“He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.” John 1:6-8 (ESV)

Witness

As a follower of Christ and as an avid sports fan, it has started to irritate me the way we revere and talk up our stars by giving them certain nicknames. I understand they may just be fun ways to mention the athlete, and it may just be marketing, but when we peel away the layers, we find idolatry. 

For instance, let’s look at LeBron James. He had been dubbed the king, the truth, and the savior of Cleveland. Nike had a campaign simply called witness. It is not right for us as followers of Christ to refer to anyone other than Christ Himself as the King, the Truth, or the Savior. I think we need to apply Paul’s teaching about the world in general to the world of sports; we can be in it, but don’t have to be of it.

I challenge you to listen with a careful ear and speak with a cautious tongue when conversing about our sports “heroes.” We should set the standard and make it clear that the only thing we are a witness of is the grace, the power, the majesty, the only Truth, of the only King, of the only Savior, Jesus Christ.

— Ryan DiNunzio

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