watered down or explained before we simply invite Him to our gatherings.

 

He most definitely does not need to defend Himself before the self-righteous either. HE speaks for himself, as we let HIM live in and through us.

May it be obvious that Jesus is the guest of honor in our tent!

 

When we show up in stadiums, at tailgates, in boardrooms/classrooms or under steeples, may we radiate the joy and peace of LOVE that attracts the lost and lonely, leaving the neon sign on display for all to see!

“EVERYBODY (including Jesus) WELCOME TO MY TAILGATE”

About the Author: Katie Wilson

Katie W. is a Memphis born, messy masterpiece, who is confident in her Creator! After graduating from Vanderbilt, she married her college sweetheart and was Huntsville bound! 20+years and 3 children later, Katie spends her moments amazed by grace, which leads to “freedom writing”, God-dependent parenting, Scripture gold-digging, “opening her mouth wide and letting God fill it”(Psalm 81:10), and running her race with perseverance, while podcasting and posting her Jesus take-a-ways. Katie serves on staff at Lincoln Village Ministries and is an active member at Church of the Highlands. She loves the ministry of reconciliation and how it reflects the heart of God and is passionate about seeing the next generation hunger and thirst for THAT JESUS! Connect with Katie on her blog at http://psalm8110.com .

Tags: football, Huntsville, Katie Wilson, Our City On A Hill, Soul Food, tailgating