Number One Fans
Posted on: July 25, 2013
- In: Everyday Life | Faith
- Comments Off on Number One Fans
This week, the local newspaper has been full of stories and pictures of people excitedly waiting for the birth of the royal heir. They want to show their support for the monarchy and welcome the future king. And they might even buy a commemorative plate or spoon.
Tonight in Ottawa, KISS fans will head to a concert at the Canadian Tire Centre. More than a few will show they’re huge fans by painting their faces black and white in the same style as the band’s members.
And when the next World Cup rolls around, many soccer fans will show their support for their favourite teams by attaching those small national flags to their car windows.
It seems that we’re more than happy to don a concert t-shirt or team jersey to proclaim our status as fans, but how eager are we to show others something fundamental about our lives—the fact that we’re Christians?
Rarely do I see anyone wearing a cross outside church, let alone driving a car sporting a “Honk if you love Jesus” bumper sticker. Yet faith-related fashion items, for example, are definitely available to consumers: an Internet search for “Catholic t-shirts” or “Catholic jewellery” produces a surprising number of hits.
Perhaps we’re worried about offending others if we (literally) wear our faith on our sleeve. It would be understandable, given that our society often behaves as though even mentioning Christian holidays is unacceptable.
But if I look around Ottawa, even just in my part of the city, I see Jewish men wearing yarmulkes, Sikh men wearing turbans, and Muslim women wearing hijabs—all of which proclaim the wearers’ faith to everyone they meet.
I’m not saying that we need to rush out and buy Christian-themed mugs, mouse pads and sweatshirts or that we should wear a cross all the time. But I am saying that if we wanted to wear a t-shirt or carry a tote bag that tells others about our faith, I hope we would feel as comfortable about showing where we stand as the monarchists who buy “Royal Baby” souvenirs or fans who paint their faces do.
A Catholic Convert in Ottawa 