A week ago, Detriot Lions kicker Jake Bates kicked a game-winning field goal over the Houston Texans. Afterward, Bates said:
That’s what I think I’m here to do is not make or miss or be a good kicker or a bad kicker but spread the love of Jesus. So … hopefully, I’m able to do that on the stage I’m given.
Bates diminishes his teammates, coaches, trainers, and everyone else in his life when he gives Jesus all the credit for kicking the field goal.
Similarly, over the weekend, UFC fighter Jon Jones credited Jesus for winning his match with Stipe Miocic:
While I got the moment [and] while everybody was cheering and so happy, I want to acknowledge Jesus Christ. I tell you what, man, I cannot take credit for a gift like this. I really owe it all to him.
And I know that there’s millions of people around the world watching right now, and I just want to let you guys know that Jesus loves you so much. That’s all I’ll say about that.
As with Bates, Jones diminishes his win by giving all the praise, honor, and glory to Jesus. Not his manager, trainers, sparring partners, or anyone else, for that matter. Jesus won the match for him.
Both athletes diminish their own hard work, training, and skills. This sentiment is common among Evangelicals. Repeatedly told that without Jesus they can do nothing, Christian athletes give Jesus alone praise for what they, through years of discipline and training, accomplished. Wins are attributed to Jesus. Losses? Well, Jesus never gets credit for them.
Jesus, whom Christians believe is the virgin-born, miracle-working, executed, and resurrected-from-the- dead-son of God, is owed all the credit for what happens on the field, court, or ring. When asked why they give Jesus praise for everything, Evangelical athletes quote Bible prooftexts to justify their self-depreciation and humility.
No evidence is provided for their claims. Having spent their lives in Evangelicalism, such praise-shifting is expected. Mere humans are warned to avoid taking for themselves praise that only belongs to God. Never mind the countless hours spent training or the parents/coaches/trainers/teammates who devoted themselves to the success of the athlete. All the praise, honor, and successful sporting events belong to God. Choosing to praise yourself or others for your success is viewed as prideful.
I am an avid sports fan. I have yet to see Jesus on the field, court, or ring. These athletes sincerely believe, as the Bible states, “Without me ye can do nothing” or “With God all things are possible.” However, it is clear that game/match/bout winners and those who taught, trained, and coached them are mere facilitators for Jesus.
Such thinking leads to false humility. Christian athletes can be humble while at the same time giving credit to whom credit is due. Bates thinks being a good kicker plays no part in his success. Every successful field goal is an opportunity to put in a good word for Jesus. Same goes for Jones. Every landed punch, kick, and takedown is due to Jesus working in and through him.
I am not opposed to athletes being Christians or putting in a brief word for Jesus. However, I find the sermonettes used to give Jesus all the glory offensive and a denial of what happened during the game/match. Professional athletes typically have superior physical skills. If anyone deserves credit for their physical skills, it is their biological parents; people who, through DNA, passed on physical attributes most humans do not have. Coaches and trainers took that natural talent and shaped the player into a successful high school/college/professional athlete.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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