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Does God Attend Sports Events? Is God an Oakland Raiders Fan? Is God a Chicago Bulls Fan? Is God a Cincinnati Reds Fan, Is God an Ohio State Football Fan?
Football players have long prayed after scoring a touchdown. These same players huddle in prayer after a game as well. However, some of these same players can also be seen cursing out reporters in the locker room. In addition, these same players have been seen trying to hurt opposing players on the field. The idea that God favors one team over another would seem to be silly and mundane, only serving to demean our Creator.
EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored ninety-two books. Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).
Only those in denial would ignore the facts that almost all sports are violent, especially, boxing, UFC, Hockey, and football. Does God love violence?
Psalm 11:5 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
5 Jehovah examines the righteous one,
but the wicked one and the lover of violence his soul hates.
One ex-football player writes, “Competitive, organized injuring is integral to our way of life, and football is one of the more intelligible mirrors . . . showing us how exciting and rewarding it is to Smash Thy Neighbor.”[1]
So, did Jesus say, “Smash thy neighbor” or “love thy neighbor?”
Matthew 22:39 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
39 The second, like it, is this: ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’[2]
It is unreasonable to even consider that our God of love would be present at a sporting event and blessing any sports team, with their mindset of win-at-all-costs. (1 John 4:16)
The psalmist David said, “The friendship of Jehovah is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14) In the original Hebrew (“friendship,” sôḏ), the meaning is “circle of confidants.” Therefore, the sense of this verse is that we are given admission into the inner circle with God or a covenant of intimate friendship. Worshipers with the proper respect are the only ones admitted into this intimate friendship. Our reverential fear of God and our close friendship should motivate true Christians so that they would never consider breaching that relationship by doing anything that would dissatisfy him, such as praying over a violent sporting event, or any sporting event, which is mundane in the scheme of things.
Let us say for a second that God does listen to a sporting event, and both teams are praying for a victory over the other, which one should he bless with a victory? On the other hand, say he did bless one team over the other, and a player was injured during the game, paralyzed even, would not God be the blame?
When we pray, it is to be on the right matters. The apostle John had this to say, “And this is the confidence that we have before him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (1 John 5:14) John also said earlier in the same book, “The world is passing away, and its lusts; but the one who does the will of God remains forever.” Jesus said that the ones, who would benefit from the kingdom, are those “doing the will of the Father.” (Matt. 7:21) He also said to those who believed that they were doing the will of the Father but were not doing His will, “‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matt. 7:22-23) Therefore, it is clear that God listens only to prayers that are according to his will. Are we to suppose that sports, which are inundated with violence, scantily dressed female cheerleaders, having stadiums filled with fans abusing alcohol, and are hit with one scandal after another is a part of God will and purposes? So, is God listening to or actively blessing sporting events? According to God’s Word and common sense, absolutely not!
