Here are some good rules for weak souls who want to go to heaven but cannot handle the suffering part. Yes, I know, the Bible teaches that all that live godly shall suffer persecution. Paul wrote: “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Jesus also stated that those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness are indeed blessed (See Matt. 5:10-11). However, millions of people, claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ, have learned how to avoid persecution. I have observed over the years how this is done and have put together a list. Of course, none of us want to see others suffer, especially when it can be avoided. I can’t guarantee how these rules will work out in the long run when you actually face Jesus Christ in judgment, but it sure works well in this world. Well, let me take that back. Perhaps, I can guarantee how it will work out in the long run. But here goes anyway . . . .
1. Go to church occasionally, but don’t let it become a habit. This shows others that you are religious but not a radical.
2. Avoid talking to others about religion, for this makes people feel very uncomfortable. They might think that you are judging them. In fact, if possible, it is best to avoid all controversial subjects.
3. Avoid forming strong convictions on religious topics. The best way to accomplish this is don’t spend too much time studying the Bible. Too much knowledge can be a bad thing. Even Paul said that “knowledge makes arrogant” (1 Cor. 8:1). Didn’t Festus say to Paul, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad!” (Acts 26:24). Even Solomon warns: “. . . excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body” (Eccles. 12:12).
4. Don’t ever reprove others by using the Bible. If you do this, you are really asking for trouble. Some will end up hating you, and others will actually accuse you of hating them.
5. Make sure you sprinkle your speech with a bit of vulgarity and sexually explicit language. This let’s people know that you are really human. They will more readily open up to you. However, be careful not to do this around those overly religious types. They have probably never read what Solomon wrote: “Do not be excessively righteous and do not be overly wise. Why should you ruin yourself?” (Eccles. 7:16). In fact this leads me to my next point . .
6. Practice all vices in moderation. Solomon also wrote that one should not “be excessively wicked and do not be a fool. Why should you die before your time” (Eccles. 7:17). So you see, a little wickedness is O.K. but just don’t go overboard. You can apply this thinking to social drinking, dancing, partying and all sorts of things. I was told, “Lindy, just have a few beers with the boys and show that you are a regular guy.” Listen, just be discrete. Yes, that’s the key – be discrete. In baseball, a little cheating is O.K. Just don’t get caught! We might even reason, “Everybody does it”, but that might be a bit of an exaggeration. Some might call this giving in to “peer pressure”, but pay no mind. Those people are probably radicals. After all, we have to live in the real world.
7. Try to stay clear of people who have strong convictions of right and wrong. Such people really give religion a bad name, especially among the people of a more worldly point of view. You have surely heard the names, “prude”, “self-righteous”, “do-gooder”, “heartless”, “square”, etc. applied to those people. Do you really want people to call you those kinds of names? If people do not think well of you, how can you influence them?
8. Try to stay in the middle of the road on controversial matters. The key is not to be too far to the right or too far to the left. People will see you as being a true moderate and even as a diplomat. Stay above the fray of actually having to fight spiritual battles while maintaining an air of being impartial. The problem here is determining what is the “middle of the road.” Just trust your own instincts on this.
9. Be tolerant of what other people believe and practice no matter how odd or strange. After all, they have the “right” to their behavior just as you have a “right” to do what you do. Whether you like it or not, our world has been heavily influenced by secular humanistic thinking, and so we might as well go along with the flow. Didn’t Jesus teach that we are not to judge others? No one is perfect. Doesn’t that excuse just about anything people want to do? The more outrageous their behavior the more this principle seems to apply. Some of these “far out” people get real angry and ugly if you question what they do. This especially applies to homosexuals, heavy drinkers and other things I could name. But this same rule does not seem to apply to those “overly righteous” Christians. If you oppose them there is little chance that you will ever suffer persecution. So be tolerant to all people under all circumstances, and you will never have to worry about “being persecuted for righteousness sake.”
10. Give others as many compliments as you can, even if you have to make things up. It makes people feel good and you will have many friends. There is no down side to this, unless someone finally figures out that you use flattery to gain favor with people. Also, go to a church where the preacher is totally positive and refuses to get caught up in any kind of negative preaching. Some say that is their calling, and who can argue with that!
11. Act one way when in the company of religious people, especially those who are overly religious, and another way around worldly people. Paul wrote: “I have become all things to all men” (1 Cor. 9:22) and then he explained how he acted in different ways around different people. Don’t you think that is what he had in mind? We say, “In Rome do as the Romans do.” I like the idea that Vegas uses, “What goes on here stays here.” In baseball, we had the same signs in the clubhouse. We all need these sanctuaries where we can feel free to do whatever we wish to do without fear of being exposed. Besides, “Aren’t morals always situational?” Isn’t that what is taught to a lot of young people today? Imagine how radical is the idea that truths are absolute and apply to all people the same all over the world?
12. Don’t feel passionate about anything. That is what gets people into trouble. Of course, it is alright to feel passionate about your favorite sports team! Also, in society you must feel passionate about those things that have been labeled “Politically Correct”, if you can figure out just what those things are. But as a normal rule, don’t have strong convictions about anything. You don’t want to give people the impression that you are opinionated! Remember, there are always two sides to every question and if we can actually defend all sides we come across as being unbiased and very insightful. If you do get into an argument with someone, cave in as quickly as possible, for Jesus said, “Agree with your adversary quickly” (Matt. 5:25). Having an apathetic attitude will never get you persecuted.
13. If the church where you attend starts to have problems, leave as quickly as possible so that you are not forced to take sides. The last thing you need is to have to determine who is right and who is wrong. Just leave and find a church were there are no problems.
14. If some well intentioned person tries to pressure you to be more diligent in your service to Jesus Christ, just tell them that the Bible teaches that we are not saved by our works. That should cool his/her heels. After all, if we “have” to do anything, doesn’t that mean that we are trying to earn our salvation?
15. If someone insists that courage means that we always do the right thing regardless of the cost, just quote this to them: “Surely a live dog is better than a dead lion” (Eccles. 8:4). I know that some say that leadership and courage go hand in hand, but can’t we just get along?
16. Follow everything your religious leaders tell you to do, unless of course they are one of those extreme people who place truth above everything else, and make extreme demands on your own behavior. This could lead to suffering. Just passively going along with everything that you are taught will keep you out of trouble. This will also keep you from taking personal responsibility for what you believe. How can you be held responsible for what someone else teaches?
17. It is best to attend a very large church with a very fancy building. You can sort of blend in among the multitude. Especially if they have a policy of not judging anyone, and offer all sorts of social activities and contacts. This can help both your religious and social status. I could go on and on with more suggestions, but these will be sufficient for you to stay out of trouble. After all, it’s your choice. Do you really want to suffer persecution?
You will notice that I did not use much scripture because such is not necessary to follow these rules. Also, you can prove most anything by the Bible if you are not concerned about the context. You might be surprised how many people follow some are all of these rules. In sports we say, “no pain, no gain”, but in religion many follow the rule, “you can gain everything without pain.” Deep down I suspect that it is those weak-kneed, hypocritical, worldly and uncommitted Christians that are giving Christianity a bad name. What do you think?
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For the past few months I have been teaching the book of Acts in our congregation. The book contains the account of the early church and how they succeeded in spreading the gospel in spite of great conflicts and trials. These folks were opposed both by the main body of the Jews and by the pagans of the Greek/Roman world. Yet they gave birth to a powerful movement that changed the world and brought unity, peace and joy to its followers. As I compared this with what often passes for Christianity today, I was moved to write the above article. You understand that I am writing all of this with “tongue in cheek” and have misused a number of Bible passages. The early Christians followed none of the above rules. Next month I will revisit these rules and give my answer. The following month of October I will address the problem of the over-emphasis of Sports and how this contributes to moral and social decay. That article will be titled, “Bodily Exercise Profits A Little”. – Lindy McDaniel
Special Note: If you desire to be placed on the regular E-mail list to receive advanced copies of articles of Pitching For The Master, please let me know by contacting me via E-mail at lindymcdaniel41@yahoo.com. Also, your comments, both pro and con are welcome. --August, 2012
How To Be A Christian And Avoid Persecution
Paul's Use Of Athletic Language -- Part Two
Last month I wrote about Paul’s use of athletic language and dealt briefly with the history of the Greek/Roman games. Altlhough these games were popular throughout the empire, neither the Jews nor the Christians participated. The reason had to do with three main factors: (1) the games were dedicated to honor pagan gods; (2) nakedness was involved; and (3) the games became increasing violent. I pointed out that Paul used such language in his writings in order to communicate the message of Jesus Christ to Gentile converts by illustrating his points by using the language of sports. Go back and read part one to get a fuller description of this. As to major passages, I looked only at one passage in that article – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. This month I will look at other passages used by Paul.
Philippians 3:12-14
Again Paul uses the language of the athlete in describing the nature of his life in Christ: “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12-14).
Paul was willing to give up everything in order to achieve certain goals. He states these goals as (1) knowing Christ; (2) sharing in the sufferings of Christ; and (3) attaining unto the resurrection from the dead (see Phil. 3:10-11). Sharing the sufferings of Christ is taught over and over in the gospels and the epistles. In sports we say, “No pain, no gain.” The ability of the martyred saints to overcome Satan is clearly stated in Revelation 12:11: “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” In another place Paul wrote: “It is a trustworthy statement; for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:11-13).
It may sound trite, but the game is not over until it’s over. Paul said that he didn’t have it made but he had to keep pressing toward the goal. Arrogance is a great stumbling block to athletic endeavor. Paul wrote: “Therefore let him who thinks that he stands take heed that he does not fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). What manager would tell his baseball team in spring training: “Look guys, we are guaranteed to win the pennant. It is a done deal. It is impossible for us to lose. Even so I want you to work hard in spring training, and play each game the rest of the year with all of your strength. But remember, you already have it won!”?? We don’t have to guess what kind of results we can expect. The fact is that we are up against a great opponent. Although God has provided everything that we need to win, it is up to us to press forward toward the goal. Thus, the Bible contains many warnings and admonitions. These are not in the Bible just to take up space. Some religions teach “Once saved, always saved.” They teach that once you enter the race you can never lose. They teach that Christ does everything for you. They have so emphasized the sovereignty of God that they eliminate man’s choice or free will. This principle doesn’t work in sports and it doesn’t work in Christianity. The word “press” means “agonizing toil”. It has to do with great exertion both mentally and physically. It means that the runner is putting his whole body under stress and is exerting every muscle to its limit so as to win the race. I often say that if it wasn’t called “sports” and supposed to be “fun”, it would definitely be called “WORK”, for that is exactly what it is. The key to success is motivation. This makes all the difference. And such is true in living the Christian life. Unless we are motivated by the fact that Jesus Christ died for our sins, and are reaching for the goal of the high calling in Jesus Christ, nothing else really matters.
In order to excel in sports, we need the tension of competition. Some try to take all the tension out of Christianity. They say we ought to say only positive things. Some teach the gospel of health and wealth. They avoid anything that is negative, such as admonitions, warnings, and reproofs. If we wish to avoid such things then we need to tear out most of the Bible and throw it away. Christianity is not living on cloud nine and floating around in bless, but it involves living in the real world. No wonder modern religion has lost its power to save. If we do not warn the world, we have lost our salt. If we are without discipline, then we are not children of God (see Hebrews 12:4-7).
Christ has called us through the gospel: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 2:13-14). The Bible clearly tells us how God has laid hold of us and has redeemed us from our sins perfecting us in holiness. But we can reject the truth and be lost.
All athletic endeavors involve goal setting – both short and long range goals. Everything you done in sports involves purpose and direction. Proper goals enable us to focus our abilities, powers, opportunities, etc. toward a given end. Through such means we can accomplish even beyond what we thought possible. But you will never hit what you don’t aim at. The greatest goal of all is to go to heaven. No one will reach the goal who doesn’t aim for it. But in order to reach goals, there must be dedication and preparation. The great pitcher, Vernon Law, once said, “Everyone wants to win on the day of the game, but few are willing to prepare to win.”
We must forget the past, both our successes and our failures, and keep on running. Forgetting the past does not mean that we never remember the past, but that we do not allow the past to hinder us in the present. The apostle Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners and often talked about his life before conversion, but he did not allow this to hinder his present service to Christ. Success involves the ability to move beyond our mistakes. Sports involve making mistakes. The only ones who do not risk making mistakes are those watching on the sidelines or in sitting in the stands. When a player boots the ball (even the best players make errors), his teammates encourage him by saying, “shake it off”. We have to constantly deal with our failures and mistakes. But the important thing is that we striving toward the goal. The same is true of Christianity.
Read the great words of the apostle John: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” (I John 1:6-10).
Here is a baseball illustration. Is it possible for a regular infielder to play several games without making an error? Of course, this is done all the time. Do you know any every day infielder that has played all season long without making an error? No, not even close. The point is this, none of God’s commandments are beyond our ability to obey, and when we sin, it is not anyone’s fault but ours. It is possible for us to live without sinning for a day or a week, but try as hard as we may, none of us will live sinlessly. Our relationship with God is not based upon sinless conduct. It is direction (pressing toward the goal) and not perfection that God demands. God looks upon our hearts and our sincere effort.
The only time that we actually have it made is when we have finished the race and have reached the goal: At the end of his life, Paul could say: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
I Timothy 4:8-10
As a Christian, we must keep our priorities straight. Paul wrote: “for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving of full acceptance For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (I Timothy 4:8-10). Many place great importance upon physical fitness and how their body looks, but these things involve only the physical and temporal. In contrast, godliness involves our relationship with God and eternal things. The world places the importance on the body while God places the importance on the spiritual. Paul warned against “enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things” (Phil. 3:18-19). Godliness refers to living for God, setting our minds on the things above, and this is profitable to us both in this world and also in the world to come. Christians have the best of both worlds, although this does indeed involve sacrifice.
2 Timothy 2:5
Every sport has official rules that govern the game. Without the enforcement of these rules, chaos would soon set in. I once read a book titled, “Nice Guys Finish Last”. The author obviously did not consider himself a nice guy. He pointed out that he would do anything to win, even if it meant breaking the rules. His position was very inconsistent and hypocritical. It was obvious that even he understood the importance of rules. For when the other team violated a rule, even a small infraction, he rushed out on the field and yelled at the umpire demanding that the rule be enforced. He would even quote the rule to the ump. He just didn’t believe that the rule should apply to himself, but to the other guy. All athletes understand the importance of rules. Paul wrote: “Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Tim. 2:5).
Many today teach that it is not necessary to follow the rules when it comes to religion. They somehow think that Jesus, even though He is Lord of all, has any right to tell us what to do, and they belittle the idea that obedience to Christ is part of faith and is essential to salvation. They think this means we are trying to “earn” salvation or that obedience to Christ somehow contradicts the principle of salvation by grace through faith. But in this they are totally wrong. I could produce hundreds of passages that stress the importance of obedience, but here are a few that you can look up for yourself: Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49; Hebrews 5:8-9; I John 2:4-5, etc.
Hebrews 12:1-2
The writer of Hebrews used this athletic language: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).
If you will, imagine a giant amphitheater filled with thousands of spectators. Then imagine that you are on the track running in a race with all of those people cheering for you to win. That is the exact meaning of this language. But those in the seats are not just average fans. No indeed! They consist of those who have run the race successfully in the past. These are the great men of faith mentioned in Hebrews chapter eleven. They are pictured as rooting for those now running the race. They are “witnesses” to the faith. Each and every one has faithfully run and completed the race. They have become great examples for us to also run and win. We are never alone. They are yelling, “I did it and you can do it too!”
Example is a very powerful incentive. At one time running the 4 minute mile was thought to be impossible. But once John Bannister accomplished this feat, it has since been broken over and over. We all need examples to imitate. There is one example even greater that all of the heroes of faith mentioned in chapter 11; that is, Jesus Christ our Lord. There are no perfect athletes, for even the great ones have flaws. But Jesus is the one exception. He had no flaws, and He can be followed in every detail. He lived flawlessly before God leaving us that great example worthy of all imitation (see I Peter 2:21). He has never asked us to do what He was not willing to do Himself. He is the author of our salvation, but He is also the perfector of our salvation. He lived under the law perfectly, and then He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Finally, He was raised from the dead! All of this has been communicated to us by His authority. We serve a living Lord!
The Christian race is one of endurance. It is not a quick sprint to the finish line. Rather, it is a long race. We are to be faithful to the very end. How sad it is that some turn from the way of the savior before the race is over (See Ezek. 18:24; Gal. 5:4; Hebrews 6:4-6). There is no turning back or giving up. “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary” (Gal. 6:9).
Just before the destruction of Jerusalem, many Jewish Christians were losing heart and growing faint because of the many trials and persecutions, but the writer of Hebrews admonishes: “For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHOLE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:36-39).
CONCLUSION
Paul used athletic language in order to teach Christians about the nature of our life in Christ. These references contain parallels not contrasts, except in terms of rewards or goals. Obviously, not everything in the games parallels our life in Christ, but only those things mentioned by Paul. Should we expect less of a Christian in terms of striving for goals, dedication, following rules, courage, etc. than we expect of athletes? Since the integrity of sports is based upon an “all out effort to win in open, honest competition” should we expect less of a Christian in his service to Christ? Will God accept lethargic, half-hearted devotion? Should we have less devotion than we expect of our athletes? The obvious answer of the apostle Paul is, “No!”
Apart from the blessings and power of God we cannot possibly hope to win. God helps us every step of the way. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:20-21). “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). In other words, in spite of the great challenges and difficulties, God is telling us, “You can do it! You can win the race?”
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Note: All of my articles can be accessed by going to lindymcdaniel.com and then click on the Pitching For The Master blog button. If you desire to be placed on my special e-mail list for advanced attached copies of monthly articles, or if you know others who would like to be placed on the list, please let me know by contacting me at lindymcdaniel77@reagan.com. The photo at the beginning of this article was taken in recently in my study.
Paul's Use of Athletic Language -- Part One
That the apostle Paul referred to the Grecian/Roman games in his writings is well known among Bible students. The main references are found in I Corintians 9:24-27; Phil. 3:12-14; I Timothy 4:8; 2 Timothy 2:5; 4:7-8; and Hebrews 12:1-2. In addition there are many other words that are rooted in athletic language scattered throughout the epistles. However, my focus in this article will be on the main passages. There were a number of famous athletic contests that took place during the days of Paul – the Olympic, Pythian, Nemean, and Isthmian games. These contests involved boxing, wrestling, fighting wild beasts and running. They took place on intervals of 2, 4, or 6 years depending upon the particular contest. There were large amphitheaters throughout the Roman Empire, in Palestine and even in Jerusalem. Although the influence of such games was felt throughout the empire during the time of Christ, neither the devout Jews nor the early Christians participated in such games. The historical sources of their objections to the games are found in the writings of Josephus, a Jewish historian, and in literature of the early church fathers. They objected on the grounds of nakedness, violence, and the connection with pagan worship. These games became increasingly violent to the extent that in later history Christians were thrown to the beasts in the midst of a jeering and cheering crowd of spectators.
Why Did Paul Use Athletic Language?
Since the above facts cannot be disputed, why did Paul make reference to these games? The main reason appears to be for the purpose of communication. Paul was using language that was familiar to those addressed. Paul was no doubt exposed to the games while growing up in Tarsus, a Roman city of his birth, and he certainly came in contact with the games as he founded churches among the Gentiles. His longest references are found in his writings to the church in Corinth and in Philippi. People from these cities would be especially familiar with the games. The Bible is God’s revelation to man and is adapted to man’s understanding. Jesus frequently used parables about everyday life in order to teach spiritual truths. Paul’s use of such language is not to be understood as his endorsement of sports any more than his description of the “armor of God” (see Eph. 6:10-17) was an endorsement of physical warfare. Paul ignores the negatives and focuses on the essence of sports in order to illustrate spiritual truths. He stresses the ideals of the games in order to teach about the nature of our life in Jesus Christ. Paul’s use of athletic language has been of particular interest to me for my own background has been a combination of professional sports and preaching. The longer references draw a parallel between sports, especially the runner, and living the Christian life. The question is simply this, “Can we learn something about how we are to conduct our lives as Christians by studying Paul’s references to athletics?” The obvious answer is “yes”. Some, knowing the extreme nature of sports competition, may object to such things having anything to do with Christianity. I am aware of the stoic nature of sports, of the great discipline involved, of the pushing of the body to its very limit, and the long hours and dedication involved in order to become successful. I am not suggesting that Paul is teaching religious asceticism which he condemns in Col. 2:20-23 which is according to the commandments and teaching of men, but I am suggesting that we ought to render to God a discipline that is reasonable and logical (See Romans 12:1-2). It is not unreasonable to look to sports for patterns of Christian living. This is exactly what Paul has done. As Christians we are involved in a race, a battle, and a great competition whether we wish to admit this or not, and in order to win it will require the same kind of dedication as that required of an athlete.
A Question Posed Years ago a veteran New York sports writer, knowing that I was a Christian, skeptically asked me, “Lindy is there any relationship between sports and Christianity?” He, of course, was familiar with the reputation of many athletes and he did not observe much godliness. Describing the frequent evil influence of sports, my friend Homer Hailey wrote: “Another idol set up in the hearts of our people is dedicated to the god of sports. There may be nothing wrong with sports activities, but when they take precedence over the spiritual life and worship of God, they become another false god. When one considers the billions of dollars spent in the total field of sports, the many hours spent by the devotees of the games, and compare these with the money and time spent in advancing the true religion of God, and in the development of the spiritual life of the individuals, one realizes that these have become another false god. In ancient times Greece and Roman games were held in honor of the gods. Now sports have become the gods themselves” (God’s Judgements & Punishments, page 116). To this statement, I could add the use of drugs and alcohol, vulgarity, cursing, and womanizing so common among many athletes today. Also consider the huge amount of gambling that is done on sporting contests. Even so, I surprised my sportswriter friend by saying, “Yes, there is a very definite parallel between sports and Christianity.” I knew my answer had to be right or Paul would not have made so many references to sports. Then I mentioned such things as (1) striving for excellence; (2) goal setting; (3) importance of confidence; (4) the economy or perfecting of motion; (5) learning perseverance; (6) having to compete according to the rules; (7) overcoming obstacles; (8) imitating the example of others; (9) dealing with mistakes (10) and learning humility. I told him that the problem is that the obvious factors that make an athlete successful on the playing field do not always translate to what they do off the playing field. Ferguson Jenkins, the great pitcher of the Chicago Cubs, on his induction to the Baseball Hall Of Fame said, “Baseball was relatively easy, it is life that is hard!” Yes, and I suspect that all Hall of Fame players could say the same thing. Paul is actually teaching us about life by using the language of sports. Now let us consider these main references one by one.
I Corinthians 9:24-27
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.” I Cor. 9:24. Paul says nothing here about what is involved in qualifying for the race. He is focusing on the race itself. However, we know that the runners went through a long process of qualifying, eliminating all runners except for these few who would be qualified to run in the big race. Paul points out that the Christian is to imitate the successful runner. That is, the Christian should run to win. As I think of my life as an athlete, I can still feel the rush of adrenalin as I walked out to the baseball mound. There was always only one thought in mind, that is, to win! Any athlete that does not strive to win with all of his might is no athlete at all. No sacrifice is too great to achieve the goal. Athletic performance does build character, but only if the athlete is striving to win. Here, Paul touches on the main ingredient to athletic success – the striving to win! In speaking to various sports groups, I emphasize the fact that players must compete to win. If that is not our goal, then such things as training, discipline, overcoming obstacles, courage, patience and other character traits cannot develop. Second best is never good enough. Today, it is not politically correct to talk about excelling or winning. We are told it destroys self-esteem if we speak of “winners” and “losers”. Everyone has to be a winner whether they deserve it or not. But Paul understood that the Christian was involved in a great contest, and it does make a difference whether we win or lose. I define the ideal of sports as “an all out effort to win in open, honest competition.” That seems to be precisely how Paul is defining sports. Except his application is to life itself rather than sports. Likewise, our service to Christ is always based upon the highest goal or ideal. It is impossible to hit that which we do not aim for. God teaches, “You shall be holy for I am holy” (I Peter 1:16). Since God is light, we must walk in light and not darkness (See I John 1:5-7). We must always look to God’s standards, not those of man. Paul wrote: “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding” (2 Cor. 10:12). When we lower our standards, we become complacent and lazy. We cannot rise higher than the gods we worship. The results of lower standards are clearly seen in Romans 1:18-32. God will not, under any circumstance, accept being #2 in our lives. He must be #1 and that establishes our goal. Unfortunately in sports only one can win the contest. But that is not Paul’s point. We all have a chance to win in the great game of life. We know that “God is not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all men” (Tit. 2:11).
“Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable” (I Cor. 9:25). Competing to win involves great self-control. There are the hours and hours of rigorous training under all kinds of adverse conditions (heat, wind, cold, etc.). There are many sacrifices that must be made if one expects to compete. They do this for the glory and honor of being crowned as the very best in the world. This Christian must also exercise great self-control. Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matt. 16:24). Paul wrote: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2). Paul also wrote: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). In doing this, God provides us with all the encouragement and help that we need. But if we fail, it will not be God’s fault, for He has made every provision for us. The athlete must get rid of bad habits and replace those with good habits. This is exactly what the Christian must do. He must put off the old man with its evil deeds, and put on the new man who is patterned after Christ (see Eph. 5:1-17; Col. 3:5-11). Now as we consider these things, do not tell me that discipline of the athlete is more difficult than that of a Christian. I have witnessed athlete after athlete who has displayed remarkable discipline on the playing field, but were dismal failures in life itself. Yes, compared to life, success in sports is easy. Ask any great athlete. To live moral and godly is the greatest challenge of all. Paul draws a contrast between the goal of the athlete and the goal of a Christian. Although the challenges to the Christian are many, the rewards are much greater. The athlete has earthly goals and ambitions, but the Christian has heavenly. He is seeking for the “crown of life”. Peter calls it “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Peter 1:4-5). Continuing this contrast, Paul wrote: “for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the world to come” (I Tim. 4:8). No one can truly say that the Christian life is easy, but the reward is great. This reward will not come to us fully until we have run the race faithfully to the end. More about this later.
Paul continues his thought: “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified” (I Cor. 9:26-27). Just like the Olympic runner, Paul runs with focus, keeping his eyes on the goal. Christians must run the race with singleness of mind. Otherwise, we will become distracted with many things. How many people go through life without any real purpose or aim? In this regard, we can learn something from the successful athlete. Not only does Paul run with purpose, but he makes every blow count. He does not throw wild punches wasting his energy. True athletic success involves the perfecting of motion. I call this the economy of motion. That is, making every motion count for something. Another way of expressing it is the least amount of motion for the greatest amount of effect. Often times a young athlete compensates his lack of skill by pure energy and quickness. But the experienced athlete learns to get rid of all unnecessary motion. As a Christian, we cannot afford to waste precious abilities, opportunities and time God has given to us. Paul wrote: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16). Why waste time on those who are not receptive to the gospel of Christ? Jesus said that we should not give that which is holy unto dogs nor cast pearl before swine (see Matthew 7:6). We ought not to pay attention to those who would distract us by throwing stumbling blocks in our way (see Matthew 15:14). Peter wrote: “For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries” (I Peter 4:3). We need to get rid of everything that would hinder us in living the good life in Christ. The battle goes on between the flesh and the spirit. The spirit must win over the flesh. In athletics this involves mind over body. The athlete must force the body to do its bidding. Paul stresses that the spirit must win in this battle, and that this victory over the flesh is only possible through Jesus Christ (see Romans 7:25). Christians are continually admonished to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh (see Romans 8:6-8; Gal. 5:16-26). Even Paul could become a castaway if he did not subdue the flesh through Jesus Christ. Next month I will continue to write about Paul’s use of athletic language.
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Note: This article published in the blog, Pitching For The Master, June, 2012. All of my articles can be accessed by going to lindymcdaniel.com and then click on the Pitching For The Master blog button. If you desire to be placed on my special e-mail list for advanced attached copies of monthly articles, or if you know others who would like to be placed on the list, please let me know by contacting me at lindymcdaniel77@reagan.com. The photo at the beginning of this article was taken in 1956, my rookie season with the St. Louis Cardinals.
How Shall A Christian Conduct Himself In Professional Sports?
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Occasionally I receive letters from outstanding Christian athletes or their parents as to what to expect when choosing sports as a profession, and how one can remain a Christian in such occupations. Professional sports present special hazards for the Christian and tend to encourage lifestyles out of harmony with Christian principles. This is especially true today. I have written about this in bits and pieces, but here I am addressing the overall concept without becoming overly verbose. What I write here is not intended to negate the positive contribution of sports in terms of the benefits of honest competition, striving for excellence, goal setting, work ethic, overcoming obstacles, competing by the rules, etc. which I have emphasized in several articles. I have also found that every reference to sports in the Bible, and there are many, is used to illustrate the importance of faith and godly living rather than the promotion of sports. In my honest opinion, choosing professional sports as a profession does present some special challenges as to maintaining faith in Jesus Christ. As America’s interest in sports is on the increase, genuine faith in Jesus Christ is on the decrease.
Coming Out Of The Closet
Pitching For The Master links sports and religion together in order to teach lessons to promote godly living. There are many valuable lessons derived from sports that help to illustrate how men and women are to think in spiritual terms. The apostle Paul often used the language of sports to teach truths that are vastly more important than running a race or engaging in the Greek/Roman games. Having come from both a sports background as well as a life long student of the Bible, this has been a rather natural way of my tying the two together. I have used both positive and negative examples derived from sports in order to make my points. I never thought that I would need to write this particular article dealing with one of the grossest of sins, homosexuality, and tie it to modern sports. But this is the new reality of the world in which we live.
The integrity of sports is important as those who watch over sports understand. Last month I reported on the “Bounty for Hire” program of the football New Orleans Saints that was covered by the March 12, 2012 issue of “SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.” The league officials have quickly acted in this case rendering fines and heavy suspensions in order to protect the integrity of the game. I have long felt that our sports are becoming more competitive and violent; and more often than not, “sex” is used as an additional selling point. All you have to do is observe the dress and gyrations of the “cheer leaders.” Drinking parties and celebrations by fans and players are occurring more often and promoted openly in advertizing. As a baseball player at the highest levels, I realize that there is nothing new in this combining of sports and the alcohol or beer industries. I know of many people who no longer want to attend professional games because of seeing drunkenness and having beer spilled on them. As I write this, I can feel the reaction of some, “Lindy, you are a real prude. Get with the program. This is what people want!!”
When I first started publishing “Pitching For The Master” I made a long list of scriptures used by the apostle Paul referring to the Greek/Roman games. I also pointed out that neither the Jews nor the Christians participated in those games. In my research I discovered that there were three major reasons for this: 1. The games were promoted in honor of the Greek gods; 2. Open nakedness was involved; and 3. They became more and more violent in order to appease the crowds. They finally degraded into the gladiators fighting to the finish, releasing lions to kill Christians, etc. In writing this, I am not suggesting that modern sports have descended to those depths, else I would not have participated on any level. But by understanding this history, we can better understand some of the tendencies today as we move toward making sports more like the Greek/Roman model.
Gay Lifestyle Now Defended in Sports
Now the main point of my article is this. I am learning more and more that homosexuality is being promoted in sports. This has been brought to light from a feature article appearing in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, March 19, 2012 , on the final page under “POINT AFTER” Titled “A Cup of Kindness” by Phil Taylor.
The article is a defense of the gay lifestyle in the field of hockey, but also speaks of gay outreach associations in all sports, the listing gay organizations, hot lines, etc. The article quotes Brian Burke, Maples Leafs president and general manager, as saying: “So many athletes are tired of the image of brain-dead jocks who are intolerant of homosexuality or other differences.” I assume that he includes people like me who would dare write this kind of article. The point being made is that gays should be openly embraced in all sports. This article does not represent the official position of Professional Hockey or any other sport, but the fact that it is published in a major sports magazine without opposition speaks volumes. You will read of lying, fraud, gambling, abusing young boys, racial slurs, etc. being condemned, but not a word about homosexual behavior being improper. If I am wrong about this, I would like to see the documentation. It is not just an attempt to justify the gay lifestyle, but an effort to force others to embrace this lifestyle as well or else be called a “Homophobe”. Their goal is to link the gay lifestyle with race, and so to be against homosexual behavior is the same as being against someone’s race. Those pushing the gay lifestyle have long contended that being gay is a matter of genetics, and not environment or simply a lifestyle choice. This evil in our society has its tentacles everywhere affecting politics, the definition of marriage, etc. Now if they get their way, it is the belief of Christians that must be put in the closet and is not allowed expression. So gays can come out of the closet and feel comfortable in all situations, but it is those who oppose such lifestyles that must “shut up.”
Sports have a high tolerance for alcoholics, womanizers, cursing and swearing, using God’s name in vain, etc. as long as your perform on the playing field. Sports also have a tolerance for players who are religious, but just don’t be “too” religious by actually expressing and practicing sincerely held beliefs based upon the Bible. Now I will deal with some “lies” and “misconceptions” regarding the Biblical point of view.
Associating With Sinners
For one thing, as a Christian, I am well aware of the fact that as long as we live in this world we will associate with those who practice things that we regard as evil. Paul wrote: “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.” (1 Cor. 5:9-10). It is unrealistic for me to think that every person that I associate with in business, sports, or other associations will have my view of life. Also, I am expected as a Christian “to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men” (Tit. 3:2) in my dealing with others. Why would I deliberately go out of my way to put down anyone in an ugly or personal way if I want to influence that person? This is because I have done some evil and hateful things myself and could not be saved except for the grace of God (see Titus 3:3-7).
God Loves All People
God loves all people. This principle is stated again and again in the Bible. If God did not love sinners, then He would never have sent his son to die on the cross. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:8-10). At the same time, as mentioned above the wrath of God justly falls on all unrighteousness. So, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). It is not God’s desire that anyone should die for their sins, even though he absolutely hates evil in all of its forms. These principles have always held true. For a full commentary on this read all of Ezekiel 18.
God Hates All Sin
God has always made a clear distinction between good and evil, right and wrong, etc. As to the particular sin of homosexuality, God has spoken as plain on this as language could possibly be. Not only did God give is a “giant visual” in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by destroying those wicked cities, but has made special reference to this event in later history (see Gen. 18 & 19; Isa. 1:9-10; 3:9; 13:19; Matt. 10:15; 11:23-24; Luke 17:29; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jude 1:7). There are a total of twenty seven references to these cities after God had destroyed them, using this historical fact as a symbol of wickedness. Not only did God give specific descriptions and warnings in both the law of Moses (see Lev. 18:22-28 ) and in the New Testament (see Romans 1:26-27), He called such practices unnatural or against nature. One of the fullest commentaries on this is by Albert Barnes in his commentary on Romans 1:26-27 where he documents the wide spread practice of homosexuality among the Greeks and Romans in high places (their gods, kings and philosophers) as set forth in Romans 1.
Shameless Behavior
“Out of the closet” refers to not hiding the practice from public view, to be proud of the practice, to openly display the practice, etc. Young people have been brainwashed for years with humanistic values taught as “values clarification” and other curriculum in public schools teaching that any practice or belief is to be claimed for oneself and publicly acknowledged and displayed, no matter how bazaar or strange it might seem to others. Of course, this open declaration does not apply to Bible believers who may be ridiculed or censored for their beliefs. I believe that all men are created in the image of God (see Gen. 1:27), and come especially equipped with the ability to think rationally, make choices, possess emotions and a conscience (a special awareness of right or wrong). However, the conscience can be destroyed by means of continual violation so that it no longer functions as a monitor of our thoughts and actions. Some practices are simply against nature, that is, the way man has been created to function. Such is the practice of homosexuality and the lack of natural affection (See Romans 1:26-27, 28-32).
Society is in bad shape when it openly defies God and shows no shame in the practice of wickedness, when evil and good are turned upside down, and the people love to have it so. These following words of the Bible describe such things: Isa. 3:9: "The expression of their faces bears witness against them, And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves." Isa. 5:20-21: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And clever in their own sight! Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine And valiant men in mixing strong drink.” Jer. 6:15: 15: "'Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down,' says the LORD." Jer. 5:29-31: "An appalling and horrible thing Has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?” 2 Pet. 2:12-13: "But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you.” Sin usually falls under the category of “works of darkness” because such things are usually practiced under cover of darkness and do not thrive under transparency. (see Eph. 5:11-13). But when the works of darkness are openly and shamelessly displayed, they take on a more sinister and ominous meaning.
Shall the Righteous be Intimidated?
Those who advocate the gay cause hope to intimidate those who would oppose them and do not accept their lifestyle. They are not content to allow Christians to have their beliefs, but they want them to simply “shut up” and be confined “to the closet.” It is only natural that people of such diverse views will clash in open dialog. I do not hate those who practice homosexuality any more than I hate those who practice lying or stealing. But liars need to quit lying and thieves need to quit stealing. To equate homosexuals as simply practicing a “sexual preference” is total nonsense. What if I have a preference for molesting little boys and girls? Does that make it right? Some believe that it does. Have you heard of NAMBLA (North American Man/Boys Love Association)?
Yes, homosexuals can be forgiven just like murderers or thieves can be forgiven. This is exactly what the Bible teaches in 1 Cor. 6:9-11. Thank goodness, for all of us need to be forgiven of our sins. Hundreds have been forgiven of the sin of homosexuality, and have learned how to please God with a new way of thinking and acting. Anyone who tells you that you can’t change is a liar. God does not require the impossible from anyone.
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The photo at the beginning of this article is that of myself and Bobby Richardson. Bobby was an All-Star second baseman and noted for his clean living and positive influence on the Yankees during many of their championship years in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. My wife Nancy observed, “Why did you put that photo along with that title!? I sheepishly replied, “Well, I usually put some baseball photo at the beginning of each article.” “Come to think of it, it does get people’s attention.” Hopefully, no one will associate either Bobby or I with the title of this article.
If you wish to be placed on a special Pitching For The Master E-mail list and receive monthly articles attached to your E-mail, please contact me via E-mail at lindymcdaniel77@reagan.com. I welcome your responses to these articles. You can write to me personally at: Lindy McDaniel, 1095 Meadow Hill Drive, Lavon, Texas 75166.
April, 2012.
Where Does God's Wisdom Apply?
Recently I have been teaching the book of Proverbs to some of the young people at our congregation, and the first chapter states that it is addressed to both young and old, the experienced as well as the inexperienced (naive, etc.) See Pro. 1:2-5. In the same chapter, wisdom is personified as a person who cries out both in the open square and at the gates of the city. “Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings” (Pro. 1:20-21). This teaches that God’s wisdom is both for the people and their leaders. Those who are complacent or refuse to listen are doomed to suffer the consequence of their own stupidity (see Pro. 1:29-33).
The book of Proverbs is especially good instruction for young people and covers every aspect of life. It teaches the importance of godly wisdom in such personal things as sex, marriage and the home as well as all social relationships, including civil government by defining both godly and ungodly rulers and the effect of both upon society. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Pro. 14:34). The point is that God’s wisdom applies to all people everywhere. A failure to heed God’s wisdom destroys societies but a willingness to listen enriches everyone.
The truth of this principle is driven home everyday as we observe human behavior and headlines in the newspaper. It is impossible to separate spiritual and moral principles from every aspect of life including politics and current social issues. Driving home this reality is what I try to accomplish in Pitching For The Master. This is the larger issue that drives all other issues. One reason I believe that God’s wisdom applies to all men everywhere is because all men have been created in the image or likeness of God (see Gen. 1:26). God has wired us for right moral conduct, as the wise man wrote: “This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes.” (Ecc. 7:29). Perhaps I will later write an article that will elaborate more on this.
Having an interest in baseball (but not to the point of compulsion or idolization), I recently decided to subscribe to one of the best magazines to cover sports, “SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.” I was seduced by the low price of $20 to cover an entire year. My first copy was the March 12, 2012 issue. In this issue, one article after another covered some of the major scandals in sports. One article was titled, “The Saints’ Pay-To-Injure Program Rattles The NFL.” This article describes in detail a policy to actually injure players on the opposing teams with bounties (money) given to the most successful players in accomplishing this goal. A lot of players throughout the league were interviewed, and many stated that although they do not approve of what these particular players have done, in football, intimidation is the name of the game. It is normal, they say, to want to put as much hurt on the opposition as possible, and if it takes them out of the game, so be it. Another major article was about a famous baseball player, Lenny Dykstra, who has been sentenced to prison, after a long history of taking advantage of his celebrity status to defraud and cheat people, and how this shyster has fooled and used many top names in high places and in the game. It is a story of greed, power, glory seeking and narcissism in its rawest form. Most all of the other articles were in one form or another tied to these major stories. If anyone thinks that morals or spiritual values do not matter in society, and all that matters is how successful we are or how well we play the game, then he/she needs to read these articles. By the way, I am all for more transparency if it is not selectively and hypocritically done. Sportswriters also could use a little more exposure and honesty about their own lives.
To some degree baseball has understood the importance of addressing the issue of morals. Years ago, Major League Baseball set up a devotional program administered through the Commissioner’s office. Such programs may put on a good face, but they will always fail because they simply do not recognize the differences in religious beliefs and set forth the idea that “one model fits all”. In its defense, it was a totally volunteer program. But putting it through the Commissioner’s office takes it to a different level. The best approach is to allow freedom for every person to worship according to his own conscience, as I was allowed to do for twenty years while playing Major League Baseball. Also, to allow the Bible to be freely taught at the initiation of the players, etc. Organized baseball is not designed to replace the church. For those in baseball to create an atmosphere for good morals and honesty is always good. But this has to do more with the quality of the people in the game than any organizational structure. Considering what actually goes on in the game, I feel anyone’s pain in attempting to make things better in terms of these broader principles that affect every person’s conduct. Baseball certainly needs more “good, moral, upright, honest, straight shooting guys” at all levels. Yes, baseball needs to be concerned about the integrity of the game, but that depends upon having open, honest and good policies and having leadership by men of good character. But any effort to do this can be impacted greatly by commercial interest.
I have long believed that most, if not all, major scandals in sports have as the root cause a lack of spiritual and moral values. Folks, no country can long survive without moral principles. No community can survive without the application of right conduct. No family can survive without God’s timeless values. I do not fault the magazines for bringing out scandalous facts. There was a time in the past when these kind of stories would not hit the newsstands, when the lives of our sports heroes was “covered up” by a willing press, wanting to protect the icons of the game. No one wanted bad publicity that might tarnish the game and affect the gate receipts. But this willingness to sweep everything under the rug has led to greater and greater problems. In baseball it has led to the age of “steroid abuse” as well as other problems. Let me emphasize this, baseball is no better than the quality of the people who play the game and run the sport. It is not just about winning and losing. Yes, I am getting turned off by a lot of things that are happening in the sports field. Sports do not automatically teach values to young people, although the opportunity is there for good coaches and parents who understand the importance of this. I am still old fashioned enough to believe that sportsmanship, teamwork, clean language and putting others first still applies on the sports field. Sports certainly do not automatically teach the right values, especially when such reach the professional level where it is often all about money and on-the-field performance.
Anyone who concludes that godly principles of proper behavior toward others do not apply in society, on the sports field, or in politics, is believing in a fantasy world. The golden rule , “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you” (Luke 6:31), will never become outdated. Also, a little humility along the way would not hurt. “Humility in Sports” is the title of my next article.
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Folks, I did not write an article in February, and am late for this article in March. So I should say that my policy is to attempt to write an article each month, but it may vary from time to time. Good thing I am not working for a company that has a deadline to meet!!
The photo at the beginning of this article is old “Sportsman Park” in St. Louis where I pitched for many years, joining the Cardinals in 1955. I was the last pitcher to go to the mound in the old park. This happened when I was playing for the San Francisco Giants in 1966. I pitched five innings in relief to pick up a win on May 8, 1966. After that game, the Cardinals moved to their new stadium on the water front.
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About Me
- Lindy McDaniel
- Currently I am serving as a minister of the gospel and as one of the elders at the Lavon church of Christ. During my 21 years in baseball, I brought a particular perspective to the game. I believed that one could succeed at this level of competition without compromising ones religious convictions. During my life in baseball I played for the St. Louis Cardinals – 7 years; the Chicago Cubs – 3 years; the San Francisco Giants – 2 ½ years; the New York Yankees – 5 ½ years; and the Kansas City Royals – 2 ½ years. During most of this time I was active both in writing and religious teaching. This gives me a unique perspective in writing about sports and faith in Jesus Christ.