A Contentious Faith?

Why don't Christian athletes praise God when they strike out, fumble the ball or are called for a foul?  Was God absent when these things happened or did they forget that it is He who has given them this opportunity?  Have you ever wondered about this?

I was struck by this question as I watched a Boston Red Sox game with my wife's parents.  They have been fans for decades and particularly like Big Papi, David Ortiz.  Coming across home plate after hitting a solo home run to tie the game Big Papi kisses both hands and raises them to the sky as he looks up.  Is he praising God or is this something else?  For Big Papi I have heard he does this in remembrance of his mother who died in a car crash at age 46, so we as Christians need to recognize that not all praise is for God.  But for others it is in apparent recognition and praise of God for their success.

It is an extremely enjoyable site to watch a fellow believer praise God after a successful at bat, series of plays or the go ahead basket.  The emotion of the moment, your team doing well, a favorite player making an impact and putting the team ahead of their opponent, and a player praising God.  The package just makes you feel good.  But what about every other play during the game?

Let's consider Deion Sanders for a moment, an all around athlete who played professional football and baseball and loved to celebrate.  His endzone dances are legendary and enjoyable.  Today he praises God, I am not sure about during his playing career but there is evidence for it, unlike Tim Tebow who has very plainly proclaimed his faith and purpose as the article below states.
 

What the above video doesn't show are all the other plays Deion made during his career, both successful and not so successful.  I hope I am not being to nit-picky here but if God was involved in the touchdown or home run wasn't He also involved in the missed tackle and strike out?  Here is my point, it is so easy for each of us to praise God when we are successful and things are going our way but doesn't He command us to be thankful in all things (Ephesians 5:20)?  I am not saying that every professional athlete needs to stand and rejoice in the failure of the strikeout or fumble but doesn't it make sense that a small offering of thanks can be made to the One who has provided the athlete with this opportunity?  Isn't it true that God has given the athlete his skill and work ethic to succeed, has allowed them to attain this level of success by playing pro sports and has kept them from injury so they can play in this game?  Aren't these things to be constantly thankful for? 

And what about you and I, we do much the same thing don't we?  I get a raise or bonus at work, bag that nice buck during deer season, finish the golf round 2 strokes better than ever before or have a great day skiing and in the joy of the moment I thank God.  And we SHOULD praise and thank God but if this is the only time we do so then isn't there something wrong with us?  Shouldn't I thank God each day that I have this job or that I get to enjoy my leisure time or that I made it safely to work?  And isn't He still God when the project I am working on doesn't turn out well?  Job and David are great examples of this for us.  Job endured great suffering but through it all proclaimed "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:" and David sought after (Psalm 62) and praised God in the midst of persecution and attack from others.  Now those are great examples of gratefulness and praise because of who God is; God is still God regardless of our circumstances and He is still worthy of all praise (Rev 4:11).  Being thankful for the good that comes into our life is great, being grateful that He continues to stand by us in our failures and the mundane is truly worshipful.  

Today was an example of confused praise and thankfulness.  First I was involved in a multi-car collision on the freeway and later learned my older brother had been laid off from his job.  I was thankful that I was spared injury and my car was only moderately damaged.  I and all the others involved are unhurt although I am a little sore.  In the time immediately following the accident I was aware of how much I and the others were spared, but how am I to thank God beyond the salvation during the accident, can I thank Him for the accident?  What am I to learn from this?  My brother on the other hand lost his job making my trial seem even less important.  My brothers attitude is one of remembering how God has taken care of him in similar situations in the past and knowing that God will continue to do so.  Faith is in not knowing why something happened but still trusting the God who is in control.

Imagine how our attitudes would improve if we loved God so much that we found ourselves thanking Him for all the little things in our lives.  At dinner time yes but at all times.  But more importantly isn't this the type of witness that God wants from us?  We talk about lifestyle evangelism but there is so little for others to see.  Deion was a formal and informal leader on every team he played for, what impact would it have if he decided to thank God publicly for the little successes as well as the failures?  Can you see how his actions would speak to those around about the difference God has made in his life and wouldn't this difference in him begin to make others wonder and want what Deion or each of us has?  

I know in my own life I coast through the day not aware of the many little things that make my life enjoyable and easy or that God has brought to me, God forgive me for not being more aware of You and Your involvement in my life.

UPDATE (11/24/2011):  If there is one player out there today who demonstrates what I am trying to get at it is Tim Tebow.  Although I am not sure how obvious his praise of God is just after an interception, his priority and focus is definitely right.  Tim Tebow has been getting some flack for his frequent praise of and prayer to God, he responded to the criticism and explained his stance very well in my opinion.