BAD THEOLOGY

The pastor of the church I attend enjoys football, but today he made something quite clear. Football is only a game. Why this revelation? Well, he seemed a bit upset by a poll. Here was the question — at least what he thought it was the question.

The question, it seems, had to be asked: Does God help Tim Tebow win football games? (from here)

How did people supposedly respond to this question?

Yes, I think it’s frightening that, in a poll released this week, 43 percent of Americans say they believe divine intervention plays a part in Tebow’s success. And when any warped segment of society uses an NFL quarterback’s performance to validate their own belief system — Tebow wins, the Christian right kneels; he loses, agnostic and atheists everywhere high-five to nth power — it’s downright disturbing. (from here)

What disturbed my pastor is the bad theology. When people are warring and children are suffering and starving, people think God fixes football games? To put matter in perspective, he quoted John 3:16.

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

While it is true that God has the capacity to concern Himself with every detail of our lives, only the very silly would think His priority is who wins football games. Fortunately, that is not actually what the poll showed.

The media’s treating this as a poll on whether people think God is helping Tebow to win, but the way the actual question was phrased is subtly different. Direct quote: “Do you believe that any of Tim Tebow’s success can be attributed to divine intervention?” (Emphasis mine.) Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s a much easier question for a believer, no? Everyone’s “success” is, supposedly, attributable to providence to some degree. God gives you certain talents, you put them to use, you make something of yourself, voila, you’ve succeeded — even if you don’t win the Super Bowl. Which is not to say there aren’t Christians out there who think God’s actually picking favorites on Sunday afternoon. Said one Colorado pastor to TMZ last month, “It’s not luck. Luck isn’t winning 6 games in a row. It’s favor. God’s favor.” That was published on December 15; the Broncos lost three in a row starting the following Sunday. (from here)

God’s favor? To win football games? Well, there are Christians who believe in something some call the prosperity gospel (or theology). Does that Colorado pastor, Pastor Wayne Hanson of Summit Church in Castle Rock, CO, believe in such a thing (See God’s Will for Provision in their Statement of Faith.)? Perhaps. Nonetheless, Jesus and His Apostles set an example, and they did not collect riches. Instead, they served.

Luke 12:42-48 New Living Translation (NLT)

42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 43 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 44 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. 45 But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? 46 The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48 But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.

Jesus is not a mere idol we can propitiate and hope He will reward us. He is our Creator, and He has given us a choice. Either we serve Him and allow Him to mold us, or He will discard us.

Just the same, He gave us the opportunity to play — and learn from — games. So praise God, and pass the football.