Portugal just beat Ghana 2-1. This is now the 12th time in the last 2 weeks we have opened our doors for the neighbours to watch World Cup Football games on our church’s 14 foot screen. A couple of nights ago a man walking by the church, stopped in to watch the last 1/2 hour of England v Costa Rica. When he saw there were snacks and soft drinks available he asked if he could indulge, saying he hadn’t eaten for 3 days–no food and no money. After the game was over, he gladly received a voucher from our church’s Foodbank which would give him about 3 weeks of groceries, practical help to get him back on his feet, and opportunity for spiritual counsel and prayer. Pray for C.W. and others like him in our area.
Another night saw a group of 6 young Muslim men come in together to watch a game, perhaps feeling safer in numbers. I suspect that the soon advent of Ramadan will make such appearances less likely. Here in the UK, Muslims will be fasting for about 19 hours each day due to its northern latitude (same as James Bay). The World Cup games show here in the evening, at a time when many people are making final preparations to break the fast, or doing their obligatory prayers, or actually having their first food and drink since before dawn. Which would you choose–football or food?
The Fast of Ramadan is unworkable above the Arctic Circle where the sun never sets in the summer and never rises in the winter. If God really established the Fast, did He somehow forget about the extreme north and south of this planet? No, this is one of the clear evidences of the non-divine origin of Islam. I am impressed at Muslim devotion and effort, but no one should have to endure this burden in the first place. They are trapped in this obligation for a complete month every year as long as they live. May God grant freedom to the captives!
George
p.s. the BBC has an interesting article on this subject here
