God & Sports

Vjynz has started to like basketball. AND BOY, AM I HAPPY - as a sports enthusiast, I encourage him ALL THE TIME!

I have instilled in him that spirit of competitiveness, that drive to win, & hopefully soon, the patience to learn!

One day, he was about to go to the gym with his friends, he called me to the side and asked me to pray - that he wouldn't get hurt and that HIS TEAM WOULD WIN!

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I read from a local paper last week about a coach of a professional basketball team who said, "We haven't done anything... God put us in the situation to test us. It's how we respond to adversity."

Some big names have also used the "G" word a lot:

- God wants us to win

- God is on our side

- It is our destiny, God put us here

- God wants us to win the NBA championship

- God wants us to win the World Series

and its not just sports:

- God wants me to be in the Senate

and in extreme cases:

- God wants me to win the lottery, so I can give back to the church

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Now I know God is interested in the planet Earth and everything that happens to its inhabitants, but come on...

* Will God answer your prayers because the other team's coach is not a Christian? and they didn't pray before the game?

* Will God grant me more favor because I am in the ministry, FULL-TIME? and they only serve on Sundays?

* He is a fair God that's why our team should win - our church has more attenders than the other teams.

Basically it boils down to - I AM A CHRISTIAN SO EVERYTIME I PRAY FOR SOMETHING, MY FATHER SHOULD & WILL ANSWER ME WITH A RESOUNDING "YES!"

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Personally, I think this way of thinking is SELFISH! Yup, you read that right! Why would I say that?

What if your team LOSES?

Is God unfair now? Did He not hear your petitions? Did you say the wrong words during the prayer? Maybe you sinned a little bit during the week and God forfeited your "advantage."

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Vjynz came home after the game and said he had lots of fun. I asked him who won; all he said was I DON'T KNOW! BUT I HAD FUN!

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I read somewhere in the Bible that God sends rain to the the holy and the wicked. There are perks to being a Christian of course, but I think asking God to win a basketball game for you sends the wrong message about Him!

So next time you pray before a game, choose your words wisely! Your team is listening! God is listening!

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