Should coaches preach religion to their players?
They say that as long as teachers give tests, there will be prayer in school. And, as long as there are football games, coaches will pray to win.
Coaches, of course, say they only pray that no one gets injured and that everybody has fun. But when heads are bowed and hands are joined, only God knows what they're really asking for.
Prayer and faith have been entwined with sports all my life. It's always been that way here in the Bible Belt. Nobody much questioned a bunch of players mumbling the Lord's Prayer before the game or taking a knee while the local minister said something about fair play and higher powers.
But there's a line of cerebral sensitivity that some coaches continue to cross, taking religion to the level of unquestioned authority, proselytizing by the potentate.
Sometimes you pray they don't go too far.
Time and place
Last Saturday afternoon, after Clemson beat The Citadel, Tigers offensive coordinator Rob Spence explained his team's improved play by saying, "We prayed this morning that God would breathe some spirit and life into us and that we would have some enthusiasm."
The Post and Courier
They did. They beat the Bulldogs, 45-17. But they probably could have defeated the smaller military college without the aid of the Holy Spirit.
It brings into question whether coaches at public universities really have the right to invoke their religious beliefs on their players.
Granted, most players at Clemson are probably Christian and see no problem with Tommy Bowden occasionally mandating church attendance or his coaching staff using the word of God as the Thesaurus for their playbook of life and football.
But there's a time and place.
"I wanted us to be spirit-filled when we walked onto that field today," Spence said after quoting the Old Testament about small beginnings. "I just thank God that he provided that today."
Priority list
The insinuation is that God cares about your football team. And that He cares more about your football team than the football team you are playing.
While I'm sure He does to some extent, I truly hope He cares about more important things, like starving people, political tyranny and various wars raging around the world.
All the people on the short end of those ropes are praying to somebody. Which takes precedence?
It's interesting that Bowden and his Clemson staff emphasize religion so much and use it as a recruiting tool on young athletes. Meanwhile, I've never heard South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier even mention religion, one way or the other. Both men, I'm sure, are treated equally in the eyes of the Lord on game day.
The bottom line is that we should leave God out of sports. Give Him a pass. Let Him sit in the press box, be neutral and enjoy the game.
Because in the scheme of all things big and small, the enthusiasm of your offensive linemen is probably pretty far down His priority list.
Honest to God.
Reach Ken Burger at kburger@postandcourier.com or (843) 937-5598.
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Comments
goosecreek_guy (anonymous) says...
Wow, I hope that was completely satirical, because you have no concept of who the true christian God is. This God has the ability to handle all things from starving children to the safety of football players... God is limitless. Players know what they're getting into before they play for Coach Bowden. Must have been a slow sports news day to bring this story to the public. These are called values... America should consider imparting them more often into our younger generations... "it takes a village."
September 11, 2008 at 4:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bearsfan88 (anonymous) says...
Berger, I have read some ignorant things from you in past but this goes down as number ONE.
September 11, 2008 at 6:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bearsfan88 (anonymous) says...
Well i guess i need to spell your name correct. BURGER
September 11, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willx45x (anonymous) says...
With all of the problems in both the world and sports, you would think this guy could find something better to write about. I'm mostly an agnostic, but I think it's GREAT any time a coach gets his players to think about a higher power and to do things the right way. We need MORE God in sports and schools, not less. Many of our problems as a society can be traced back to the systematic destruction of traditional values in our places of education. Kudos to Bowden for creating a Christian environment for these young men. Burger, you are a ditz.
Unfortunately for Tommy, it's going to take more than God to save his job this year.
September 11, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Mr. Burger, you sometimes get something wrong just as everyone does. I would never have guessed that you would have so many things at one time. You've got to be tweaking us today. If not, this article reflects an overwhelming ignorance of the nature of God. To top it off, I have no doubt that the over-18-year-old players, coaches, parents, and assorted associates have a pretty good idea of what they want to learn, practice, and strive for. I cannot imagine anyone who did not want to be there being forced to participate.
September 11, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ed52 (anonymous) says...
it's all about recruiting ken. mommies think their babies are in good hands . remember, what happens at clemson stays at clemson.
September 11, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BeeAttitude (anonymous) says...
"Charleston.net" has a disclaimer for reader's comments. The disclaimer, however, should be for articles like Berger's. I wouldn't want to be liable for anything written as ridiculous as that! The poster above is right, the ideas contained in this article suggest ignorance, pure and simple. I do agree with you, Berger, on one point, however; there are bigger issues in life, the most important of which is the soul of a man. So by deduction, I would say that you are pretty far up there on God's priority list. Yes you, Berger -- your soul -- is more important to God than a football game. Honest to God! And as for the little things, like football games and Christian coaches who pray with their players about such things, remember this: "The fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16. Might I suggest an amazing, eye-opening new book to you called "The Winner's Manual" by Ohio State Head Football Coach Jim Tressel who, by the way, is another one of those praying Christian coaches.
September 11, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DCartisan (anonymous) says...
No where in the article did a coach pray to win a game. They prayed for enthusiasm and spirit in their play that day. They probably asked for safety of ALL players & fans. They seem to be smart enough not to ask that they win and the other team loses.
September 11, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CU03 (anonymous) says...
Burger you are such an idiot. Please find something to write about. YOu need to be demoted to the Berkeley Democrat.
September 11, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
Let's take a moment to recognize what Rob Spence said without all the Ken Burger commentary.
"We prayed this morning that God would breathe some spirit and life into us and that we would have some enthusiasm.............I wanted us to be spirit-filled when we walked onto that field today,"
.........and Burger found something wrong in these comments. Wow!!!
I seem to remember you being suffering a bout with an illness in the recent past Mr. Burger. Did YOU not pray for yourself?
Rob Spence prayed with his players for his players and you passed judgment upon the act. Shame on YOU Mr. Burger!!!!
September 11, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
devilsadvocate77 (anonymous) says...
But the coach only prays to his god.
Did he ever ask the players if maybe they want to have the group prayer to someone else's god? Are there no Jews on the team, maybe a Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Methodist. Do they not get a chance to pray to thier god before a game? How about just avoid the whole god thing and just say 'play a good game men'.
September 11, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
surfer (anonymous) says...
I just want to take this time to thank Ken Burger. By writing a piece as ignorant as this you you have united ALL of the fans (Carolina, Clemson, etc.) who read the P&C online on the most important thing in life, God. We all just took a second out of bickering over how Clemson hasn't lived up to expectations and Carolina footbal has never amounted to anything to agree that God is huge, huger than you can even imagine. Burger your problem is you tried to put God in a box. Literally you want him to sit in the press box and be neutral? Come on now, think about what your saying. As a Carolina fan who grew up going to Citadel games as well I have no problem (and actually fully agree) with the prayer that Rob Spence prayed before the game. The comments are spot on, we should have MORE God in sports, not less.
September 11, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Zod (anonymous) says...
Hey Devil,
I dare say that in this land, there are more orphans with no male role model to speak of than Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu. Given the choice of providing hope at the risk of offending the other, I'll take the good over the bad.
September 11, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
laughing (anonymous) says...
He makes sense and I can see where he's coming from. You may not agree with it but c'mon...haven't you at least once thought "Please, God, please let him catch that pass..." lol
September 11, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Concerned_Citizen (anonymous) says...
Thank you, Mr. Berger, for saying this, though I'm afraid you're in the wrong part of the world to get a reasonable response, as evidenced by the previous comments. It seems obvious to any thinking person that representatives of a state-supported institution should not be promoting ANY religion, but since the one they're promoting is shared by the overwhelming majority of players, students, alumni, and fans, it's a pretty safe bet that things aren't going to change. A great many players, in fact, chose Clemson specifically because of the super-Christian environment, so you won't hear them complaining. You might as well come out against the heat in summer - like Christianity, it's just a fact of life around here.
September 11, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
VMI90 (anonymous) says...
oh god...here come the holy rollers again....
September 11, 2008 at 10:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Maximus4 (anonymous) says...
Thats a recruiting tool. Thats said as the guys are recruited about the Christian environment. The kids know about it before they go to school there. There are lots of schools who put that out there. If the kids agree to go to that particular school, they know what they are doing and they obviously have no problem with it. But, lets have the media cause a negative perspective on religion.
We're changing our ways and its not good.
This has nothing to do with football...it has to do with religion. Because someone is giving young men of our future a positive outlook and a way to cope with every day life...that becomes a problem. A majority of our grandparents were strong christians...it was a way of life, and most of us, if not all, loved our grandparents, and cherished what they thought us. Most of them taught of God's word....so are we going to say our grandparents are crazy or wrong for doing that? We were young kids, we didnt know any better.....
Same thing with this situation. There is nothing wrong with it. The one thing is....we are not what we use to be...and the problem is, no one cares about THE BOOK anymore. We're so afraid of offending someone. If you dont want to be included then excuse yourself. Plain and simple. I mean we dont pray in school anymore...and we wont to remove "UNDER GOD" from the pledge. And WHO causes all this acknowledgement to do these things.....THE MEDIA! Otherwise its a community battle, that needs to be sorted with the community.
September 11, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JRob (anonymous) says...
No, they should not. The players are (or should be) grown men and can think for themselves as to what they believe (or don't believe).
September 11, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
VMI90 (anonymous) says...
James, that's the best comment posted here. I don't believe in God, at least not the conservative view of him, but I will be praying to some higher authority on saturday!
September 11, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
The way this article was written you'd think the coach prayed that God should ignore the starving and terminally ill children so they could win the game.As if God says hmmmmm put this child's cancer in remission or have the Tigers win-screw it.....GO TIGERS!!!Geez.
September 11, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mbtiger76 (anonymous) says...
Great article, Ken. Right on the money.
September 11, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
supersoph (anonymous) says...
I am USC Grad and i believe both schools staffs have christians and coach Spurrier expresses his faith differently than coach Bowden, but thats ok with me.
September 11, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MsPiggy (anonymous) says...
Wow---this is the first time an article on sports received this many comments!
September 11, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willbillbedamned (anonymous) says...
No way he should have mandatory church attendance. I agree with the article.
September 11, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chefstyle (anonymous) says...
Fortunately, God does care! He cares about our EVERY need and desire. He is concerned about us! He is there for us in each aspect of our lives--including sports. And notice, Rob Spence didn't pray for a win. He prayed for spirit and life in the team and enthusiastic play--and it's very likely that God can give that to each team involved in the game. Also, you are right, God cares about starving people and political tyranny. The good news is He is onmiscient, omnipresent and omnipotent--being every where, knowing all-things and having the power to do it all--so He cares about the small things, too! Ken, He's God! Anyway, I am proud to be a Clemson Alum because we have the strength to stand through it all...even persecution. Praise God!
September 11, 2008 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
devilsadvocate77 (anonymous) says...
Oristo
You are missing the point. There are 30 million Hindu, 6 million Muslins, 500 million Buddists (Google it) who think your jesus christ is a fallacy and hokey just like you think their buddha is a little idol. That is the hypocrisy of religion...they try to teach tolerance, but god forbid (pun intended) if you do not believe in their false prophet. Better be ready for a fight.
September 11, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
powwow25 (anonymous) says...
Fortunately for us, Mr. Berger, God doesn't have call-waiting. He encourages us, in fact, to pray "without ceasing", and doesn't limit us to only praying for the "really big issues". BUT speaking of things like starving people, orphans, and countries torn apart by war or natural disaster...God answers their prayers by sending his servants (you know, those same Christians you want to stifle) to care for them and minister to them.
My son plays sports year-round. He spends more time with his coaches than just about anyone. Fortunately, he has been blessed with coaches who realize that they are not just "play coordinators" or "practice supervisors" - they are "character developers". Maybe if other coaches accepted that role, we wouldn't have so many professional athletes in the news creating some of those problems we have to pray for...
September 11, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
VMI90 (anonymous) says...
wow....I am worried there might be some snake handling getting ready to happen here...wow you guys really need to get a grip- religion is a personal decision, we really don't need you trying to push your own crazy beliefs on all of us.
All praise to Miller Lite.
September 11, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cte (anonymous) says...
wow Burger. I'm sorry, but this is stupid.
September 11, 2008 at 1:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
huj (anonymous) says...
Although I do believe there is nothing wrong at all with God or any other Supreme Being in sports (morality is needed today more than ever IMO), if Bowden is indeed "mandating church attendance", even occasionally, I think that crosses the line.
September 11, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
I played rugby when I was in high school and used to lead my team in prayer before each game. We wouldn't pray for victory but rather for the safety of our players and those on the opposing team. I don't think that God really cares one way or another who wins, but I do think it's appropriate to pray if you're praying for everyone's safety and that there are no injuries.
September 11, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
VMI90 (anonymous) says...
good for you, oristo...but you really don't need to keep pushing your faith in our direction- we get it, your saved..have fun with that.
If you really want to "preach the message", then you might want to try a little bit less of an in your face approach- or as my dear old dad used to say, "turn the volume down". You might find that approach may work better for you.
September 11, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
powwow25 (anonymous) says...
VMI90, what is more "in your face" than a printed newspaper article? Maybe if the MEDIA stopped pushing THEIR LACK of faith in our direction, we wouldn't feel so compelled to set them straight on their false and misleading statements about Christianity. Funny you don't seem to mind when Christian churches head out to take care of the starving children, AIDS orphans, hurricane victims, etc. that the secular world finds too "inconvenient" to bother with. Fun indeed.
September 11, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tiger45 (anonymous) says...
Tommy Bowden has never had a mandatory church attendance for his players. They are invited and choose to go of their own free will. Most players express their own faith and are happy with the fact that their coaches know there is more to life than football.
September 11, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SOSblows (anonymous) says...
Does anyone think a penguin could beat up an emu? What if the emu was just getting over a cold and wasn't at full strenth?
September 11, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
VMI90 (anonymous) says...
Obviously, powwow, you really didn't read my post. I was pointing out that one poster who was pushing his faith here. You need to get off of your high horse and listen. It is not the media's job to push faith. However, they do have a faith and values section if that gets your rocks off.
Let me guess- you are a card-carrying member of the christian coalition- yes I spelled it in lower case for a reason- they are not worthy of recognition. That is the same group that says the government should not get involved in feeding the homeless, welfare to help the indigent, working on health care and maybe and AIDS vaccine. Oh you forgot that, didn't you. Boy, the hypocricy with the so-called religious right never ends.
September 11, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
VMI90 (anonymous) says...
and one more thing..I probably do more volunteer work in a month than you most of you hypocrites that go to church on sunday do in a year.
September 11, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Beat Burger takes on a whole new meaning...hehehehe
Written at about the level acceptable for the Post and Courier.
September 11, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SOSblows (anonymous) says...
I honestly think the penguin would hold its own versus the emu. Low center of gravity would be a huge advantage for the penguin.
September 11, 2008 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SOSblows (anonymous) says...
Although the emu does have the speed and agility.
September 11, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
VMI90 (anonymous) says...
I never said I was, oristo. Good for you for charity work. One more thing, if you called me a MS- I am actually male. Nice insult from a "so called" man of god. Way to go!
September 11, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chs294 (anonymous) says...
What stood out to me, "Granted, most players at Clemson are probably Christian " and "All the people on the short end of those ropes are praying to somebody. Which takes precedence?"
I don't know anyone's heart but knowing college athletics (especially football) I would be shocked if the first statement is true, at any school.
The second statement, irrelavent and impossible to know/answer until we see God face to face. One day Tommy Bowden has to answer for how he lived his life and it will have nothing to do with wins and losses or how many touches Spiller and Davis had. And that's not for any of us to judge. Good article Ken. I don't agree with most but sometimes that's the point.
September 11, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chilly4life (anonymous) says...
The Lord doesn't favor one team over another.
Pointing to the sky after a touchdown or home run
is nothing but show boating. Athletics & religion
do not go hand in hand.
September 11, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SOSblows (anonymous) says...
I guess it would depend on where they fought. Obviously, if it where in the water the penguin would dominate as would the emu in a grassy field. How about in a field where its been sleeting for two hours.
September 11, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chs294 (anonymous) says...
I can respect that chilly but what does religion go hand in hand with? Just church? Charity? Sometimes it seems this argument is a dichotomy at best and hypocrasy at worse. -Religion should stay personal and in the church vs. -you Christians talk a good game in your Sunday meetins' but do nothing in the "real world". I'm not all about hitting anyone over the head with a 8 pound leather bound Bible(that'd be funny to see though) but my hope is to show some of that bible in how I live.
September 11, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chs294 (anonymous) says...
Hold on a minute!! Is this a home and home series? And is the emu getting a take of the gate? This really wasn't thought through. I'm not even sure the penguin has any eligibilty left.
September 11, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bkeelin (anonymous) says...
Somebody touts their faith in Christ and it's interpreted as shoving it down somebody else's throat. Talk about hypocrisy. You shove your secular humanism down our throats and we are supposed to say thank you, I don't think so. VMI me thinks thou dost protest too much. I think you know there is a God and you are scared that one day you are going to have to answer to Him and you don't want to be reminded of that. I think there is a lot of that in this world. I hope one day you find out how much He loves you and ask for His forgiveness and His help living the life God intended for you to live. I pray that prayer for all who don't have a personal relationship with Christ. Christianity is about relationship not religion. You cannot earn your way into Heaven with good works. Read the Bible, it's in there.
As for Burger he clearly needs an encounter with the real God of this Universe.
September 11, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Ronalde (anonymous) says...
Well then the advantage would have to go to the penguin. Sort of a home field advantage. After all, they've been known to cover hundreds of miles under such conditions while a emu hardly ever sees such conditions. If I were the emu, I would pray for a sudden heat wave to level the playing field.
September 11, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BiffaloBuff (anonymous) says...
This one's easy. Take the emu and the points.
The penguin is a notorious big game choker. Besides, Rob Spence prayed that the emu would be spirit-filled.
September 11, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
agoodsongmaker (anonymous) says...
Wow! For once (and only once) Obama might have gotten it right...take the laptop from the journalist and you still got a pig...oh, wait, that was lipstick...this article sounds just like this Obama mantra...take prayers from kids, kill kids (abortion) before you have to deal with takin' their prayers from 'em and if you have to, teach 'em in kindergarden about sex and gays and lesbians and how everythings ok, except things that are ok, and right, and good and decent and pure...Ken, The bible says that everything was created thru and By Him, Jesus of Nazereth and that by him all things 'consist'...I don't believe God is going to have any trouble addressing the needs of the poor, the sick, football teams who acknowldge Him and journalist who don't know better....God Bless!
September 11, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kayaker (anonymous) says...
Ken hits the cross on the head.
Can any sane person believe that the big kahuna favors his football team?
Can anyone explain why the big guy favors his/her team over the opponent?
Evangelists are sooo delusional!!!
September 11, 2008 at 8:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lrbostic (anonymous) says...
i think you are missing the point. they are asking god to be the center of their lives. i believe they understand that god only cares about how they react to their daily lives. if losing a ball game would help someone be a better person there is a possibility god might not object. who knows god could use this article you wrote to make you a better person. i beleive that each person is an everlasting spirit in a worldly body. we are influenced by an evil spirit and the holy spirit. i hope(for your sake) that the good spirit has a major influence in your life. we shall be known by the fruit that we bare. you can bare fruit as a coach or a sports writer
September 11, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Billybobinclt (anonymous) says...
Spurrier's father was a minister and I've never heard him preach at nor knew him to require his players to adhere to his religious practices and yet he won 7 Conference titles at Florida... That's SEC Titles, by the way...and a National Championship and an ACC Title while at Duke. Let me just repeat that.... He won an ACC Title while at Duke.
Tommy Swaggart-Bowden on the other hand has won......... ZERO titles. And if anyone thinks his "suggestions" to his players to attend his church functions are not mandatory for the weaker or marginal players you're a fool.
Swaggert-Bowden might consider abandoning his brand of hate filled, down-your-throat style religion and try whatever Spurrier (and/or Saban) is using. Maybe then he can win a conference title in the weakest league in America.
September 12, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tito (anonymous) says...
Good write up Ken. I hate religious zealots, especially those that keep girl beaters on their teams.
September 12, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
South Carolina raises it's collective religious head, and shows its collective lack of rational thought. Look at how many people in these posts actually believe that god would really change the outcome of a football game based on who prays the best. These are the people who gather at gas stations and pray for god to lower the price of gas, or think they can pray away a hurricane. The same god who visits drought and hunger on innocent children will influence a football game because this coach prayed better than the other. And you wonder why we're the laughingstock of the united states...
September 14, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chs294 (anonymous) says...
I don't think anyone (or very many) have said it's about praying to win. Maybe Mr. Bowden sees beyond the football season and the next 4 years of these kid's lives.
I know God is interested in my work so why should I think He's not interested in Tommy Bowden's?
If we are indeed "the laughingstock" then I'll take that over the other options of non-faith.
September 15, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
buffetfn1 (anonymous) says...
Just a suggestion. Stick to reporting sports scores. That's what you're getting paid for. I just found a quick way to save 13.50 every month. The customer service rep asked me why I was cancelling. This is the exact reason. It's no wonder newspapers are going down the drain. Too many people feel the need to inject their opinions as opposed to reporting the news/sports etc.....I'm out...
September 16, 2008 at 1:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
laurasmorris (anonymous) says...
The Bible also says
Matthew 6:5-6: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men....when thou prayest, enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret...."
Seems to me a football stadium is awfully public and somebody needed to say so. Thanks, Ken, for saying it.
September 18, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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