www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Did Jesus Really Help Him Hit that Ball?

By now everyone's heard at one time or another about how the game winning hit/kick/shot/pass/run/ et cetera ad nauseum was only performed because Jesus helped the player do it. Did He really?

I know that He gives us the talent and we're supposed to do our best with what He gave us, but where is the line drawn?

Did He take His grace away from the opposing players? Does God really intervene in sports and music?

I have seen martial artists and boxers claim this as well. "Representing my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I will now perform the form Sarong Hang!... Haiiiiiii-Ya!!!" - as heard on ESPN2

Even more amusing were these guys who came to our High School and could only bust up these (get this) flaming blocks of ice (seriously) after they prayed to God to have the strength to bust the flaming blocks of ice with various kicks and punches. :rolleyes:

I hope this doesn't sound facetious but I've heard other people ask this; seriously wanting to know the answer and others wanting to mock our belief in God.

And what about the rapper/musician who thanks God for his/her newest song winning an award in which the performance of the song (or video) features people with hardly any clothes on doing things only married people should do?

I know this goes back to the laments of the Psalmist when he cries to God with the question of why the wicked prosper and the good suffer, can anyone shed some light on this?

Not to mention armies who pray for victory in battle. :rolleyes: "thanks fo rhelping us kill lots of people, Jesus!"

So I guess all those who prayed for the victory of the Allies against the Nazis (which involved killing a lot of people) just deserve an eye-roll as well?

Can anyone help?

Makes one think long and hard before praying for things.

Dear Dr. Eric,

These people that pray for some sort of financial gain or triumph in sports, are being deceived if their prayers are answered. God only answers in a way that would be beneficial to a person's spiritual growth.

I have heard stories of people that have given themselves over to the Lord completely, and end up losing their money and suffering calumny and humiliation at the same time. God seeks perfection of others, and does everything to help one achieve it.

Zenovia

Dear David you said:

I say:

It seems that all pacifists believe that there are no more Hitlers, Mussolinis, Stalins, etc. etc. in this world. That everyone prefers peace to triumph in this world, and because of that we have no reason to go to war. Quite naive if you ask me. Satan and evil does exist, and to believe that he does not is exactly the deception that will bring about the anti-christ.

Zenovia

I don't believe that this was quite the intent, quite frankly

It is rather that militaristic idea of "God is with us" with our particular nation, with our particular cause. Making God a servant of our nationalism.

I always thought that when one makes the sign of the cross or prays at sports events that that person is really asking God to help him play his best and not as a magic potion that will somehow make him hit a home run or something like this.

There is nothing wrong in this approach.

JoeS

God was sure with the Israelites at Jericho and in many other battles as well.

and was He with the Crusaders at Constantinople?? They thought HE was. Also, the German Imperial troops from 1914-1919 had "Gott ist mit uns" on their uniform and this example can be seen in every era and it is a most heretical mentality.

I've always wondered what God would do if the United States went to war with Great Britain. Would "God Bless America" or would "God Save the Queen"?

What about Canada, right next door.

I think it makes me thing about what we/I pray for and is it my will or Thy will we seek to do here on earth.

So did He help the player hit the ball and the rapper rap in perfect time or not?

Dear David you said:

I say:

Hey maybe God would bless America and save the Queen by making her an American.

Actually, I think that when we ask God to bless America, it is not only for prosperity, but for enlightenment. But the concept of America going to war with Great Britain is not too off. Britain was our enemy during so much of our history. The worse though, was after entering and fighting in WW I, I heard that Britain considered going to war with us around 1927 because our fleet was exceeding it's own, and becoming too powerful.

After that Germany became the enemy...and somehow when thinking about it, I wonder if we are idiots? :rolleyes:

Zenovia