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RG3, false persecution, and Christianity

There’s a big uproar over Robert Griffin III reversing his shirt inside out at a press conference. RG3’s shirt read, “Know Jesus Know Peace” or “No Jesus No Peace”. (Cool play on words there.)

Over at Fox News, they are creating a controversy. On the Fox and Friends Facebook page, they posted the above picture with the text:

Out of Bounds! At a post-game press conference, Washington Redskins’ quarterback Robert Griffin III was told to turn his shirt inside out before speaking to reporters! Do you think he should have been allowed to wear his shirt as-is?

Of course, the implication here is that RG3 was not allowed to wear his Jesus t-shirt because it was religious in nature. Fox News has a history of creating the idea that Christianity is being persecuted in America.

If Fox News wanted to do some reporting, they would have found the following:

NFL

Gisele Bundchen asks for prayer for Brady, then curses

As most of us are talking about Madonna’s halftime show or Cee Lo Green’s bling robe this morning. However, Super model Gisele Bundchen, wife to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, created a stir this weekend. As most upstate New Yorkers around here are cheering the Giants’ win in the Super Bowl, Pats fans are in grief this morning. Bundchen and Brady were in grief after the game.

Bundchen was in so much grief that she apparently said to some hecklers:

My husband can not [expletive] throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time. I can’t believe they dropped the ball so many times.

Earlier this week, Brady’s wife was in a different mood as she sent a message to friends and supporters asking for prayer for her husband. According to Fox News, an e-mail asked: Continue Reading…

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Super Bowl: New robes for clergy?

The Super Bowl, okay, let’s be real… Madonna Halftime Show 2012 was also a fashion show to roll out the line of Cee Lo Green and Madonna’s robes for clergy:

Bling!

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Who does God want to win the Super Bowl?

I remember watching the pregame coverage of Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 and being shocked when a reporter asked Green Bay Packers’ defensive end and ordained minister Reggie White if he thought God wanted him to win the Super Bowl. White shot back, “Well, I’m praying to win.” The reporter replied, “Do you think the Broncos are praying to win too?” “I’m sure they are,” White said. Then the reporter asked this bombshell: “If you are praying that Green Bay wins, and the Broncos are praying to win, then who does God want to win?”

With this year’s big game set for Sunday, it seems that God and football have been the hot topic lately. Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow has been criticized for appearing in an ad to be aired during the game paid for by Focus on the Family that promotes the Christian organization’s pro-life stance. Tebow is also known for biblical references to “John 3:16″ and “Phil 4:13″ on the eye black strips he uses to cut glare.” Tony Dungy, a Super Bowl champion coach and author of The New York Times best-seller, “Uncommon,” has attributed his success to Jesus Christ.

According to the NFL, 87 percent of its players come from some sort of “Protestant background.” Every team in the league offers its members Bible study groups, chapel or worship services. Athletes in Action, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ, provides chaplains for numerous NFL teams. Tom Krattenmaker, in his book “Onward Christian Athletes: Turning Ballparks into Pulpits and Players into Preachers,” makes the case that public displays of faith are not spontaneous, but rather part of a large Christian presence in the professional ranks.

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'Banned' Religious Super Bowl Ad Airs

A Super Bowl ad that was originally “banned” by Fox Television because it was potentially offensive aired during the big game. The ad features several people watching a football game and the camera zooms in on the television. A football player’s eye black displays “John 3:16”. The people watching the television wonder what it means and one man says, “I’ll look it up.” Watch the video here:

Of course, John 3:16 reads: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (NRSV) This verse from the Bible is used by Christians at sporting events. Tim Tebow was known for scripture verses on his eye black during his college days.

Who is behind this ad? Larry Taunton, the executive director of the Fixed Point Foundation explains: Continue Reading…

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Tebow Hype a Bust

In a reverse this year, the big game was actually more interesting than the commercials. New Orleans pulled off a win! As I watched the Super Bowl commercials, I caught Focus on the Family’s paid ad featuring Tim Tebow and his mother. There was no mention of “abortion”, “the doctors told me”, or even “God.” If you missed the commercial here it is:

What is so discouraging is the inflated hype around this commercial. Nobody previewed it, nobody knew what was going to be said, and no one saw a script of the commercial. Yet, anti-religious and anti-abortion pundits were quick to condemn Tebow, Focus on the Family, and CBS.

Though I do not always agree with Focus on the Family’s approach or James Dobson’s sentiments, I do believe this Super Bowl ad was the right approach for their message. If you want to pay 2.5 million dollars you have the right to proclaim a message, sell a product, or make a statement. It was a personal story of joy about a mother and son and their life together.

Rowland Martin, CNN political analyst, made some good points when he wrote:

Continue Reading…

NFL

Who Does God Want to Win the Super Bowl?

The following is an article I wrote for the “Voices of Faith” column which appeared in Saturday’s Times Union:

With this year’s big game set for Sunday, it seems that God and football have been the hot topic lately. Quarterback Kurt Warner, who’s got a Super Bowl ring of his own, retired last week after saying he was seeking divine guidance to help him decide. Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow has been criticized for appearing in an ad to be aired during the game paid for by Focus on the Family that promotes the Christian organization’s pro-life stance. Tebow is also known for biblical references to “John 3:16” and “Phil 4:13″ on the eye black strips he uses to cut glare.” Tony Dungy, a Super Bowl champion coach and author of The New York Times best-seller, “Uncommon,” has attributed his success to Jesus Christ.

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The NFL Needs God

Many people ask me what I’d being doing if I was not a pastor, often I say, “I don’t know, but I know I would not be happy if I was not a pastor.” I truly cannot imagine doing anything other than ministering to others, cultivating faith, teaching, and providing spiritual care. However, I could be a chaplain to an NFL team. What a dream job!

I have already blogged about my experience providing the invocation at the NFL Players Gala in Washington D.C. Besides doing my ministerial duties, I got to meet Bill Cower, Ben Roethlisberger, John Riggins, Clinton Portis, and Larry Fitzgerald. Believe it or not, the NFL regularly uses chaplains and spiritual advisers for players and teams. You could imagine the sweet perks of the job!

Time Magazine wrote a piece on NFL chaplains who regularly counsel and meet with players. What is most interesting about the article is how one chaplain tells players they shouldn’t “pimp out Jesus”:

NFL

Why You Should Give Michael Vick a Second Chance

Almost everyone has heard about the Atlanta Falcons NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for federal dog fighting crimes. Vick served 18 months in a federal prison and was released. The NFL has stated that Vick will be able to return to football with conditions. The media is speculating on which teams are interested and what Michael Vick will do next.

You might be asking yourself, “Why does all this matter?” Well, for the most part, the public opinion on animal abusers is strong. Naturally, people are mostly animal lovers. Sometimes, I think we love animals more than people. Clearly, abusing animals is wrong and setting up a dog fighting ring, making money off dog fighting, and treating dogs poorly is wrong. Yet, Vick has received more negative press and more public out cry than Cleveland Browns receiver Donte Stallworth, who was suspended by the NFL for driving drunk and killing a pedestrian in Miami. Or, singer Chris Brown, who beat/harmed girlfriend and singer Rihanna.

Here is the problem: People seem to be more upset at Vick than they should be at Stallworth or Brown. Stallworth got drunk and killed someone with his car and only served a 30 day sentence. Now, I am not saying you should feel sorry for Vick. Vick broke the law and hurt animals. Clearly, there is an inequity here. Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Tribune echo these sediments:

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The Celebrities I Met & What I Learned About Their Faith

Ben Roethlisberger

Earlier this year, a friend and a parishioner at my former church in Maryland asked me if I would like to give the invocation prayer again at the National Football League’s Players Gala and James Brown Awards. Last year, I gave the invocation prayer at the event and got to meet James Brown (of CBS Sports), Bill Cower (former coach of the Pittsburg Steelers and Super Bowl winning coach), and other NFL players who were nominated for the “JB Award” for outstanding community involvement. The gala also serves as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics. This year, I happily accepted the invitation again and got to meet Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburg Steelers Quarterback and Super Bowl Champion), Clinton Portis (Washington Redskin running back and Pro-Bowl starter), and Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinal wide receiver and Pro-Bowl MVP).

As I was traveling to the event, I could not help but wonder what place does a prayer have at a professional sports fundraiser and award show? Sure, as a pastor I believe that we should desire to acknowledge God at these functions, but what do professional athletes think about prayer and invoking the name of God publicly? Do these men of mega strength actively seek God out? Sometimes after professional sports games on television players will mention God in passing as if God was a mere minor character in the player’s life. Or during an interview, when professional athletes mention God more specifically and in great length the interviewer will cut off the athlete move on to more “important” facets of the game such as what edge the athlete had or what the athlete did before the game. Still, some acknowledge “The Almighty”, “God”, or just “being blessed” but rarely mention “Jesus.” In my mind, NFL players were not known for putting Christ as the center of their lives, either privately or publicly.

As I walked around the gala at the Washington D.C. Hilton and started to meet and take pictures with the players, I introduced myself and

John Riggins

mentioned my role in the program. Most players did not say much, but they did allow me to take a picture with them. As the time ticked down to my brief moment of prayer, I was ushered backstage and waited for my cue. As I was waiting, I saw James Brown (J.B.) of CBS Sports, who is the driving force behind recognizing NFL Players and their community involvement at the event. I decided to introduce myself and what I was doing there. J.B., a former football player, affectionately embraced me and started to share with me in great length about his involvement with local pastors, local churches, prayer, accountability partners, and working with other religious organizations. He also opened up about his faith in Christ.

J.B. also said something that got my attention. In a very humble way, he said, “You know, what we do out there is something that is done only by the Holy Spirit. You and I, do this for His sake, not ours.” Wow! Here is a celebrity acknowledging the Holy Spirit. He continued to speak about his faith in Christ and he said he enjoyed our time together as fellow brothers in Christ. He also inquired about my journey with God, my ministry, my connection with the event, and my collegiate career in lacrosse.

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