Making the Choice
It
is time for we who call ourselves Christians to start making a choice.
I
was very disturbed when I learned that the Cincinnati Bengal’s quarterback
John Kittna was fined for wearing a symbol on his cap while standing on the
sidelines at a recent NFL game.
We live in a time when professional athletes are given unprecedented
latitude for expressing themselves, and I must admit, as a former coach, most of
them make me sick.
To think that the NFL would have any limitations is hard to believe, but
I guess some things are so outrageous that even professional sports must take a
stand. After
all, where is it all going to stop.
I
say all this to tell you that John Kittna was fined by the Cincinnati Bengal’s
for wearing a symbol on his cap….A CROSS!
Yes, this professional athlete decided to wear the cross of Jesus Christ
on his cap…and heaven forbid, I guess it got accidentally shown on television.
Now understand, Mr. Kittna was not asking that someone else come running out of
the stadium and profess His faith.
He was not telling anyone else of another faith what to believe.
He was only expressing who he was, a follower of Jesus Christ.
Now had he had the bloody symbol of, say, a certain famous rock star
whose signature is to tear up the Bible on stage in front of thousands of young
people, I’m sure nothing would have been said, and certainly no fine levied.
We
as Christians need to remember Jesus’ promise to us that we would be
persecuted and His challenge to us to “take up our cross and follow Him.”
In our jobs, in our lives and in our culture, we are being challenged.
We have stood back in the silence of the crowd where no one looks at us
or challenges our faith.
It may no longer be possible to keep our anonymity.
It
is time to make a choice.
Thanks John Kittna!
And for the rest of us, know that we are not alone, Christ is with
us…thanks be to God.