Last week’s exciting Super Bowl was a great way to end the season for the NFL. My older sons and I, as well as some of their friends, end up watching football on most Sunday afternoons. We are Detroit Lions fans and even though they didn’t make the playoffs, they are an up and coming team. I am excited to see how Matt Patricia will do as the new head coach of the Lions. I think the combination of General Manager Bob Quinn and Patricia are going to mold Detroit into one of the great NFL franchises. No more ‘same old Lions’. Don’t forget, you heard that here first.
A Strong Christian Presence In The NFL
One of the things that really sticks out to me regarding the NFL is how many solid Christians are part of the League, both among the coaches and the players. From Jim Caldwell, the former Lions Head Coach, and Doug Pederson, the Head Coach of the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, to players like Nick Foles and Case Keenum, faithful testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ is alive and well.
Why so many Christians in the NFL? I think there are at least 3 reasons for this. First of all, many of the NFL players come from the south and the mid-west where there are many Christian churches. Secondly, many college and pro teams have excellent chapel ministries which really connect with the athletes’ needs. And finally, football is a dangerous game. Many football players realize that they are one play away from a career-ending or life-altering injury. Many of them look to the Lord for courage, spiritual strength and protection.
Some people get offended when a player gives thanks for the Lord’s help and favour in helping them achieve their dreams and for any success in the game. I don’t have a problem with how many of the players give testimony to the Lord at the end of the game. Many of them are truly grateful to the Lord and can’t help but give praise to their Maker and Redeemer.
At the end of Minnesota’s miracle victory over New Orleans in the NFC semi-final playoff game, the winning quarterback, Case Keenum, was told by the television reporter that this must be his greatest moment in his life. Keenum replied that it was his third greatest, behind trusting Jesus as his Lord and Saviour and marrying his wife. How can you fault a guy for telling you the truth? I think Keenum’s testimony was even more special when his team lost the next week in the NFC final against Philadelphia. Keenum was very gracious in defeat. No sore loser here!
Many, many players in the NFL are actively involved in their communities doing great work in hospitals, schools, recreation centers and soup kitchens. Not all of these players are Christians, but many are. These guys are very aware of the need to provide a good role model in the urban areas of the United States. I thank the Lord for players like Anquan Boldin, Haloti Ngata and Jason Hansen. The world is a much better place because of them.
The NFL Season Was Not Without Controversy
This past NFL season was not without controversy. Several African-American players chose not to stand when the U.S. National Anthem was played before their games this past season. Although I respected the players’ right to do this, I thought it wasn’t the best way to protest a legitimate issue of social injustice. This whole movement ended up being focused in a direction the players didn’t want it to go. It became more of an issue of being unpatriotic in the minds of many Americans. Many of these players insisted they were loyal to the American flag and I believe them. But still I think it may not have been the most respectful or wise way to protest a legitimate social justice issue. It wasn’t really being sensitive to those families that have lost loved ones in military action fighting for freedom.
Nevertheless, North Americans consider the right to free speech as a very important right in a free democracy. I think we need to defend the right of free speech for all, even those we may disagree with. Several of the players protesting this year were Christian players. Even though the protest movement was controversial in many respects, one thing it didn’t seem to do was divide the locker room of the different teams. I think one of the reasons that it didn’t was that Christian players of different racial groups were able to stay united in mind and heart. There seemed to be mutual respect and love that maintained unity among the teams, despite this highly charged issue involving the National Anthem.
In all of this, I see God’s grace at work. May the Lord use Christian football players to bring healing and reconciliation among the different racial groups and among law enforcement and the African-American community in the U.S. May the Lord continue to teach them and give them wisdom and may they be a force for good and not for ill. One thing I am sure of: God loves football players and He loves you.
QOTD: In our culture wars, are you being a humble force for good and healing, or are you being a self-righteous force for more brokenness and alienation?