The final seconds were ticking away as the quarterback changed the play call at the line of scrimmage. He saw something in the way the defenders were lining up and knew that the original play discussed in the huddle wouldn't work. Once the ball is snapped, the slot receiver, having gotten his cue from a quick glance from the quarterback, cuts sharply across the middle of the field into an exploited gap and hauls in a quick pass. With room to spare, he needs to outrun only one defender for the touchdown. Dropping to one knee and pointing to the heavens, the receiver has only seconds before he's engulfed in a wild celebration in the end zone.
In the locker room, microphones are shoved in the face of the quarterback. The whole sports world wants to know about that final play. Who called it? What did the quarterback see in the defense that caused him to call an audible? Was this a play they work on in practice?
Before he comments on the play, the quarterback publicly proclaims his faith in Jesus Christ and thanks God for the ability he has been given to play sports. He then sheepishly tries to deflect credit for the win, reminding those in the room that they run this same play countless times in practice and that it was a team win. Fans of the team blow up Facebook and Twitter, calling this a miraculous victory and declaring that God favors their team.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Just recently we've seen this phenomenon unfold with Tim Tebow but this is nothing new in the world of sports. When an athlete credits Jesus as being a driving factor in his or her life, we rejoice because we realize the platform that they possess for sharing the gospel. But beyond this, just how much does God care about who wins or loses games?
What if the other team intercepted that last pass and players on their team credited God for the abilities that He has given to them? Would that mean that God engineered the game to end that way? What exactly would God be trying to accomplish with such acts since both teams possess sincere believers who readily share their faith?
There is a lot of speculation about whether or not God has a vested interested in who wins or loses sporting events. After a last second win, you don't have to look far to find people crediting God for that last second shot that won the game or the goal netted in extra time that brought home the victory. Does God makes basketballs swish the net at the buzzer? Is He really orchestrating that last run down the mountain that nets gold for the Olympic skier?
Let me cut to the chase. God cares about people. And when people surrender their lives to Him and acknowledge that He is the source of their abilities, then God is honored. When an athlete uses the public platform to proclaim his or her faith in Christ, then the gospel is made more central and the name of Jesus is made more famous. And when we use our God-given talents for His glory, then God is pleased.
But to say that God favors one team over another just because an athlete credits Him in his victory speech is something that we cannot find grounded in the truth of Scripture. The athlete who hits that last second shot? He's been in the gym his whole life, shooting thousands upon thousands of jump shots. When he hits the game winning shot, it's not some God ordained moment where He intercedes for one team over another. It's the culmination of years of practice put into motion. He makes a play he's been training to make for that very moment.
We must be very, very careful when we go around crediting God for the victories of our favorite sports teams. Truth be told, we would have no trouble at all finding many more athletes who care very little for the things of God yet who have enjoyed much more success in sports than athletes with great faith. If God is so concerned with the outcome of games, why isn't He punishing them by making them lose more?
I pray for the athletes on the teams that I cheer for. I pray for their safety and, if they don't know Jesus, that He would save them by the power of the gospel. When my team wins big (or wins at all - I am a Wake Forest fan after all), then I rejoice and consider myself fortunate to be apart of the moment. But that is really all I can do. Our God cares for people, whether they are athletes or not. When we start announcing to the world that God cares for our favorite team more than theirs, we paint a picture of a capricious God who plays favorites and caters to our own selfish desires. And that sends a message that our Lord and Savior did not come to send. He came to seek and save the lost, not put a "W" in the win column for my team.
In the locker room, microphones are shoved in the face of the quarterback. The whole sports world wants to know about that final play. Who called it? What did the quarterback see in the defense that caused him to call an audible? Was this a play they work on in practice?
Before he comments on the play, the quarterback publicly proclaims his faith in Jesus Christ and thanks God for the ability he has been given to play sports. He then sheepishly tries to deflect credit for the win, reminding those in the room that they run this same play countless times in practice and that it was a team win. Fans of the team blow up Facebook and Twitter, calling this a miraculous victory and declaring that God favors their team.
Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Just recently we've seen this phenomenon unfold with Tim Tebow but this is nothing new in the world of sports. When an athlete credits Jesus as being a driving factor in his or her life, we rejoice because we realize the platform that they possess for sharing the gospel. But beyond this, just how much does God care about who wins or loses games?
What if the other team intercepted that last pass and players on their team credited God for the abilities that He has given to them? Would that mean that God engineered the game to end that way? What exactly would God be trying to accomplish with such acts since both teams possess sincere believers who readily share their faith?
There is a lot of speculation about whether or not God has a vested interested in who wins or loses sporting events. After a last second win, you don't have to look far to find people crediting God for that last second shot that won the game or the goal netted in extra time that brought home the victory. Does God makes basketballs swish the net at the buzzer? Is He really orchestrating that last run down the mountain that nets gold for the Olympic skier?
Let me cut to the chase. God cares about people. And when people surrender their lives to Him and acknowledge that He is the source of their abilities, then God is honored. When an athlete uses the public platform to proclaim his or her faith in Christ, then the gospel is made more central and the name of Jesus is made more famous. And when we use our God-given talents for His glory, then God is pleased.
But to say that God favors one team over another just because an athlete credits Him in his victory speech is something that we cannot find grounded in the truth of Scripture. The athlete who hits that last second shot? He's been in the gym his whole life, shooting thousands upon thousands of jump shots. When he hits the game winning shot, it's not some God ordained moment where He intercedes for one team over another. It's the culmination of years of practice put into motion. He makes a play he's been training to make for that very moment.
We must be very, very careful when we go around crediting God for the victories of our favorite sports teams. Truth be told, we would have no trouble at all finding many more athletes who care very little for the things of God yet who have enjoyed much more success in sports than athletes with great faith. If God is so concerned with the outcome of games, why isn't He punishing them by making them lose more?
I pray for the athletes on the teams that I cheer for. I pray for their safety and, if they don't know Jesus, that He would save them by the power of the gospel. When my team wins big (or wins at all - I am a Wake Forest fan after all), then I rejoice and consider myself fortunate to be apart of the moment. But that is really all I can do. Our God cares for people, whether they are athletes or not. When we start announcing to the world that God cares for our favorite team more than theirs, we paint a picture of a capricious God who plays favorites and caters to our own selfish desires. And that sends a message that our Lord and Savior did not come to send. He came to seek and save the lost, not put a "W" in the win column for my team.
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