According to the Supreme Court, prayer is still outlawed on public grounds, but that didn’t keep a stadium full of fans and football players from praying for Damar Hamlin. Mr. Hamlin, an average 24-year-old football player for the NFL Buffalo Bills, suddenly collapsed on the field after a routine tackle. Suddenly, everyone in the stadium was praying, including commentators/analysts on ESPN - not a typical platform for religious beliefs. The NFL even changed the wording on their websites from ‘thoughts’ to prayers.
Statistics tell us that 80% of Americans believe in ‘God’ - what kind of God is to be determined by each individual. Further, approximately 25% of Atheists (no belief in God) and Agnostics (we can’t ever prove there is a God) admit that they pray to God in times of crisis. In this case, God is a lifeguard on the beach, concentrating on His tan until someone starts shouting that they are drowning. If atheists were honest with their belief system, they would not waste their time praying to a God they don’t believe in. However, in times of crisis, what else are they to do? Admit they are powerless in life’s difficulties? As they often say, Life is difficult, then you die. (David Gerrold)
Whatever their belief, the real question revolves around the faith of those millions that prayed. After Damar’s miraculous recovery, including talking to visitors and medical staff, how many of those praying now believe that God answered their prayer?
“Somehow, I have always had an inner and unaccountable conviction that any religious expression of truth, however bizarre or uncouth, is more sufficing than any secular one, however elegant and intellectually brilliant - Animistic savages prostrating themselves before a painted stone have always seemed to me to be nearer the truth than any Einstein or Bertrand Russell.”
Malcolm Muggeridge
Wall Street Journal, 01062023, Opinion Page, Barton Swaim
Now that Demar Hamlin is breathing on his own and talking to his family and doctors, I’m going to finally say what’s been on my mind….
ESPN, NFL and the Sportswriters owe Tim Tebow an apology. Don’t shun and mock Tebow for kneeling to pray, and then find yourself or one of your own in a crisis and it suddenly become acceptable. Suddenly God and prayer is allowed in your arena?
Rev 3:16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
Be for Him or against Him. You can’t pick and choose when you want God in your life. I appreciate Tim Tebow for always being a Christian man and leading with love and Christ in the forefront of everything he does. I am thankful Hamlin is alive and maybe this scary situation led others to find prayer and Christ. Accept faith and prayer and don’t ridicule those who do it.
Fullest agreement Mr. Long
David Chavers Jr (Facebook) ·
Now that Demar Hamlin is breathing on his own and talking to his family and doctors, I’m going to finally say what’s been on my mind….
ESPN, NFL and the Sportswriters owe Tim Tebow an apology. Don’t shun and mock Tebow for kneeling to pray, and then find yourself or one of your own in a crisis and it suddenly become acceptable. Suddenly God and prayer is allowed in your arena?
Rev 3:16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
Be for Him or against Him. You can’t pick and choose when you want God in your life. I appreciate Tim Tebow for always being a Christian man and leading with love and Christ in the forefront of everything he does. I am thankful Hamlin is alive and maybe this scary situation led others to find prayer and Christ. Accept faith and prayer and don’t ridicule those who do it.