Did you hear that at least one NFL team wants the NFL to ban The Brotherly Shove? The potential of that ban is big news for all you Philadelphia Eagles fans.
Given that I live in Philadelphia Eagles territory, I suspect that the Eagles are the most popular NFL team in my church family. It sure helps that Eagles have been very good the past few years, having played in three Super Bowls and won two since 2018. In the last few years, one of the reasons the Eagles have been so successful is their signature play, The Brotherly Shove.
The Eagles use The Brotherly Shove when they need to advance the ball a short distance to get a first down or touch down. Here’s how it works: the Eagles’ giant offensive linemen crouch down low in tight shoulder-to-shoulder formation. Then the center hikes the ball to the quarterback, and the quarterback hugs the ball, following closely behind the line as they rush forward. Meanwhile other players shove the quarterback, pushing his rear end to give him extra forward momentum. (That’s why this play is also called “The Tush Push”!). The play is a variation on the classic quarterback sneak.
It’s really a matter of physics. The bigger, heavier, stronger Philadelphia line bowls over the opposition’s wall, and the Eagles advance. Check out this article for how the play has been very successful for the Eagles. No surprise, some fans and NFL teams want the NFL to ban the play, citing it as boring or unfair.
The Brotherly Shove also illustrates the power of togetherness. All those guys working together in unity for victory. What’s more, I love the title “The Brotherly Shove” to describe a uniquely Philadelphian move, because the name Philadelphia means “The City of Brotherly Love.”
There are multiple words in the New Testament for love, and one of those words, phileo, means “brotherly love.” In our series through 1st Thessalonians, Paul next teaches about the importance of brotherly love. What is brotherly love?
This coming week I once again welcome guest blogger Molly Stouffer who will be writing about brotherly love from 1 Thessalonians 4:9–10; 5:11, 14, 27. Molly is a pastoral ministry student at Lancaster Bible College.
Engaging Scripture 