Super Bowl Shout-Outs for God, and What That Means for Us
As soon as the outcome of Sunday’s Super Bowl is assured, a few players will grab Gatorade coolers and hunt down their head coach for a dousing. One of them will exclaim, “I’m going to Disney.” Others will run around the field somewhat maniacally looking for teammates, friends, family to hug – not totally sure what to do in the surreal moment. These are some of the more traditional emotional outpourings that come with winning the Super Bowl.
So, too, are the soundbites players will fire off into microphones and cameras broadcasting to millions. The 4-second shoutout to God is one of the most familiar to football fans. Among the many iterations of this:
“All glory to God” (standard fare)
“I just have to thank Jesus for giving me this opportunity” (another favorite)
“God put a lot of obstacles in our way this year” (something Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes actually said earlier in the postseason, and I’d encourage us to overlook the convoluted theology that would insinuate a good God would conspire against us, or that in a fallen world He would even need to)
(For the record: I’m not sure if there isn’t a prop bet on whether this will happen, though in our present cultural moment and with the big game being played in Las Vegas, I wouldn’t be surprised. I’m not looking to see if there is.)
The shoutout is a fleeting moment, for those who would rather hear about the key play but even for those Christians who nod in agreement or offer an “Amen!” – that depends on your denominational leaning – in response. But maybe we can be encouraged to give those 4 seconds greater meaning. Here are a few thoughts:
Celebrate it
It cannot be lost on us that faithful Christian athletes are among the world’s elite, nor that faithful sports ministers are involved in planting and watering for the increase that God gives. It is true that some who might mention God are flawed (aren’t we all?) and young in their walks. But if there’s the inclination to pick apart who they are not, let’s celebrate that God can work – is working – in all of us. It also must not be lost that these public figures are inclined to share openly what has been spoken into their lives and has sunken into their souls, nor that they can do so in a free country with the same enthusiasm of any of the other responses to winning.
Pray for those athletes
One hundred and six players will be in uniform on Sunday, and all 106 of them will be scrutinized in one moment and praised in the next. The constant pressure to perform is immeasurable from at least late July when training camp opens until early February when the NFL season is over. This is the testimony of Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill leading up to this Super Bowl. Those who profess faith in Jesus also are surrounded by myriad influences – money, nightlife, sexual temptations, very different worldviews even inside the locker room, just to name a few – that could chip away if not chop down them as men. We should be compelled to pray for our Christian brothers, that the depth and breadth of their relationship with God would be magnified.
Look in the mirror
Are we giving glory to God for our biggest (and, yes, our smallest) moments? Are we thanking Him for the gifts He has given and the opportunities He has provided? Are we considering the grace we’ve been given, and how our only response is to surrender all to the Lord and to love our neighbors with excellence? I’m sure there are many other questions that a self-examination might generate.
Look to Jesus
I have been known to point to a player who claims to be a Christian and grown in my appreciation for them. There’s nothing wrong with that. However, if I don’t hear who his words are pointing to and fail to fix my eyes on Jesus, then I’m in danger of what theologian Miroslav Volf would call a thinned-out faith that is bound to malfunction, if not dissolve. Let’s get excited when the winning player, coach, whoever shouts out God – but let our affections reach their ultimate and proper place.
Right-size it
It’s quite likely that such comments will be more encouragement than evangelistic, and for Christians to expect them to be more than that for every viewer probably is a bit much. It’s not that the Holy Spirit can’t work in the hearts of minds of those who might be moved by hearing the name of God or Jesus in a fresh way. It’s just that as we are mindful that conviction and salvation are supernatural, we might not put too much pressure or weight on a largely passing comment to deliver.
Be ready for Sunday evening. Be watchful, and don’t be so busy packing up from the Super Bowl party that you miss those 4 seconds that can take on greater significance – especially if we remember that the Christian walk is a way of life, not merely a flashpoint.
*This list of ideas is a start. We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below about how you might engage with the shout-outs to God. What do you think?
