NFL: No Fans Left

In less than a month, the National Football League will begin a new regular season. I used to enjoy watching their games on TV. This year I plan to shy away from that even more. 

Many fans like myself are opposed to the NFL permitting players to disrespect “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Last year, the league started pairing that with “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which has been called a “black national anthem.” Despite widespread criticism, Commissioner Roger Goodell declared, “We, the National Football League, believe black lives matter…Without black players, there would be no National Football League.” 

That’s not entirely true. The league existed before segregation in professional sports ended. I’m not against “Lift Every Voice and Sing” as a song. It originated from a Christian hymnal. However, playing a “black national anthem” before games is divisive instead of unifying. As stated before, I do not support the Black Lives Matter movement.

The league has also succumbed to the homosexual agenda. While channel surfing on a friend's TV a few weeks ago, I briefly stopped on the NFL Network. An ad came up declaring “football is gay” and featured a rainbow-colored NFL logo. I searched for this on their YouTube channel to give it a “dislike.” It had over five times more of those than “likes” plus many written complaints.  

The Minnesota Vikings will always be my favorite team, but I’ve become less enthusiastic about following them. Their Facebook page recently had pride memes posted. Offensive line coach Rick Dennison got removed from his post for refusing to get a COVID-19 vaccination but then was reinstated as “senior offensive advisor.” Players like starting quarterback Kirk Cousins have been criticized for not getting jabbed. Will they soon require proof of vaccinations for fans to attend their games?

Another thing I don’t like about the NFL is how they are adding extra games. Last year, two more wild card teams were added for the playoffs. Just like other major league sports, the NFL is allowing too many teams in the postseason. It defeats the necessity to play well enough throughout the regular season for the opportunity of becoming “World Champions.” I’d rather see division winners only qualify for the playoffs.

This year all teams will play 17 regular-season games. The odd number means half the teams (including the Vikings) will have one fewer home game than those played on the road. To lengthen the season, the league could have given each team an extra bye week as they did once before in 1993. Another option would be to play an 18 game regular season as the defunct USFL had in the 1980s. That still gives every team an equal number of home games.

I wish the league would play their games without all the greed and politicization. That would stop the increasing exodus of fans. Nevertheless, I hope all the Christian players have successful seasons this year. One I’m rooting for is Tim Tebow. He is attempting a comeback as a tight end with the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Tim makes the team, we could see him Tebowing again. I’d rather watch that instead of players kneeling during the national anthem or doing end zone celebrations that have gotten ridiculous.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” - Colossians 3:17

8 Reasons Not to Support Black Lives Matter

Almost a year ago, the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked riots there and in other cities. Then last Sunday, the police shooting of Daunte Wright in the adjoining suburb of Brooklyn Center resulted in more unrest. These and other incidents have spurred greater attention to the Black Lives Matter movement. Their mission “is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.” 

Certainly, I’m against racism. However, there are reasons why I will not support BLM…

1. Black Lives Matter dishonors authority. I’ve seen protesters make ugly remarks and gestures toward the police. Those crying “justice for Daunte Wright” need to be reminded he was being arrested for an outstanding warrant. While it’s tragic Daunte was accidentally shot and killed, that wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t committed another crime: fleeing the police. Romans 13:4 says, “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.” There are consequences for breaking the law.
2. Black Lives Matter disrespects other people’s time. One of their tactics that immediately turned me off to their cause is blocking highways. These types of protests cost time and money for commuters trying to get to work. What if somebody dies because an emergency vehicle cannot get around a BLM protest? Their lives matter, too. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
3. Black Lives Matter has little regard for other people’s property. While some protesters simply display signs and banners, others write graffiti (often profane remarks) on public property and businesses. Greater New York Black Lives Matter president Hawk Newsome warned last year in a Fox News interview that if the United States “doesn’t give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it.” Looting is not the answer. Ephesians 4:28 says, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.”
4. The BLM website calls for defunding the police. This is a ridiculous idea. Who are we supposed to call when criminals threaten our communities? Without our men and women in blue, there would be more chaos and anarchy. Most law enforcement officials strive to do their jobs with excellence. Far more people die from medical malpractice than police shootings.
5. Black Lives Matter promotes deviant lifestyle choices. Their website states, “We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks.” 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee sexual immorality.”
6. Black Lives Matter promotes anti-Semitism. Their platform has described Israel as an “apartheid state” that perpetrates “genocide” against the Palestinian people. As a result, they endorse the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign. Scripture encourages us to bless the Jewish people (Genesis 12:3, Psalm 122:6). The United States has suffered devastating consequences when our government enacts policies against Israel.
7. Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Khan-Cullors and her fellow organizers are avowed Marxists. A Norwegian politician named Petter Eide who represents the Socialist Left Party nominated BLM for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Marxism results in reduced freedom for everyone except those in political power. The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation took in over $90 million in 2020. Patrisse has spent at least $3.2 million on personal real estate. The mother of Breonna Taylor (another police shooting victim) has called her local Black Lives Matter chapter a fraud.
8. The Black Lives Matter website calls for banning Donald Trump from future political office and all digital media platforms. The 45th President of the United States isn’t perfect but his policies are more in line with Judeo-Christian values than what the Democratic Party promotes. Trump has First Amendment rights just like every other American.

This past Thursday, I went with two friends to share the gospel with those gathered near the Brooklyn Center Police Department. Many tracts were handed out. Some people received prayer. A few of them got saved. Racial injustice and police brutality are wrong but so are Christians aligning with ungodly causes. One can minister to Black Lives Matter supporters without getting caught up in their agenda. The root problem isn’t black violence or white privilege but sin. The answer is red…the blood of Jesus that washes away our sin if we repent and forgive others.

“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.” - Exodus 23:2 (NLT)

What Color Is Jesus?

Sometimes while you’re out evangelizing, individuals will try to stump you with challenging questions. One I’ve heard primarily from African-Americans is: “What color is Jesus?” I remember ministering to one bitter black man who labeled Christianity “a white man’s religion” that would never work for him. In response, I testified about two African-Americans who got saved a few days before and were immediately healed of bodily injuries. This man was still resistant to the gospel.

People tend to picture the Lord based on their own culture. For centuries, Westerners have depicted the Son of God as a Caucasian. In recent years, there have been increasing amounts of artwork of a black Jesus (the one pictured here is from the old TV sitcom “Good Times”). One well-known preacher who is part Native American jokingly claims Jesus was an Indian because the Bible says He is “chief cornerstone.” Since Jesus lived most of His earthly life in Palestine, one could speculate He had a tan complexion like that of a Middle Eastern person.

Perhaps God didn’t allow the writers of the Bible to reveal a clear description of Jesus’ skin color because He doesn’t want His appearance to be idolized. Exodus 20:4 says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” I don’t believe it’s wrong to have statues of the Lord as long as we don’t bow down to them. We are to worship Him “…in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

Regardless of Jesus’ race, He certainly wasn’t pleasant to look at when He was crucified. Isaiah 53:2-3 says this of the suffering Messiah, “He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” But in Revelation chapter 1, the Apostle John wrote this description of the glorified resurrected Christ…

14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 

15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 

16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

Who cares if Jesus is white, black, brown, red, or yellow? Jesus came to save all of mankind from spending eternity in hell. So how should you answer someone who asks, “What color is Jesus?” Here’s an analogy the Lord gave me: If you were trapped in a burning house and a fireman came to rescue you, would the race of that fireman matter?

“It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else!” - Romans 1:16 (The Message)

Minnesota Not-So-Nice

In the state where I’ve lived most of my life, you sometimes hear the phrase “Minnesota nice.” Wikipedia defines it as “…the stereotypical behavior of people born and raised in Minnesota to be courteous, reserved, and mild-mannered.” That certainly wasn’t the case last weekend in the capital city of St. Paul. A protest on Interstate 94 turned violent resulting in 102 people being arrested and 21 police officers injured.

What triggered the protest was a police shooting the previous Wednesday in a St. Paul suburb. A black man named Philando Castile got pulled over for a busted taillight. Accordingly to fiancée Diamond Reynolds (who rode in the passenger seat), Philando was reaching for his wallet when a Latino officer fired four shots at him. Diamond then used her cell phone to live-stream the aftermath on Facebook. A ten minute video of Philando bleeding to death and Diamond’s subsequent arrest quickly went viral.

Claims of police targeting African-Americans resulted in the formation of the activist group Black Lives Matter. Personally I’m turned off by the BLM movement because of their practice of blocking highways. I would be furious if I found myself caught in a traffic jam caused by one of their protests. It certainly doesn’t earn sympathy from people trying to get to work (or worse delaying emergency vehicles). All lives matter...not just theirs.

It’s unfortunate the United States has a history of racism. Sadly some African-Americans respond with violence such as the one who shot and killed five police officers in Dallas, Texas on July 7th. In response to this and other recent shootings, Dallas-based African-American pastor T. D. Jakes said, “At the end of the day the blood that is shed on the streets is not black, it is not white, it is not brown – It is red.” Acts 17:26 says, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth…” There is no Scriptural basis for discrimination based on race.

Five decades ago a Baptist minister named Martin Luther King, Jr. experienced discrimination much worse than what most African-Americans face today. Yet Dr. King never used violence to take a stand for his civil rights. As a result, many streets and places are named after him today plus a federal holiday honoring his birthday.

So how should Christians respond to police shootings that are purportedly race-related? First we need to pray for our nation’s leaders especially those in law enforcement. Policemen are not perfect but still deserve our respect. Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

We must also reach out to hurting people with the gospel. Jesus called us to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and as His ambassadors we can be ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). A Facebook friend went with a friend of hers to minister and pray with BLM protesters standing outside the Minnesota Governor's Residence. She and her friend were well received after asking for forgiveness for the church’s past mistakes regarding racism.

One of my neighbors has a bumper sticker that says, “Just be nice.” There’s more we can do than telling people to do random acts of kindness. Changed hearts will result when we obey the Great Commission and people become born again.

“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” - 1 Corinthians 6:17