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LeBron James and the Human Craving for Solidarity

    In case you haven't heard, LeBron James is still good at basketball.  In fact, he just cemented his legacy as one of the greatest (THE greatest, some would contend) human beings ever to play the game of basketball.  Amidst all the hysteria and fanfare you'll find those curmudgeons and philosophers who can't understand why people get so worked up about a silly game.  There are multiple reasons.  Some of us simply like to watch fellow human beings perform impressive physical feats.  LeBron James, for instance, led all players on both teams in points, assists, rebounds, blocks, and steals in a seven-game series, a first in NBA history.  If you aren't into basketball, especially if you've never physically played a game of it, you might not be capable of appreciating just how impressive that is.  Each of those stats indicates a specific set of skills and athletic abilities.  To best all other players in all 5 of those categories in seven straight games is notable, no matter who you are. Human beings are capable of things we probably haven't yet imagined.  You can't blame your Facebook friends for being ecstatic over impressive feats like that.

    Such a dramatic accomplishment does not, however, fully explain the hysteria that accompanied it. The underlying cause of an entire state celebrating the fact that the Cavs won an NBA Championship can be summed up in one word: solidarity.  Sure, Ohio has been starved of success in pro sports for quite some time, but that history simply added fuel to the fire that is ignited ultimately by this unquenchable desire that humans have for solidarity.  Humans, simply put, are communal.  We like to be around those who look like us, sound like us, agree with us, etc.  We form book clubs and gun clubs.  We join the YMCA and the Wine-Of-The-Month club.  We have varying levels of this instinct within us--different cultures and demographics demonstrate different desires for it--but we all have a little bit of it.  We live in groups.  We eat in groups.  We come together to form governments for the common good of those groups.  Even anarchists find camaraderie in the ranks of other anarchists--just search #taxationistheft on Facebook!  Even racism/discrimination demonstrates this principle.   We dislike people who are different from us because we want to be around people who are like us.

    This solidarity requires a principle of transcendence.  There has to be some higher purpose that draws us together.  It can be something as complex as a code of conduct or as simple as the color of one's skin.  Many times it is a god.  Many times it is a human being.  Enter LeBron James.  Some love him.  Some hate him.  A whole lot wish they were him!  Lovers of sports find it nearly impossible not to be entertained by him.  For many of us, we grew up paying attention to the NBA simply because a kid from Akron was (and still is!) the best basketball player in the NBA.  He is the focal point of the solidarity we Ohioans have in the world of sports right now.

    What is it about humans the creates this craving for solidarity?  Different philosophies will give you different answers to this question.  Some will say that it's an animal instinct, but that really doesn't give us a final answer.  Others will say that there is no answer beyond the fact that we simply don't like to be alone. Once again, that doesn't really give us an objective answer.  I think the answer is religious.  Now, some would use this desire for solidarity to explain away religion, asserting that religion is simply a side-effect of this desire for a principle of transcendence.  Indeed, fervor for sports is quite similar to the fervor for religion, as are the varying levels of interest among their adherents (many nominal Christians remind you of the type of people who host Super Bowl parties but never watch another game all year).

    Only true, Biblical religion can give us a final answer to our question.  We crave solidarity because we are creatures of God, created in His image.  We were created to live in harmony, just as the Trinity has eternally coexisted in perfect love and agreement.  The Fall has disrupted this harmony by marring that image.  There are remnants within us, however, of our created state.  We still bear a marred image of God.  We are still communal.  We desire to share our lives and to center them around something bigger than ourselves.  Being a fan mimics being a Christian because the underlying root is the same.  An extreme love for sports is often aimless religious zeal looking for an outlet.  The same is often true for things like patriotism, racism, love for music, and so on.

    So, as Christians, should we reject the reject solidarity found over things like sports, music, etc?  I think not.  We are not only Christians.  We are also humans, music lovers, Ohioans (proudly!), etc. There is nothing wrong with finding some identity in these things.  Not only do these pursuits allow us to appreciate the handiwork of God, but they also demonstrate the connection that we have with God's world, especially our fellow image-bearers.  However, moderation and awareness are in order. Christians need to remember that, ultimately, our allegiance and identity is found in Christ.  Being an Ohioan might define me when it comes time to vote or if Pennsylvania ever decides they want to start a war with us, but my identity in Christ is more important.  Jesus Christ defines who I am.  Christians should have the strongest sense of solidarity with those who share that identity.

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