Your Voice

Jesus loves you, Tom Brady: Athletes, adulation and admonition

By Jared C. Wilson
General editor, For the Church

The Christian’s adulation of public greatness is always complicated — or should be.

Like the rest of the world, with hope and aspiration we appraise the work of politicians and pop stars, country singers and quarterbacks, and we celebrate success. And there’s a touch of worship in it. Sometimes more than a touch.

Nowhere is this more evident perhaps than in our reverence for athletes. Evangelicals in particular are not as taken with movie stars or politicians (as a class) to the extent that their neighbors are, but we do love our athletes.

The most notable example of this is of course Tim Tebow, who turned a stellar college football career into a disappointing NFL career without losing the favor of American evangelicals because of his faith and family values. But we do it with unbelieving athletes as well.

We wear clothing with their names on it. We sing their praises on social media. We buy their products.

If they so much as mention anything positive about God, we invite them to speak at the men’s retreat and hire a ghostwriter for their Christian book deal.

Admiring ‘strongmen’

God’s people have always had an inordinate bent toward strongmen, and athletes are the strongmen who have emerged from among us.

My favorite athlete of all time is quarterback Tom Brady, who is basking in the satisfaction of cementing his GOAT status with a decisive Super Bowl win over the favored Kansas City Chiefs.

I love Tom Brady. But my love for him is complicated. He is not a believer in Christ. He is undoubtedly an idolater of his sport. And as with all idolatry, the gods will let you down in the end.

A few years ago, when Brady only had three Super Bowl rings, he was on “60 Minutes,” and he said this: “Why do I still think there’s something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, ‘Hey man, this is what it is.’ I reached my goal, my dream, my life. Me, I think, ‘God, it’s got to be more than this.’ I mean this isn’t, this can’t be what it’s all cracked up to be.”

Interviewer Steven Kroft asked him, “What’s the answer?” Brady responded, “I wish I knew. I wish I knew.”

Brady has seven championship rings now. None of them was the answer. You and I know that. I hope that reality is dawning on my favorite athlete. Because bodies wither and rings fade, but there is a Word that stands forever.

Do we love these heroes? Or just what they do for us? Is it possible we care about the stats, the talent, the influence, the success, even the legacy, but not their souls?

As my generation gets older, our heroes will continue to fall (in more ways than one). Michael Jordan is going to die. LeBron James is going to die. Patrick Mahomes is going to die. Tom Brady is going to die. And what will it all be worth if we only cheered for their trophies on a shelf?

“What does it profit a man,” Jesus asked, “to gain the world but lose his soul?” I fear this weightier business does not inform much of our adulation of athletes.

All are image-bearers

Let’s keep cheering. Sports are fun and a common grace. Let’s keep rooting for our teams and for our favorite players. Competition can be sharpening and athletic greatness is a testimony to the Creator’s design and artistry. But let’s remember all people are image-bearers — when they fail and when they succeed, when they’re in their prime and when their time is up.

Will Christians only contribute to that which for the sports star will only dry up? Or can we carry them further? Athletes are more than the avatars of our tribal loyalties. They are men and women who need prayer far more than praise.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Jared C. Wilson is assistant professor of pastoral ministry at Spurgeon College, author in residence at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of several books. This article originally appeared at ftc.co and is reprinted from Baptist Press.

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Is it surprising that we find hypocrisy within our capitol when our country is rampant with it everywhere else? This isn’t a partisan issue. It’s a gospel issue. And neither of the main parties in the American government is a gospel party.

These events should give us a sense of urgency in sharing the gospel and a call to holiness and repentance both for ourselves and for the world around us.

Don’t dismay and stop pointing fingers. Filter your words carefully through this: “Is my attitude and word choice leading others to the throne of Jesus? Am I valuing my desire for rightness over and against their soul and eternity?”

We need to be slow to speak, quick to think through a Jesus-centered response, and then speak gently with Spirit-
empowered focus and words.

James Hammack
theropetab.com

“The Lord arises to contend, and stands to judge the people”  (Isa. 3:13).

“I’m in your corner.” “I’ve got your back.” These phrases let us know someone will come to our defense and will protect us. With such a loyal friend at our side, we feel safe and can rest and work with greater peace.

During the prophet Isaiah’s time, poor people felt helpless before the abuses of the rich and powerful. God sent this message to those suffering in such a way, “I’m in your corner!” “I’ve got your back!”

Centuries later, the Spirit moved the Apostle John to speak the same truth. He wrote, “We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous” (1 John 2:1). John did not mean an advocate against the Father but along with the Father. God the Father and God the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit are “in our corner” — “they have our backs.” With such a holy, triune Friend we are eternally safe! Let us live and work without fear.

Bob Adams
Retired pastor
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Letters to the Editor

Now that I am retired from the International Mission Board (1958–1994) and all other activity, I have had lots of time to spend on memory lane and prayer.

My trip down memory lane has taken me back to all the church families and communities that Maxine and I served before the Lord called us to Thailand. (She’s gone to paradise now, since Nov. 24, 2017, but I know that she would agree with my sentiments.)

I have thought about all our church members, and in my mind, I’ve walked around each community, visited each family and prayed for each church.

Since I am almost 93 years old now, I don’t know how many of you are still here with me, but I trust that you have younger loved ones still living in these church fields: Rose Hill (Jefferson County); New Prospect (Clarke County); Oak Grove (Clarke County); Friendship, Awin, Furman and McWilliams (all in Wilcox County); New Bethel (Lowndes County); Carlowville (Dallas County); and Eulaton First (Calhoun County).

I wish I could visit all of you and tell you in person how much I love you and appreciate you for your loving kindness and support to our young family.

Since I am now confined to my bed, lift chair and walker, I wanted to use this letter to let you know that you are very special to our family and that I am keeping you in my prayers. Please continue to be as supportive to your current pastors’ families as you were to us back in the 40s and 50s.

Robert R. (Bob) Stewart
Anniston, Alabama
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The perfect love within the Trinity is beyond our comprehension. And yet, in Christ, it is offered to us.

Will Kynes
Associate professor of biblical studies, Samford University

The Christian life is an ongoing process of uniting our life with the life of God and the members of His body on earth — the Church.

Morris Murray Jr.
Jasper, Ala.

The reason I think that the church in the West is so anemic is we create a culture that is attractive to spiritual consumers. And then we are surprised when those spiritual consumers realize we have to die to self to serve one another and they leave the moment you have to die to self. But here’s the reality: On the other side of that death to self is where real church starts. That’s where it actually begins to happen in our lives.

Pastor Matt Mason
The Church at Brook Hills
Birmingham, Ala.

What if we invested in things that have value? Like our relationship with God or people. What if instead of worrying, we trusted, prayed and gave God our burdens? Instead of investing time, treasure and energy into things that have no eternal value, we made decisions to prioritize actions that echo in eternity. What if … we committed to improving our spiritual and physical health instead of feeling unfulfilled, sick and tired all the time? This is the day you can make these choices. Instead of some day doing this, you can start today.

Tim Tebow via Instagram

Prayers for Unity: Lord, I ask that You help all who are called by Your name to live without divisions among us. Help us to be rooted in Your word and Your truth. Let falsehood and lies be obvious to all. Give us discernment to know Your truth. In Christ’s name I pray this.

Pastor Tony Evans via Instagram
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From the Twitterverse

@JL_Wood
You will never be the crowd’s favorite when you’re more committed to pleasing the Master than you are the masses. Serve On… Great is your reward.

@lukestamps
The aim of Scripture is Christian virtue: to help you believe in Jesus, love as He loved, and hope for His return.

@LigonDuncan
“To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the father is a greater.” — J.I. Packer, “Knowing God”

@jasonkeithallen
“The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God. But every novelty prevents this. It fixes our attention on the service itself; and thinking about worship is a different thing from worshipping.” — C.S. Lewis

@jjdison
Our disobedience will not impact God’s sovereign will or plan. His will and His plan will be accomplished. The only question is whether or not you will allow Him to bless you by using you to accomplish that plan.

@JackieHillPerry
The promise of His presence, that God is with us, means that in all of your doing, you are never alone. With all that you do, you don’t have to be afraid.

@bigvox
Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as dust on the scales. … All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are accounted by Him as less than nothing and emptiness. … (Isaiah 40:15a, 17)  Drop the drama. Remember who we serve.

@gavinortlund
If God can bring resurrection out of Jesus’ death, then surely He can redeem the worst pain and anguish in our lives.

@esaumccaulley
The cross is an inexhaustible resource.

@revandyfrazier
Formula for becoming great in the eyes of the world: make everything about achieving my goals, meeting my desires and accomplishing my plans, while getting all of the credit and none of the blame. The strategy for being great in Christ’s Kingdom: become a humbled servant.