Does God take sides in a ball game?

Is it right to pray to win?

Does goodness have anything to do with winning?”

A recent question was posed from the Lexington Herald Leader on their ‘Question of Faith’ blog for response from area preachers. It began with the statement: “A pretty good case can be made that throughout history, God has taken sides.” Then the 3 questions listed above were asked for our comments/response. You may find those responses online at the Herald-Leader’s faith blog. The answers will be published in the March 6^th newspaper (the weekend of the SEC tournament). However, as space is limited for the responses, and only a few sentences are actually printed, I wanted to give the entirety of my response and encourage you to read the entire responses of the others who participated in the “Question of Faith” blog in their ‘on-line’ newspaper. My response to these questions was as follows:

The situation of God taking sides throughout history does not apply to sports at all. Rather, bible history reveals that man has ‘taken sides’ by his choices as to whom he will serve. We are told that man, early in his existence ‘chose’ to go against his Creator: Romans 1:18-32 –

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Bible Trivia:

Put this verse in its correct order:

“He that believeth, is saved, and shall be baptized.”

Location: _______________

Notice that God did not cause this behavior; man CHOSE to do these things. The ‘side’ that man ought to choose is seen from these admonitions:

Joshua 24:14-15 – “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

1 Kings 18:21 – “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.”

Jesus stated in Matt. 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

The apostle Paul stated the choice that preachers face in their preaching in Gal. 1:10, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

Is there any way or ‘sense’ that God takes ‘sides’? Yes, but only in accordance with His eternal purpose for man. God purposed salvation to be ‘in Christ’ before the creation (Eph. 1:3-11; 3:9-11; Tit. 1:2). God has promised blessings for those who ‘chose’ to serve Him. He has promised ‘adoption’ as His spiritual children to those who in faith, would obey His will. Accordingly, thru the history of the bible, the righteous have been those to whom God blessed. Thus, Abel was accepted while Cain was rejected; Noah and his family were spared while the wicked destroyed; Lot was spared while Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed. So likewise will it be at judgment as the righteous few will be rewarded with heaven while the wicked majority will suffer eternal damnation (Matt. 25:34-46). It is in this sense only that God has “taken” a position.

The comparison of a Christian striving against evil to an athlete competing, is used in scripture, but in each case it is used to teach that a Christian must strive ‘lawfully’ in his ‘spiritual’ race. Notice some of these passages:

1 Cor. 9:24-27 – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Philippians 3:14 – I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:18 – Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind…

2 Tim. 2:5 – An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

2 Tim. 4:7 – I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Heb. 12:1-2 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Of the other 3 questions posed, only one can be answered in the affirmative (does goodness have anything to do w/winning); but again, ‘goodness’ is defined by God as the keeping of His commandments; not by man in terms of rooting for a ball team.

Does God take sides in a ball game? NO, God’s ‘business’ or concern is seen from Psalms 74:12. Is it right to pray to win? Prayer is not for this purpose. Does goodness have anything to do with winning? Only in life.

Roger Bruner