Football and Faith

As the dust on Super Bowl XLIV settles, and the controversial  Focus on the Family-funded “Tim Tebow commercial” is quickly dismissed, it brings to light the questions:  What is the proper place for spiritual, ethical, and political issues of this content? Do athletes go too far when given the opportunity to speak on sports and spirituality, or are they merely maximizing their opportunity to voice their “godly” beliefs? 

Some argue that Christian athletes, though well-intentioned, at times misuse their platform. Those that speak out in favor of a particular issue come under scrutiny as their faith becomes the battle grounds for a media scapegoat. Others lie in wait for the next high-profile “poster boy athlete,” who acts as an advertiser for the gospel, to fall victim as they inevitably become vulnerable to the various trappings of the world. Still others argue that Christian athletes convey religion more as a “rabbits foot,” a subset of some superstitious pre-game ritual rather than a relationship that accurately portrays the gospel message of Christ; this not only further distracts others from the actual life-changing message of Christ but it dummies the presence of God to merely a “genie” figure. 

Shirl Hoffman, author of Good Game believes that:  “Prayers offered in the foxhole-like atmosphere of the locker room can fade seamlessly into the coach’s pep talk. These artful and dramatic prayers in the locker room, clearly designed to manipulate the emotions of players and elevate competitive intensity, are difficult to take seriously. They seem crass and opportunistic.” 

From an evangelistic standpoint, is it a terrible thing to have these public demonstrations of prayer, though arguably irreverent, to help spur spiritual conversations?  Isn’t the facade of Christianity, though contorted, better than no acknowledgement of God or spirituality at all?

Now I’m not ready to voice an opinion either way, as I myself am still in the process of determining my stance, but one thing is for certain—the genuine changed lives of the likes of a Tim Tebow or Tony Dungy speak much louder than any of the words that they could ever articulate.

Editorial