Recently over at flamefans.com the question was brought up, “Whose side is God on?” (You can read the entire thread here: https://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22375.) While the question was asked tongue-in-cheek, it does raise an interesting theological question; one that I can say I’m not prepared to answer fully and definitively. But let’s back up. What brought about this hermeneutical headlock on an inquiry?
First off, unless you live under a rock, you know by now that Liberty football just had their most successful season ever. Previous to beating James Madison on their own field, Liberty advanced by blocking a last second field goal by Coastal Carolina at the end of regulation. This was a huge deal. Not only did it continue Liberty’s season and launch them into the playoffs for the first time in school history, but it ended doubts about their football team. Up until that point, it really had been an underachieving program. Countless opportunities had presented themselves in seasons past to go to the playoffs, but there was always one game that Liberty failed to win to push them over the hump. So when Chima Uzowihe broke through Coastal’s offensive line to block that kick, things went crazy. The perception of Liberty football was essentially turned upside down. In the midst of the celebration, it was stated that God blocked the kick. Is that possible? Does God care enough about football to intervene in the outcome? While this is not a black and white issue, there are some important things to take into consideration when formulating an opinion.
The Argument For No.
Be honest. How many times have you been on the edge of your couch watching the big game, and you found yourself praying for your favorite team to pull a rabbit out of their hat? To be honest, I found myself doing this when I saw John Caleb Sanders drive coast to coast and flip up a last second layup off the glass against North Carolina A&T in the play-in game of the NCAA tournament a few years ago.
Some would argue sports are too much of a trivial matter for God to be involved with. Doesn’t God have bigger things to worry about than a blocked field goal? Not to mention that Jesus never directly addresses any kind of sports completion. The closest we can come to finding sports in the Bible is Jacob wrestling God (Genesis 23) and an illustration about spiritual growth written by Paul (presumably) about “running the race” (Hebrews 2). Beyond that, there’s no positive or negative doctrine of sports in Scripture. Therefore, the evidence that God cares either way about the outcome of a sporting contest, including Liberty’s, is inconclusive. God certainly cares about the players, the fans, and all involved, but a win or a loss doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things.
The Argument For Yes.
The Reformers understood God to be involved in the details of all things. Calvin insisted that to deny the doctrine of providence was to deny that God created the world! That means that there is nothing left to luck or chance, even in football games, which by the way, God ultimately created. This is directly opposed to the Deist philosophy that God sits back and watches all events unfold, reluctant to intervene in anything. This also affirms that God ordains everything, even wins and losses. In light of this truth, yes, God cares about wins and losses because He is the one that has a sovereign plan in all things.
What’s Important To Remember?
First, let’s remember that these comments were made in the heat of the moment. Understandably, all of Flames Nation was excited that something improbably just happened when it looked like the game was just a chip shot from being over. Usually we are quick to blame God when things go sour and slow to give God credit when good things happen. Scripture reminds us to give thanks in all things, good or bad. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Second, God’s glory is always number one on his agenda. God may or may not wake up in the morning and put a Flame’s Club shirt on. But if Liberty wins, and it somehow glorifies Him, then He cares. If Liberty loses, and it somehow glorifies Him, then He cares. Are sports a trivial matter in the big picture of life? Absolutely. But it’s God who gifts athletes with talents and abilities, and He expects to get the credit when they use them to the best of their abilities (1 Corinthians 10:2).
Third, it’s important to remember God’s goal in everything: to conform his children to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). That means that win or lose, as players and fans, how we handle the outcome of every game is important. How we handle the outcome of a game is an opportunity to be more Christlike.
Finally, it’s not necessarily wrong to pray for Liberty’s on field success. Jesus said that “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” In other words, if we are praying that the outcome will glorify the Father, than that’s a legit prayer. Maybe just praying that Liberty wins so that we can be satisfied fans is a little selfish. But it’s oh so hard to do!
Will Matthews is an Ethics student at SEBTS, a graduate of Liberty University (’07), was the first Sparky mascot, and writes blogs about Theology and Wrestling at theoluchador.wordpress.com. He often tweets at @DidLibertyWin
