I can't prove this, but I think Christians might be better at frisbee than non-Christians. I know that doesn't sound very scientific, but it feels right. Roughly 94% of the Christians I know can really throw the Frisbee well. They're good at ultimate frisbee, can play disc golf, and can even throw a pretty accurate flick or sidearm if you will. The Christians that can't throw the frisbee? Probably backsliding.
I like to imagine Jesus and the disciples out on the shores of the Galilee playing a game of ultimate frisbee. Robes would be flying, beards flapping in the wind majestically as they all laughed and played like that volleyball scene from the movie Top Gun. Of course, Jesus had to play using "human rules." He couldn't have his throws go farther using the holy spirit or walk on water to catch an errant pass. As the "Sons of Thunder," James and Jon would probably be body checking everyone and of course Judas would be calling hand fouls left and right.
You've had that same thought too right? I'm not the only one am I? Maybe I'm weird.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
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46 comments:
i must be a backslidin' fool because i suck at frisbee
or maybe it's because i haven't played since i was a kid. now i want to go see how good i really am.
Don't forget dodgeball at youth group. It gets a little frightening, from my experience anyway.
This is so true, I had a group of friends ask me to go play ultimate frisbee this weekend. When I was in bible school the first time (long story) they had an ultimate frisbee team! What?
This one made me snort!!! I like thinking that I could take on the Sons of Thunder with my Wham-O frisbee.
God's favorite game, however, is sheep, sheep, goat. Never heard of it? It's exactly like duck, duck, goose except instead of going into the pot the "goat" ends up you-know-where. The disciples played this, too, until it got too predictable. Judas: "Dude! Not again."
Stacy
Frisbee is fun, yes, but my problem with it is that if it's just a game of tossing back and forth, you never know when it is supposed to be over. The awkwardness of thinking "ok, I'm done, but what about so and so? Maybe they still want to play. How do we transition? how do we end this?" I never wanted the other person to feel bad that I didn't want to play anymore.
Does anyone have any smoothe "I don't want to play anymore" transitions?
I used to be pretty good at frisbee. The other day, I tried to play it with some kids, and found that I'm not so good anymore. Maybe that means I'm a backslider in heart.
I love frisbee and it was just funny to me reading this because I can do all of those throws. Frisbee is of God, definitely.
www.vagabondrunn.wordpress.com
I agree... We Christians are way better at Dodgeball as well. (and other games you play at youth camp until 2am) I.E. eating bananas and sprite, eating crackers and whistling, chubby bunny, and let's not forget shooting an egg yolk out of a pvc pipe.
Just label me backsliden and don't ask me to play frisbee.
I have tried to become better at frisbee so I can hang with the cool kids but I still suck.
I see Peter trying to jump in front of everyone and steal their catches, and Thomas doubting he can really throw well.
Bartholomew....well, I know they don't say much about him in the Bible, but I'm guessing that boy could really sling it.
Maybe it's because I came "of age" in the 70's, but frisbee is a game of pot-smoking hippies on the college quad to me. Preferably long hair. A dog should be involved. And a bong.
The Christians I know who are great at frisbee USED to be pot-smoking hippies on the college quad.
Me? I'm pretty good. I was a pot-smoking hippie on the college quad. I didn't have a dog, but my friend did. Yes I had long hair. And a bandanna.
Peace, man.
The coed nature of Ultimate, I think, is what makes it so popular. All of God's children can enjoy this sacrament, not just the boys. I worked for a Christian (academic) summer camp and Ultimate was our official sport.
Oh, I didn't know this was an inherent Christian skill! I am going right out and sign up for a tournament.
ha ha ha...I'm totally in the backsliding 6%!
I knew it Disc Golf is a divine gift from God.
Basic Frisbee throwing is non-competetive which fits with our "sharing" spirit and Ultimate Frisbee is "self-policed" and doesn't allow (or require) physical contact. Therefore; Ultimate Christian games!
Tim B is right, pot smoking hippies on the quad is where it started. I played Ultimate at the University of Alabama in the late 80's and we called our club team "BOB" which stood for Beast's of Bourbon. Not many Christians on the fields where I played but great people. Nobody cared that I didn't smoke or drink but there was a lot of it goin on. Did you know that an upside down disk (frisbee is a brand name by the way) is great for rolling a joint.
Me and my buddies always imagined that up in heaven we'd be playing a lot of touch football. The Father would coach one team, Jesus would coach the other, and the Holy Spirit would referee. Then we always got into discussions about the ethics of that kind of situation, because with the holy Triune God thing you start to wonder.
youre 100% correct. i can throw a frisbee 3 different ways, better than most non-christians can throw it at all.
I suck at Frisbee. The game is rarely played in predominantly African-American communities.
However, I could see JC and his boys playing. I mean taking off their garments a la David in 2 Samuel when they were really getting into it.
Dodgeball is for lukewarm Christians. It's a game where it's easy for most people to get fleshly. Can't be thinking that Christlike when you're throwing balls at people's heads.
lol, that is very true. After Sunday School on warm days we always go out to eat then play ultimate after. Then back in College, everyone in Campus Crusade played.
Yep, throwing a Frisbee and playing guitar are two requirements of an active church going guy.
"Sheep, sheep, GOAT".......ROFLOLPIMP!
Being the complete cliche that I am, I'm just back from an evening of frisbee on Glasgow green with my Christian youth worker comrades.
Also camp last year we had the most beautiful game of ultimate frisbee in the dark...glow in the dark frisbee and no fatal injuries! Hurray!
In the last week I've played Ultimate with my youth group guys on Wednesday and also for 2 hours on Sunday with the college/career group started by our church. Chaco's and Ultimate are sure signs of the Spirit's work!
Real Christians play with Aerobie discs.
Hark -
I have to disagree. Aerobie is actually a French word that means "person that can't throw a real frisbee." Look it up, I'm about 62% sure that's a true fact.
Jon
I agree because the FCU intramural always kicked butt at ultimate in college. This post explains a lot... Thanks!
i learned how to play ultimate from the christian fellowship group at my university...
then my frisbee love evolved into forming a team, and now playing twice a week in a semi-competitve league.
at some point the bell curve for christians playing ultimate tapers off really quickly. i drink more beer with frisbee players than anytime else. in our frisbee league, there are approximately 4 christians.
we've played ultimate in my youth group for the last 3 weeks straight also, the 1st college i went to (it was christian) forbade mixed-gender games with ultimate being pretty much the only exception. so there must be something inherently godly about it.
question: if you're sucktacular at throwing the frisbee, but are incredible at catching it, where do you stand? does the ability to catch the disc in triple coverage redeem the obvious backsliding of the inability to throw?
D, I think if you're a good enough receiver to be the designated bomb-catcher in ultimate, it makes up for not being able to throw. Remember 1 Cor 12 about the eye not being the hand and such...I think it applies.
I was that guy my first 2 years in college, then I got to be a good enough thrower that I ended up handling some of the other roles.
Get outta here! Frisbee?!! I've never seen Frisbees tossed by my church. Maybe I should take my Air-Grip Pro to church sometime, to see who can throw it.
this is so so true. i go to a bible college, and we have ultimate frisbee leagues. at least 4 days a week there are ultimate frisbee games going down.
haha.
i agree with kristin (above).
most universities and churches will have a bunch of christians playing ultimate/disc golf. however, if you check out the local scene, you might find a different story...
regardless, "frisbee" rocks!
Travel!
Dude that is so true...
Although I wonder what Jesus and the disciples used for a frisbee...
Disks of unleavened bread maybe?
Comment to D--- I'm Ok at throwing but I was AWESOME at the jump block (and I'm a GIRL - thank you very much!!!) So I always got picked relatively first for UF since they all knew I would go all out with trying for the block--even if my throw wasn't long, I could always limp toss it to a better long thrower(usually a guy with buff arms!) JON - LOVED the visual you painted for me of Jesus and his boys on the beach!! Completely CLASSIC!!!!! ~Lisa~ :)
Oh dang. I was practically crying on this one. Perfect wording. I loved the "human rules" bit.
I've played disc golf for a few years and still sort of suck. How do those big guys who play solo every weekend throw so dang far? It's superhuman.
I'm still very inconsistent in getting a straight throw out of a standard run-of-the-mill frisbee.
I must really be backsliding. Time to feast on some more Dallas Willard.
To help you get right with God: The key to Disc golf is putting as much spin on it as possible. the key to throwing a forehand in ultimate is keeping the bottom of your wrist pointed straight up in the air to where it feels uncomfortable. (remember, its all in the wrist)
at our school Campus Crusade was also known as the "Frisbee Ministry"
Waaah I'm a heathen, I hate frisbee with a burning passion.
Something about chasing after a disc that's whizzing toward my face just absolutely infuriates me. o_o
Today I found myself Frisbee shopping, and ended up buying one... I am spending way too much time on SCL.
Apparently I am backsliding as I really suck...
I want Elijah on my Ultimate Frisbee team. The man hiked up his holy skirt and outran Ahab's chariot to Jezreel.
He could move.
I thought it was funny that Stuff White People Like also did a post on frisbee, although I disagree with the author on a lot of what he says.
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/09/23/110-frisbee-sports/#comments
Every time I've played ultimate, it was integrated.
the closest i have been to the divine was blind-catching a long 'gomer' while sliding backwards on my butt into the goal. it was a moment of pure grace.
but since ultimate goes with beer like ice goes with dr. pepper, i don't get to play too much anymore (being a missionary, and all)
But are you Orthodox Wham-O or Reformed Discraft?
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