Sports and movie stars are often looked up to by people in our society to the point where their words might even carry more weight than what is reasonable. That can include what celebrities say about Christianity. Should we listen? I think we should listen in order to know how people in general think about things—but not because they have a better handle on reality because they might be famous. Being famous doesn’t make one wiser about God. In fact, it’s possible that fame can cause a greater disconnect from God and an attitude of “I don’t need God, look at me!”
For instance, in a Jan. 23, 2020, Fox News online article, Aaron Rodgers, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers who is likely headed to the NFL football hall of fame when his career is over, had some quite negative things to say about his parents’ “religion.” He is quoted as saying, “I don’t know how you can believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet to a fiery hell. What type of loving, sensitive, omnipresent, omnipotent being wants to condemn his beautiful creation to a fiery hell at the end of all this?”
Well, I don’t know about you, but if I viewed God this way, I wouldn’t want to believe either. Where in that diatribe is the truth that God created us for relationship, that he loves us deeply, gave himself up for us and desires an eternal presence with us? All I see is a warped view of the truth about God. Rodgers went on to say, “It (religion) can be something that people have to have to make themselves feel better. Because it’s set up binary, it’s us and them, saved and unsaved, heaven and hell, it’s enlightened and heathen, it’s holy and righteous…that makes a lot of people feel better about themselves.”
Hmm. That’s a rather harsh view of people who love God and follow him in life.
But how to respond? Well, for many, it might seem correct to write that scoundrel, idiotic sports star and let him know that he doesn’t have a clue! So there! Some did just that. At the end of the article is a long list of posts from those who blasted him for his ridiculous views. Did that help? I’ll bet a resounding zero percent of those who agree with Rodgers or even Rodgers himself were swayed to re-look at their views about God as a result of the resounding literary raves against his beliefs.
Instead of ridiculing him, I wish I could spend some time with him, talk this through at length and help him to see the truth of what a relationship with Jesus is truly like. Maybe we could do that while playing a game of catch? Well, probably won’t happen. I like to watch him throw a football and he does it really well, but even so, ending up in the hall of fame will be very, very temporal. I hurt for those who have such a fatalistic view of God and the truth of who God is. I long to help people get through their negative views of God, the one who I know as loving and caring and who has been with me through so many things.
Football players, movie stars, politicians, business owners, cashiers, servers, lawyers, accountants, people on our block, friends, family members, so many of whom are lost. So many going through life giving little or no thought about why or for whom they were created. It’s heartbreaking.
Don Morris is the USMB national director. He and his wife, Janna, live in Edmond, Oklahoma, where they attend Cross Timbers Church.
