We Represent Jesus
"Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God when he led you in the way?" -- Jeremiah 2:17
Here in the Deep South we are all about college football. Newcomers are asked two questions: What church do you go to and which team do you follow. Really. And in Alabama, it's either Alabama or Auburn. Gotta choose one cause there is no middle ground when it comes to college football.
We've had a bit of a ruckus lately. The star quarterback for that other team has been under investigation for maybe asking for money to play for a school in Mississippi. It's an ongoing thing. But this player's daddy had admitted shopping his son around for money. That's bad enough. What's worse? The man's a preacher.
I know maybe it's unfair but we do tend to hold preachers up to a higher standard of conduct. I know they're human just like the rest of us. But some sins you just don't expect from a man who stands in front of a congregation every Sunday and preaches God's word. Trying to sell your son's services to a school is one of those things.
I have no idea how it'll all play out in the college football arena. For now, the young man is cleared to play. But I'm more concerned about the impact his father's involvement might have on people who don't know Jesus. What are they to think about Christians when a preacher does something like this? It's like when you or I pitch a fit rather than calmly handle something. We're representing Jesus all the time. People see Him in us -- or they don't. Except this is a national news story and lots and lots of people are paying attention.
Everyone makes mistakes. I hope this Daddy/preacher realizes his mistake and repents, not just because he got caught but because his actions were wrong. God forgives and so should we. I just hope we'll focus on that rather than the bad behavior of man who should have known better.
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