Football and Christianity are not often connected. Yet, there are similarities between the world's most popular sport and its most accepted religion: the allegiances of the fervent football fan and the committed Christian bring comparable demands. Both need to be passionate about their chosen cause. The football fan will wear his replica strip and ardently tell anyone who will listen about his or her team's star striker. In comparison, the Christian should also be open and enthusiastic about their beliefs, and Peter tells us that we must, "always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Peter 3:15). Both are devoted to those they follow. For the football fan this may mean travelling long distances to away matches, whilst for the Christian it means devoting our lives to God and sacrificing our time. We are told to, "Love your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5), not just to go to church on Sundays.

Most of all, both the football fan and the Christian need faith. "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). The football fan has to have faith that his team will win, whatever the odds they face. A Christian obviously has to have faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit. Faith in Jesus takes away the sin that stains us and makes us right with God. The Bible tells us that God is forever faithful to his people and will give them strength (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Thus the difference between the two faiths is that whilst our football team often lets us down, God will always repay our faith. It is one of the world's great hypocrisies that faith in God is condemned as 'irrational, whilst a football fan is considered sane for supporting an awful team that never reward his or her faith.

Despite similarities, football - of course - is not a religion. Notwithstanding the claim of Bill Shankly, the great Liverpool manager, that "football is more than life and death", it is Christianity and not football that transcends our earthly existence. However, some - in their misguided enthusiasm - would put football above all other things. Yet the Bible warns us in the second commandment that such idolatry is forbidden (Exodus 10:4-5) and the New Testament makes it clear that this means not just worshipping a statue, but putting anything before God (see for instance Colossians 3:5).

This false worship means that our society can treat footballers as semi-divine superstars. Yet all too often they are revealed as being entirely human. Just compare the actions of some footballers with the Apostle Paul's list of sinful acts in Galatians 6:19-21. "Fits of rage" certainly seems to describe Roy Keane's actions well, whilst newspaper reports have highlighted sexual immorality amongst players and coaches. Drunken antics, often leading to violence, are also common - most notoriously in the case of the Leeds players Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer. Clearly footballers, like the rest of us, have feet of clay.

Yet although some footballers let fame and pride lead them into sin, others find strength in their religious convictions. Sammy Kuffour, the defender for Bayern Munich and Ghana, prays for guidance as part of his pre-match preparations and always has the Bible by his bedside. He believes that his faith makes him a better player. Similarly, former world footballer of the year George Weah is a devout Muslim who prays to Allah before every match. Closer to home, Darren Moore and Jason Roberts, both of West Bromwich Albion, are two Christians in the Premiership. Moore recently packed out a Birmingham church, prior to the Derby game with Birmingham City, when he spoke frankly about his religion. Moore told the congregation, "the Lord loves you, it doesn't matter which walk of life you come from. When I play football, He knows I'll be competing to win. But when I come off the field I give thanks to Him - win, lose, or draw - for giving me the strength to have got through another match." Moore is using his reputation as a professional footballer to draw crowds and then telling them the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Others have realised the power of football to spread the gospel. Michelle Akers, a midfielder in the USA's female world cup winning football team, has set up a ministry called Soccer Outreach International. However, she will struggle to match the impact of the Brazilian national team, who produced an inspiring demonstration of football and faith this summer. Even before the World Cup began I remember Lucio, the Bayer Leverkusen and Brazilian centre half, pulling back his shirt to reveal the slogan "Jesus Loves You" during the Champions League final. Once the World Cup was underway it was the Brazilians' faith and convictions that sustained them and bound them together as a team. After they had justifiably won the World Cup, the whole squad joined hands and prayed together in a large circle. It was a truly wonderful witness on the world's largest stage.

What about those Christians who are less talented exponents of the beautiful game? Can we also use football to do God's will? Well, the Bible tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), so the welcome news is that football (or any exercise) helps us to maintain the splendour of our anatomical shrines. We can also act as God wishes by playing the game in a Christian spirit. As in all aspects of life we must try and live up to Christian ideals, being the salt and the light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16). This means playing by the rules, encouraging others to do well and behaving with equanimity on the football pitch. In that small way the Christian footballer can influence those he plays with and football can become more than just a game.

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