Watch any sports event and you will see something that has been done a million times. Sometimes a player who has just scored points to the sky to share a moment with their connection above. Lots of athletes do it and it becomes a routine after each accomplishment. We live in a very diverse world with many different religious affiliations. The point of this article is not to convince anyone to join a certain affiliation. The point is to strive for tolerance across the board and let athletes express themselves in a manner that is meaningful to them.
Examining Faith in Sports
Quite possibly the most obvious case of religious expression in sports recently was Tim Tebow. Tebow on several occasions expressed his Christian beliefs in various forms. From drawing Bible verses in his eye black to the “God bless” at the end of every interview, he was not ashamed to express his faith. Here’s where we run into problems, though. Shortly after the NCAA banned the use of messages in eye black. This stemmed from a massive internet search party for “John 3:16” which was the verse written on his face. The attention gained from that simple message is alarming, but Tebow cannot be to blame. It also extended its way to the Denver Broncos after his improbable run to the playoffs. Denver number 15 jerseys sporting the name “Jesus” and the general public and media almost condemning his practices. It got to the point where we had folks chalking up cash rewards to prove Tebow’s immorality. Tebow is a genuine soul and his intentions are not to use his principles to make himself appear superior to others. Chances are if he says “God bless”, he is paying you his best regards in the way that he knows how to.
When it comes down to it, when an athlete gives out glory they are expressing a part of themselves. So, why would we scrutinize them for doing so? This does not just go for Christianity as well, this should be across the board. Athlete’s use many different styles of expression while celebrating the game that they love. Chad Ochocinco Johnson used his dance skills, Bill Cowher yelled at everyone, and Tebow looked to the sky. It’s 2014. We have come a long way in terms of tolerance in many different aspects of society. I think this is an area we can address. Don’t scrutinize athletes for wanting to express faith. We don’t watch them for their religious practices, we watch them for their talents out on the field. Tolerance is key and not everyone has to or is going to agree with everyone. That is human nature, but respect is something that should be given out. Whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or don’t have an affiliation, I say if a player wants to give glory to something that makes them who they are….all the power to them.
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