Athletes often pray before big games and give God credit when they score points. Does God really care about the outcome of athletic contests?

God cares for all athletes

The Rev. Randy Beeman, senior pastor of First Christian Church, 1000 Ky.:

This question assumes God controls all outcomes. Which leads one to think God also dictates evil occurring and bombs killing innocent people. I don’t think so.

God does care when it comes to expressing our love for God, loving our neighbor, taking the side of the poor and the helpless: 1-2-3, go team.

I appreciate the sincerity of players and spectators who love God and want to express their faith in all aspects of life, including sports. Part of demonstrating your faith includes using your talents to the best of your ability and to God’s glory. Some people say religion has nothing to do with sports. I don’t buy that. I think our faith has something to do with everything we do, including sports.

God will direct players to do their best, but the outcome is up to them. God wants us to pray to use our talents, to practice well, to keep from injury, to play our best, to honor God in our conduct, to be concerned about other players’ well-being and to learn something when the game is over. Pray to win? No. God cares for all athletes in the game, not just “our” side.

Does God care who wins? No. But God does care about the players, you and me.

Yogi Berra was reported to have told a player coming up to bat who had just prayed to win, “Aw, why don’t you leave God alone; let him just sit back and watch for once.”

Send e-mail to the Rev. Randy Beeman at rbeeman@sunflower.com

Services designed to encourage players

The Rev. Leo Barbee, Jr., senior pastor of Victory Bible Church, 1942 Mass., and longtime chaplain of the Kansas University football team:

I don’t believe the average fan realizes that most college football teams have some type of devotional service before every game. These services are attended on a volunteer basis. No player, coach or staff member is mandated to attend.

These services are designed to encourage the players and coaching staff in their daily duties and to do their best, to play their best, to play hard, to play with enthusiasm, to play with intensity and to play well. They are reminded of the bigger challenge: not whether they win or lose, but how they play the game.

Prayers are offered not to win or lose, but to protect both teams from injuries, to protect the officials and help them to call the game fairly, and, after all that is said and done, God would be pleased.

There are those who win, yet lose because of their attitude and unsportsman-like character. Whereas there are those who lose, but win because of their Christ-like attitude and who remember that it is a game, and not the end of life.

So, to really answer the question, “Does God care about the outcome of an athletic contest?” I believe not, because there are believers on both teams who realize that the ultimate scorekeeper is God, who is always a winner.

His concern is not whether you won or lost, but how well you played the game. Did the players play to the crowd, or did they play to glorify God? That is his concern.

Send e-mail to the Rev. Leo Barbee, Jr. at maura@sunflower.com