I Shake My Head

It makes me shake my head.

At the end of an athletic contest reporters interview a player or a coach from the winning team. They stick a microphone into a players face and their first words are, “I just want to thank God...”. I guess my response should be, “Isn’t that great. On national television he/she is acknowledging their faith in God.” But that isn’t my response. My response is to ask questions.

“What about the Christians on the losing team? Did God favor the winners over the losers and if God did, why?” I rarely hear a losing player or coach begin their interview with, “I just want to thank God.” Apparently God only like winners and somehow God picks sides.

Not to mention the question of whether or not God really cares about sports at all. Now that has to sound kind of weird coming from a died in the wool sports fan!

With all the bigger life and death issues in the world, does God really care about sports?

Politicians make me shake my head as well. Too often they intimate that their political positions are sanctioned by God. How can God be sanctioning so many varied positions?

          “When the wicked advance against me to devour me,

          it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.” (Psam 27:2)

That verse is very comforting on the one hand. However, what if my “enemies” are other believers who are “attacking and devouring me”? How does God choose a side?

Our personal biases all make God lean in our direction, especially if we can pull out proof texts that support our positions. Certainly God would choose our denomination over the others because we embrace the “orthodox” positions. (What does that mean for a CRC church that has an RCA pastor?)

A few observations.

First, we should all stick to our areas of expertise. Sports figures shouldn’t make theological statements. No one ever sticks a microphone in my face and asks me what I think about the man to man defense used by Michigan State vs. the zone used by Louisville. Even though I have coached basketball for years, I wouldn’t feel it is my place to comment on technical decisions made by long-time professionals in their field of expertise.

If athletes or politicians want to express their faith perhaps the best phrase would be, “I want to thank God for loving me in spite of myself.”

Secondly, Jesus constantly encouraged humility and servanthood. I may have an opinion about an issue based on my understanding of the Bible and my theological persuasion, but to assert that I am right and someone else’s opinion is wrong, is arrogant and not humble.

Thirdly, one opinion I can offer with certainty is that I am a sinner and my perception of life, the scriptures and doctrine are all clouded by my sinfulness.

Fourthly, we may have a difference of opinion about something, but I need to communicate my opinions with love and respect, not with any hint of superiority or hatred. What God wants us to communicate more than anything else is that we are loved by Him!

Just so you know, I don’t lose a lot of sleep over this kind of stuff, but I do shake my head.