Over the holidays I was at a Christmas party with my parents and I overhead some people talking about Tim Tebow. I paid more attention and someone basically said that he was a good quarterback because he could pass well, run, and was a Christian. I was taken aback by this statement. When did religious affiliation become synonymous with athletics?
I have heard these same arguments/statements several times now and every time I just don’t get it. The people making these statements seem to equate religion with some sort of athletic skill, as if being a Christian or a Buddhist makes athletes better. Back to Tim Tebow, his being a Christian doesn’t make him a more accurate quarterback or allow him to run faster. While God gave Tebow those abilities, they were not predicated on Tebow’s belief in God. Tebow can throw well and run fast because he worked hard.
Religion just does not make a difference in sports. If it did, then why would notorious hedonists like Dennis Rodman, Wilt Chamberlain, and Lawrence Taylor have so much success? Some people just got lucky with athletic gifts, and others didn’t.
Furthermore, people should not base who their favorite players/athletes on religious affiliation. By preferring Christian athletes over non-Christian athletes, all people are doing is passing judgment on the non-Christians, essentially saying they are not good enough. There are many non-Christian athletes making differences in the community and helping others just as much as any Christian athlete, yet the Christian community does not give the non-Christian nearly as much respect. This is a very self-righteous, “holier-than-thou” approach. Doesn’t God ask us to love everyone, regardless of personal beliefs? Jesus spent his time with the prostitutes and tax collectors, yet many Christians today shun athletes like Allen Iverson because he isn’t Tim Tebow or Kurt Warner. Religion aside, Allen Iverson plays as hard as, if not harder than, any person out there, but bring up Allen Iverson with your parents and they will most likely talk about his tattoos or past legal troubles.
To clarify, I don’t support many of the lifestyle choices some non-Christians make, but I think they should be loved and supported just as much as Christian athletes. Judgment doesn’t make anything better, and anyways, God is the only true judge
I have heard these same arguments/statements several times now and every time I just don’t get it. The people making these statements seem to equate religion with some sort of athletic skill, as if being a Christian or a Buddhist makes athletes better. Back to Tim Tebow, his being a Christian doesn’t make him a more accurate quarterback or allow him to run faster. While God gave Tebow those abilities, they were not predicated on Tebow’s belief in God. Tebow can throw well and run fast because he worked hard.
Religion just does not make a difference in sports. If it did, then why would notorious hedonists like Dennis Rodman, Wilt Chamberlain, and Lawrence Taylor have so much success? Some people just got lucky with athletic gifts, and others didn’t.
Furthermore, people should not base who their favorite players/athletes on religious affiliation. By preferring Christian athletes over non-Christian athletes, all people are doing is passing judgment on the non-Christians, essentially saying they are not good enough. There are many non-Christian athletes making differences in the community and helping others just as much as any Christian athlete, yet the Christian community does not give the non-Christian nearly as much respect. This is a very self-righteous, “holier-than-thou” approach. Doesn’t God ask us to love everyone, regardless of personal beliefs? Jesus spent his time with the prostitutes and tax collectors, yet many Christians today shun athletes like Allen Iverson because he isn’t Tim Tebow or Kurt Warner. Religion aside, Allen Iverson plays as hard as, if not harder than, any person out there, but bring up Allen Iverson with your parents and they will most likely talk about his tattoos or past legal troubles.
To clarify, I don’t support many of the lifestyle choices some non-Christians make, but I think they should be loved and supported just as much as Christian athletes. Judgment doesn’t make anything better, and anyways, God is the only true judge
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