HAROLD KELLER / L’Observateur / February 16, 2000

It seems to be popular these days for some athletes, especially football players, to religiously express themselves. Are all of them sincere in theiractions? Probably not, but it seems to disturb some of the liberal media.

Recently, two writers took opposite sides in an article titled “Religious expression: Exalt or keep quiet?” What prompted the article was the statement by the St. Louis Rams quarterback, Kurt Warner, after the Ramswon the Super Bowl. The statement was: “I know the Lord had somethingspecial in store for this team and I started believing that He was going to take us here, and He was going to finish the whole thing off for us.”Does that mean the Lord really cared about who won the game? I think not. Infact, I also think He had a reason for the Tennessee Titans to be in that game and a purpose for them losing. The Bible says that all things cometogether for those who love and serve the Lord. I’m sure the Titans had afew Christians on their team.

Bob Fortus, the writer who was against athletes using the sports arena to acknowledge God, said that expressing religious beliefs at games is out of bounds and that the forum after a game is not appropriate. He said that theathletes are speaking to a captive audience. He also said that when people goto a house of worship, they expect to hear about God – sports viewers don’t.

Well, I’m a sports viewer and I expect a Christian to give credit to whom he thinks credit is due.

Not many writers complained when Muhammad Ali would praise his god, Allah, after winning a fight or using his religion to dodge the draft. It comes downto what is guaranteed in our Constitution – freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Mr. Fortus concluded his article with: “I would much rather hear at the end ofa game that an athlete is on his way to Disneyland than to heaven.” He madeit sound as though people have a choice between Disneyland or heaven instead of heaven or hell.

Billy Turner was the other writer who defended the athletes’ right to express their religious convictions. He praised Kurt Warner for giving Jesus the gloryand said he was elated that Warner had the courage to proclaim the most holy name in Christianity at that moment. He said that it gave him strengthas he watched and listened and he felt the energy and understood the emotion.

In defending the case against using a captive TV audience, Turner said, and I agree, “What exactly should a Christian like Warner do? Keep the light he had been told to let shine hidden?” The Bible says that if we fail to acknowledge Jesus befor men, He won’t acknowledge us before His Father.

Turner concluded his article by saluting Warner and I second the motion.

Copyright © 1998, Wick Communications, Inc.

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