I'd like to think I'm a pretty big Ravens fan. I'd even consider myself a Ray Lewis fan. I'm also completely aware there aren't a ton of people outside those of us who grew up in Maryland or live here now who feel the same way. To write a blog anything Ravens related seven days after the Super Bowl is a prime example of showing up late to the party, especially with today's culture of "need it now" information and short-term attention spans. Once again... here I am going against what might be acceptable or preferred. :)
I could probably write a book (and perhaps someone will) about Ray Lewis and his theology, particularly when you frame it next to the Atlanta "incident" from 2000. While I don't have any statistics to support it, I would imagine the majority of America (especially if you didn't poll Marylanders) would consider Lewis a criminal and think he killed one or two people January 31, 2000 at a post-game Super Bowl party. I'll debate that with you another day... Even those willing to admit he's a good player have been sick of all of the retirement hoopla... tired of hearing Lewis rant. Through the Ravens' playoff run, Lewis has been the spiritual leader of sorts wearing his Psalm 91 shirt in the postgame interviews after his last game in Baltimore and continuing to spout "no weapon formed against us shall prosper" leading up to the Super Bowl.
Some people find it ironic that a "murderer" would be preaching to the masses. Other find it rubbish no matter who's preaching. And still some wonder if God and sports go together at all.
There has been plenty of commentary over the years, especially in the last few weeks analyzing God and sports and where God "fits." I'm not sure I have anything new to add to the conversation, but I had to at least say my piece. I really struggled after Lewis' postgame Super Bowl interview when he quoted part of Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
First of all, I don't think God "fits" into a nice neat box when it comes to sports or anything else. Some Christians have claimed God doesn't fit onto a football field. What an athlete has to do to compete, doesn't fit with their personality as a Christian off the field. I've never played football, so my opinion doesn't carry a lot of weight, but I think that's crap. I'm taking God with me wherever I go and if I feel like I have to drop him off at the door, then maybe I shouldn't be going there to begin with. God's been in a battle or two... life threatening ones believe it or not and I don't think a football game would scare him away.
Secondly... I have a hard time applying Romans 8:31 to the outcome of a Super Bowl... or any athletic event. If we apply Lewis' assertion literally, he's saying, "If God is for the Ravens, the 49ers can't stop us." Logically, this implies God is not for the 49ers. So God likes the Ravens better than the 49ers? There's nothing theologically sound about that argument. There are Christian men on both teams and I don't think God sits down before every game and weighs the strengths or numbers of Christians against each other between the two teams to pick a winner.
If we buy into Lewis' application, what bad Christians we must be every time we lose a game or miss out on a job opportunity or go through a break up? If we were better Christians, God might be for us instead of the other "guy."
Even if you throw out Lewis' theology (which I have but still completely love him as a former Ravens player), I suppose the next question would then be, what role did God play in the outcome of the Super Bowl? I think if you want to answer the question "Why do good things happen to good or bad people?" we have to go back to "Why do bad things happen to good people?"
We struggle how God could cause or ignore (depending on your beliefs) big disasters like Columbine or 9/11 happen. I believe He gave us free will to make our own choices and there are some evil people that choose poorly and cause disasters and nightmares for others... and other times there are just plain accidents that God doesn't want anymore than we do. I think God still finds a way to use bad things. It doesn't always make anyone that loses anyone feel better right away, but God still finds a way to reach people when things don't make sense. Stories of Columbine students speaking out about their faith spread quickly after the shooting. Churches filled following 9/11. Does that bring any of the dead back to life? No, but maybe another person chooses life.
In the same way, I don't think God causes or ignores good things to happen like Super Bowl victories. I think He wants people to glorify Him... in victory and in defeat. Maybe it's not so black and white. I'm just not sure He cares who wins or loses as much as He cares about how we're living.
Completely unrelated to Ray Lewis or the Ravens but completely related to stories of God working through tragedies... ever since hearing the story of the Laymon family in December, I have not been able to get them out of my head. As Elevation Church describes it... "Their story of unshakeable faith in the midst of pain and loss inspired our church and reminded us all of the real reason the Church exists." It's a bit lengthy, but when you have some time, pop a squat and bring a box of tissues! Scroll down and click WATCH: http://elevationchurch.org/sermons/banneryears/part6
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