Jesus loves you... but not if you're a Yankees fan.
Fascinating article from brigid:
Faith binds many on Sox: Evangelical Christians give sport a spiritual context
I get that some people have a gripe with the fact that there are a number of Evangelical Christians on the team -- a dozen, more than in any other Major League Baseball team. But I don't understand it. The mere fact that someone is an Evangelical Christian does not make them a bad person. I've known some perfectly nice, respectful Evangelicals who take the true meaning of Jesus's teachings; that is, "love thy neighbour and thyself" and "do good in all your deeds." Evangelical Christian does not automatically mean fundamentalist. Christian (Evangelical or otherwise) fundamentalists are not by their very definition good Christians since they are hypocritical in believing that they are of a higher standard ("let those within sin cast the first stone") and sit in judgement of those who they believe are not of that standard (only God can judge rightousness). Nor does someone not being an Evangelical Christian mean that they're not a fundamentalist, since even Athiests can be fundamentalists, but that's a post for another time.
If the article is believed to be true, the Evangelicals on the Boston Red Sox are true Christians. They have respect for what other members of the team believe in (or not) and believe it's sinful to do otherwise; the non-Evangelicals feel the same way, possibly minus the concept of sin. The general feel of inclusiveness within the team has formed a bond of unity. That's fabulous and should be applauded. Hands are so often wrung wondering how we can get over divisive religious issues or why there are few good role models in today's society, but this entire baseball team provides solutions to both.
So, some of them share a religious bond within the team. They believe that their baseball skill is a gift from God and that they should glorify him by performing at the highest level. How is that bad? It has stopped them from being distracted by the temptations of the rich and famous on the road, calming intensity that negatively affects their game, gives them a competitive edge, and keeps their feet on the ground. Their faith was a factor in coming from behind and breaking three records in last year's American League Championship Series against the Yankees and sweeping the Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. It meant Kurt Schilling was able to pitch with blood seeping out of his ankle into his sock, break the curse, and have the Sox win a World Series for the first time since 1918. It's not hurting anyone and it helps them win games. What's so wrong about that?
I think it comes down to this -- if it causes a harmonious atmosphere within the Sox as a whole and they win as a result, I think that's brilliant.
Faith binds many on Sox: Evangelical Christians give sport a spiritual context
I get that some people have a gripe with the fact that there are a number of Evangelical Christians on the team -- a dozen, more than in any other Major League Baseball team. But I don't understand it. The mere fact that someone is an Evangelical Christian does not make them a bad person. I've known some perfectly nice, respectful Evangelicals who take the true meaning of Jesus's teachings; that is, "love thy neighbour and thyself" and "do good in all your deeds." Evangelical Christian does not automatically mean fundamentalist. Christian (Evangelical or otherwise) fundamentalists are not by their very definition good Christians since they are hypocritical in believing that they are of a higher standard ("let those within sin cast the first stone") and sit in judgement of those who they believe are not of that standard (only God can judge rightousness). Nor does someone not being an Evangelical Christian mean that they're not a fundamentalist, since even Athiests can be fundamentalists, but that's a post for another time.
If the article is believed to be true, the Evangelicals on the Boston Red Sox are true Christians. They have respect for what other members of the team believe in (or not) and believe it's sinful to do otherwise; the non-Evangelicals feel the same way, possibly minus the concept of sin. The general feel of inclusiveness within the team has formed a bond of unity. That's fabulous and should be applauded. Hands are so often wrung wondering how we can get over divisive religious issues or why there are few good role models in today's society, but this entire baseball team provides solutions to both.
So, some of them share a religious bond within the team. They believe that their baseball skill is a gift from God and that they should glorify him by performing at the highest level. How is that bad? It has stopped them from being distracted by the temptations of the rich and famous on the road, calming intensity that negatively affects their game, gives them a competitive edge, and keeps their feet on the ground. Their faith was a factor in coming from behind and breaking three records in last year's American League Championship Series against the Yankees and sweeping the Cardinals in the 2004 World Series. It meant Kurt Schilling was able to pitch with blood seeping out of his ankle into his sock, break the curse, and have the Sox win a World Series for the first time since 1918. It's not hurting anyone and it helps them win games. What's so wrong about that?
I think it comes down to this -- if it causes a harmonious atmosphere within the Sox as a whole and they win as a result, I think that's brilliant.