Indeed, the percentage is much higher than a paltry 25%, but 25% at LEAST are really awful when it comes to theological astuteness and acuity. Why? Because at least 25% of Americans actually think God influences the outcome of sporting events!
As millions look forward to watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, a new poll finds more than a quarter of Americans believe God “plays a role in determining which team wins” at sporting events, CNN reports. Asked if they believe God plays a role in who wins, 27 percent of Americans said yes. The survey by the Public Religion Research Institute also found that more than half of Americans believe “God rewards athletes who have faith with good health and success.”
Let me assist those misguided ignorant souls with a brief lesson in theology:
1- Sports don’t matter. God concerns himself with things that do matter.
2- God may well care about the health and welfare of athletes, but that has absolutely NOTHING to do with the final score.
3- There is not one single rightly exegeted biblical text which supports the false teaching that God influences sports scores.
4- The supposition that God influences the outcome of games turns God into little more than a petty tyrant who picks winners and losers.
5- Your God is too small if you believe he does such things.
And finally, as my esteemed Systematic Theology professor put it back in College- “God Don’t Care Who Wins No Ball Game!” – Prof. Dr. Paul Brewer.
My fellow Americans, before you presume to speak for God- first, don’t. And second, if you must, then at least have the good manners to try to learn something first. But really, do just shut up about God unless you have the wherewithal to do it without lying.
God is for us, ’cause He wants to be on the right side.
Your post reminds me of a talk by the chaplain of Manchester United Football (sorry- soccer) Club. He would pray for the safety of the players, the fans and for an interesting game but never for a particular outcome.