Does God Help Win Football Games?

The above title may seem like a down right silly question considering that we are talking only about a game after all. But the question of God’s involvement in sports is very real in the minds of many people, especially on a day like the recent Super Bowl in Arizona. This exact opinion was recently voiced by Russell Wilson, the star quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, who stated that God is actually interested in the game itself.

If that does not impress or interest you, then consider this. A recent study cited in Christianitytoday.com said, that a majority of Americans, some 53 percent, believe God rewards faithful athletes with good health and success. That was up from last year's 48 percent, according to a new study from Public Religion Research Institute. Growing numbers of minority Protestants (68%), Catholics (65%), mainline Protestants (44%), and the unaffiliated (27%) believe that God blesses Christian competitors. About 25% of all Americans believe that God plays a role in determining which team performs better or even wins a sporting event.

Whether or not God really cared about who won the big football game is really not the question even though some of the miraculous catches at critical moments almost suggest that at times. It is certain, however, that God was far more concerned over the spiritual condition of the 100+ million watching and on Christians who were perhaps attempting to share their faith with an opportunity that comes but once each year.

Russell Wilson, the Seattle QB who won last year's Super Bowl, now knows the thrill of athletic victory and the agony of wrenching defeat. But this man represents others, on both teams, who are more concerned about chasing a very special prize and one that comes not by crossing a goal line in a weekly gridiron game.

He and his fellow believers have another goal and another prize that far surpasses what most would consider the height of earthly fame, fortune and accomplishment. Their lofty aim parallels the priority of the great Apostle Paul as he described it in Philippians 3:13-14. “But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Super Bowl XLIX was one for the Patriots' record books and a game for the ages – humanly speaking. It will remembered for a variety of reasons including the ill-fated call by Seattle at the end that gave New England a sudden victory when all seemed lost. But it will prove of no eternal value whatsoever for any of the  participants if their only goal was to win the title and that hard-earned championship ring. But for those players, on both teams, whose higher goal is seeking an spiritual prize, they are the true winners while they play, after they play and all throughout eternity.

“And everyone who competes for the prize  is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” (1 Corinthians 9:25)

Bill Breckenridge