On Super Bowl Sunday, 3 in 10 Americans believe God will play a role in determing which team wins

Posted Jan 30 2013 by RLC Editor with 27 Comments

God In Sports

    Forget the poor and oppressed, is God actually concerned with…sports? A new survey released yesterday by the Public Religion Research Institute found that nearly 3 in 10 Americans (27%) believe that God plays a role in determining which team wins a sporting event. A significant higher number of people (53%) believe God rewards athletes who have faith with good health and success on the field.

    These numbers release just days before this weekend’s Super Bowl and at a time when there is growing concern regarding the safety of children playing football. On Monday, ESPN reported President Obama as saying that if he had a son, he would think long and hard before allowing his son to play [football].

    2012 was deemed the year of the Outspoken Christian Athlete by Relevant Magazine. The article cited NY Jets QB Tim Tebow, Pro Golfer Bubba Watson, Houston Rockets Point Guard Jeremy Lin, and Olympic Gold Medal winning gymnast Gabby Douglas, among others, as reasons for the rise of public Christianity in sports.

    So, what do you think? Does God play a role in determining which team wins a sporting event like this Sunday’s Super Bowl between the 49ers and the Ravens? Does God reward those athletes who publicly praise him on the field of play?

    Photo Credits: NFL.com / Reuters

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      • Jonathan Starkey

        1. Does God play a role in determining
        which team wins a sporting event like this Sunday’s Super Bowl between
        the 49ers and the Ravens?

        I’m not sure if he plays a role in which team is going to win, but I do believe God cares about what we care about. If I want my team to win and pray to God for their success. I believe God hears those prayers, but I’m not sure he meddles with the outcome.

        I believe God likes my hobbies, and blesses. Them and sport is included. Like the guy from Chariots of Fire… I feel Gods pleasure when I run.

        2. Does God reward those athletes who publicly praise him on the field of play? Well you may receive Tim Tebows reward, of mockery, accusation without cause, slander,…

        In that case Jesus said he would reward those people who publicly profess Him.

        We are called to take the Gospel every where even to the margins of the Earth right? Maybe the football field is a valid margin?

        • Jonathan Starkey

          I believe those players who practice, there faith like Troy Polamalu. Do have an edge in being enlightened if they are listening to God and praying/ having a relationship. The same way I do at work. Or the monastics. God dropping special intelligence and ideas of creativity and problem solving that came from nowhere.

          Does God care about my job, does he care about my business?
          Does he give me special ability at my work amongst my peers?

          • Jonathan Starkey

            And then to be successful, and publicly give all glory to God. I’m not sure I see anything wrong with that. Thank you God for making me fast. Thank you God for making me this way. Thank you God for giving us this opportunity. God you gave me the strength to get through because in my strength it would have not gone this way.

        • bluecenterlight

          It is interesting that Mr. Tebow is being held up as a fine Christian example for doing exactly what Christ taught us not to do, which is make a spectacle of our faith. To say a prayer, to yourself, thanking God is one thing. To bend knee before tens of thousands of people to show your righteousness is a bit much. I’m sure he has a pretty sweet closet in which to pray.

          • SamHamilton

            To bend knee before tens of thousands of people to show your righteousness is a bit much.

            But you don’t that’s why he does it. You have no idea what’s going on in his head. There is nothing wrong with Christians praying in public. Why they do it in public is the important part.

            • bluecenterlight

              I think there is a difference between saying grace at Denny’s or starting a prayer circle at a public event, and praying in front of thousands of adoring fans. Apparently it’s just me, but it bugs me for some reason.

              • Jonathan Starkey

                You have Martin Luther King as your icon, to me I perceive you project something to everyone about what your ideals and beliefs are. How is that not projecting your religion before men?

              • Jonathan Starkey

                Shouldn’t you rather have a plain icon?

              • bluecenterlight

                I think if I am to take Christianity seriously, that I would hold up people who really do it. Those who don’t make Jesus a category of their life, but put their whole lives on the line. No bullshit, no net, just all in. I would pick mother Teresa over Tim Tebow any day. Would she be considered plain?

              • Jonathan Starkey

                Oh, so you know what Tebow does in secret?

              • bluecenterlight

                I did not mean to besmirch your hero. I’m just saying, and your point is well taken, that we all seek to glorify ourselves. If I do it, you do it, then maybe it is possible that Mr. Tebow does it as well. I hope that thought is not too crushing. I’m sure even mother Teresa put herself before God at times, it is common to all of us. I find it interesting that the mere suggestion of fault in certain people can illicit such strong reaction. The great men in scripture, those who God lifts up as examples, were also deeply flawed men. It’s a good thing, or none of us would ever accomplish anything for God.

                “We are
                Born like this
                Into this
                Into these carefully mad wars
                Into the sight of broken factory windows of emptiness
                Into bars where people no longer speak to each other
                Into fist fights that end as shootings and knifings
                Born into this
                Into hospitals which are so expensive that it’s cheaper to die
                Into lawyers who charge so much it’s cheaper to plead guilty
                Into a country where the jails are full and the madhouses closed
                Into a place where the masses elevate fools into rich heroes”
                ― Charles Bukowski

              • Jonathan Starkey

                He is venerating Christ, and you are venerating up followers of Christ. It’s all a stupid argument anyway. I don’t know Tebow, I don’t need to fight for Him. Mother Theresa and MLK are gone from this Earth now. Tebow still has time here.

              • Jonathan Starkey

                I was reading something the other day about monks, and it was saying they were needed because they inspire people to lead a Holy and Pious life.
                —
                Doesn’t someone bowing in prayer publicly also inspire someone to a life of prayer.

                I think only people who don’t understand will mock and be repulsed.

              • Jonathan Starkey

                In MLK maybe you elevating yourself, because you want people to think you know what’s up?

              • Jonathan Starkey

                In elevateing MLK maybe you are elevating yourself, because you want people to think you know what’s up? Can it be perceived that way, if someone were scouring your heart motive?

          • Jonathan Starkey

            I think the passage of scripture your referencing needs a more careful unpacking.

            • bluecenterlight

              To be clear, I do not think that Matt 6 is outlawing public prayer. Giving and fasting are also included in the hypocrite list, but I don’t think God would have us stop giving or fasting. It’s a heart issue, we all self promote. I had a teacher once who said jokingly, ” he that tooteth not his own horn, heareth it not tooted.” We walk around constantly promoting ourselves to other people. I think we can all admit that we care much more about what other people think of us than what God thinks. That is what Christ was teaching, stop promoting yourself to the world around you and start promoting yourself to God. Care about what He thinks more than anything else. Christ was teaching this, not to a select few, but it is a lesson to all of us because we all fall in the trap of self promotion. How many times do we give anonymously? How many times do we do something good, and then “casually” bring it up in conversation with other people? We all do it. But you seem to be claiming ( tell me if I am wrong, I frequently am) that Mr. Tebow is exempt, and clearly, always put God first and never his own agenda. If that is true, then I think you have too high of an opinion of him ( I suspect he probably would agree )

              • 22044

                A key distinction should be noted, between a public prayer & a private prayer done in a public place.

              • Jonathan Starkey

                I still think there is something more to this teaching than what your are providing.

          • http://snommelp.tumblr.com/ Snommelp

            You may be right – Jesus taught (and Paul affirmed) that public prayer should be for the good of all in attendance. Since I don’t really follow football, I can’t pretend to know the heart and intentions of Tim Tebow. He may be showboating, or he may be hoping to lead others to Christ. Or he may simply be getting caught in the moment and, forgetting about all the eyes on him, worshiping “privately.”

      • 22044

        God is big enough to care and be involved in all the things we do. So I would say…that includes sporting events. His cares may, or may not, be our cares. But He does not shame us either.

        Jonathan’s comments/questions below are pretty good at fleshing out my points a bit.

      • http://snommelp.tumblr.com/ Snommelp

        Jonathan and 22044, I believe I agree with both of you. I believe God rewards those athletes who publicly praise Him, but not necessarily on the field of competition. This year’s Super Bowl is a battle between brothers, so it’s a fine example. I doubt Mr. and Mrs. Harbaugh are going to pick one team over the other to cheer for. Likewise, with so many athletes and fans who publicly and privately confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, I can’t imagine God picking favorites.

      • SamHamilton

        Does God play a role in determining which team wins a sporting event like this Sunday’s Super Bowl between the 49ers and the Ravens?

        I think he does, in the sense that He blessed the athletes on the field with their talents. Maybe he even picks which team will win based on the effects that win or loss will have on certain people. Who knows… But I don’t believe He picks which team wins based on who is praying the hardest or which team has more Christians or anything like that.

        Does God reward those athletes who publicly praise him on the field of play?

        I don’t think He rewards them on the field of play, but those who praise and acknowledge God will be rewarded in some way.

      • B.R. Wells

        No matter what part (or position) we play in life, we are to be witnesses for Christ (1 Peter 3:15). We are to be examples of Christ for all to see (Matthew 5: 14-16).
        We should take every opportunity to show others just what Christianity
        is all about. We should always keep our conduct above reproach.

        If a Christian athlete (like Tim Tebow) is really praying and seeking a way to share
        Christ with others, God will provide ample opportunities. It could be
        sharing Jesus or praying with teammates. It could be praising God in an
        interview. It could even be witnessing to fans. Basically, it all boils
        down to this: whatever you do, whatever sport you play; do it for the
        glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

        The only caution to be given to a believer who is playing sports—or is a
        fan of sports—is to not allow sports to become an idol (1 John 5:21).
        Never allow sports to become more important to you than your
        relationship with God. It is fine to be interested in sports, to be
        knowledgeable about sports, to be a fan of a certain team. The problem
        is that there are far too many people who can name all of the NFL teams,
        but cannot name the books of the New Testament. There are far too many
        people who will spend hours playing and/or watching sports each day, but
        do not spend more than a few minutes a day praying or reading the
        Bible. Clearly, this is not pleasing to God. Our priorities in life
        should be ordered in such a way that they honor and glorify Him.

      • Jonathan Starkey

        I have a rhetorical question about the symbolic reading into of Christian endzone celebration. What sends a better message Tebow bowing to a knee in a prayerful postition or Colon Kaepernick kissing his bicep?

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dale-Little/100003091616802 Dale Little

        God does more than play a role, he may determine who wins. But it’s not like a lot of people may think. God does not have a favorite team and he may not allow the most Godly team to win. God’s concern is not the ball game, but the people who play the ball game. C.S. Lewis said that “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains…” Job of the Old Testament was tested severely because he was a Godly man, so God may see that one of his saints needs to be humbled through a loss more than another one needs a victory. We don’t know the reason, but He does.

      • shaun l

        what a load of ignrant superstitious complete bollox

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