Probably you’ve seen it. An award-winning actor, coach, athlete, or some larger-than-life authority gives kudos to God for their glorious victory. Probably you’ve heard it. Other believers rave about how this team or individual won because they believe in God.
It’s been some time now since my first trip to Nicaragua. A friend invited me to tag along. We’d be helping out at a youth conference he’d started some decade earlier, eventually handing it off to local leaders. Our presence here appeared to be fruitful. I for one was certainly getting something out of it. I was making what would become lifelong friendships.
A good while into the conference came a phone call from a mega-church asking if we (the Americans) would come and share at their event. I’ll leave the means behind how they found out about us a mystery. “No.” stated my friend. “No?” questioned our host. “Why not?” “Because if we go there to be with them, then we won’t be here with you.” My jaw drops.
Would I have had the same response? Probably not. At this point in time, I don’t think this way. I mean, come on, we’ve already done our fair share here at the conference. Doesn’t it make sense to hit up a new venue? One with more people? Televised for all of Nicaragua to hear the many wonderful things we’ll have to say about Jesus? Doesn’t God want this? Aren’t we about to turn down a divine appointment?
It was in fact a divine appointment. But not for the reasons I immediately assimilated. Jesus favors friendship over machine gun evangelism. This appointment was to help us dial into where we stood in terms of friendship vs the way Jesus terms friendship. My compass was a tad bit off. I’m being extremely generous.
Since that time I’ve done much praying and processing over this event. My idea of Christianity and how it is represented unto multiplication has transformed a great deal. I’d like to say it’s been a straight line from bad to good, but this is honestly not the case.
I don’t believe anyone quote-unquote wins because of their faith, as God is “no respecter of persons”, for “He rains on the just as well as the unjust”. However, I have observed how humbling it is for an individual to give thanks to his or her Creator - realizing that even though they did their due diligence, giving the best work one possibly could, it was God who was behind them, cheering them along, guiding them every step of the way. Not everyone gives Him this credit. And if I’m God (which I am not) I imagine He takes great joy in this, just as when Jesus was grateful for the one leper who returned to say thanks for healing his body and his shame. He was being a friend.
Come to think of it, I’ve never met anyone who got saved by hearing a football coach give glory to God on TV. Have you? I suppose it may happen on occasion. But the itch I’m aiming to scratch here is the emphasis we as believers place on comments such as these. My friend from earlier also said something to this effect “Many Christians love it when celebrities talk about their belief in God. It helps us feel better about our religion in front of the rest of the world. ““See, we’re not crazy after all!”” Perhaps we need a better view.
No way am I suggesting any attempt toward Christian media influence is wrong. I’m simply pointing to scripture, noting how predominant the times when Jesus makes friends, who make friends, who make friends, who make friends... I wonder what you and I should do?
🙏🏼