How to blow your testimony with one mistake!
Most people who know me know that I love sports. I especially love college and pro football. I love pulling for Bama but I also pull for athletes who are followers of Christ. John Schmoltz and Julio Franco of the Braves are both outspoken Christ followers. Shaun Alexander, former Tide running back and now tearing up the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks is an awesome follower of Christ. I was pumped to see the testimony of Albert Pujols he is an awesome Christ follower.
But one mistake can ruin your influence for Christ. A few years ago the Atlanta Falcons were in the Super Bowl. The day before Athletes in Action had a breakfast where they gave out the man of the year award to Eugene Robinson of the Falcons. He was outspoken in his faith. Then that night he was pulled over in Miami for solicitating a prostitute! His testimony was mocked all across the nation but especially in Atlanta. One sports talk show host said he won the Athletes Looking for Action award. How sad! Jeff Gordon was a rising NASCAR star when I saw him give his testimony at a Promise Keepers conference at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Then a few years later he is caught having sex by his wife with a Playboy Playmate! His testimony is shot! Today I saw that Jim Harbaugh formerly of the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts and now head coach of the University of San Diego who has been an outspoken Christian was arrested for a DUI.
If we are going to have an influence on the world for Christ, we have to watch every move we make. We will all make mistakes and sin, but if were are going to be public with our faith, we must realize there is a responsibility that comes with that platform. This is why I am less and less willing to point out Christian celebrities because too often they let us down. I will let people down too! We shouldn't look up to anyone but Jesus.
posted by Kevin Bussey at 11/03/2005 01:22:00 PM
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