Wimpy Athletes and Sissy Christians

I found this article the other day and couldn't help but share it..... Would love to hear your thoughts after reading it.

Wimpy Athletes and Sissy Christians

by Tim Ellsworth Date: Sep 7, 2007

JACKSON, Tenn. (BP)--One of the common myths that continue to persist about Christian athletes is that they’re not competitive enough, not aggressive enough, to succeed in the sports world.

A prime example is a recent story I read on mlb.com about Tampa Bay Devil Rays shortstop Ben Zobrist. The writer made a point to mention that Zobrist is a devout Christian, “which has prompted some to question his competitiveness,” the story says.

Let’s see here. Albert Pujols is a Christian. So is Tony Dungy. John Smoltz is, too. Oh yeah, and Sean Alexander. Lance Berkman, Bobby Bowden, Mariano Rivera, Dwight Howard, Joe Gibbs and many others -- nobody’s questioning their competitiveness because they are Christians.

While it seems like a silly question, there has to be a reason why these myths live on. Why is it that people unconnected with church and unfamiliar with Christianity believe that the Christian faith saps the competitiveness from athletes?

Perhaps there’s such a misconception about Christians being “soft” for the same reason that prompted David Murrow to write the book “Why Men Hate Going to Church.” Murrow’s conclusion is that “manly men” have all but abandoned the church because churches are predominantly catered to women.

“Tough, earthy, working guys rarely come to church,” Murrow writes. “High achievers, alpha males, risk takers, and visionaries are in short supply. Fun-lovers and adventurers are also underrepresented in church. These rough-and-tumble men don’t fit in with the quiet, introspective gentlemen who populate the church today.”

Murrow says this is the case because churches have over-emphasized certain characteristics that are typically feminine qualities. “Today, a good Christian is known mostly for meekness, sensitivity, passivity, and sweetness,” he writes. “This standard of Christian behavior is very tough on men (even those who are sold out to Jesus) while it’s easier for women to achieve.”

Murrow may be correct in his observation that church has become a place where men are uncomfortable. And if that’s the case, men have nobody to blame but themselves. They have abandoned churches for so long that it’s easy to see why church might seem more designed for women – because women are the ones who are there. Men who have failed to take the lead in churches have no right to complain that church isn’t designed for them.

Of course, lack of church attendance by men is only part of the problem. Too many fathers have washed their hands of their kids’ spiritual instruction, turning them over instead to the church for that task. If men won’t step up and take the responsibility for the spiritual welfare of their families, why should we expect them to step up and take responsibility at church?

I don’t agree with all of Murrow’s arguments. For example, I think his characterization of men who do go to church as “humble, tidy, dutiful, and above all, nice,” is a drastic generalization. In fact, I’d say that most of the men I know who are faithful church attendees don’t fit that description.

But Murrow’s underlying premise deserves some consideration, as there’s plenty of evidence that Christianity these days has indeed become something less than masculine. Churches too often stress emotions and “sharing your feelings,” something that’s anathema for most men. We sing songs with flowery language about coming to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and about falling in love with Jesus.

Fortunately, that’s not what Christianity is about. I have no interest in falling in love with Jesus. He is my sovereign king, not my wife. I’ve even heard some suggest that we need to “let Jesus make love to us.” That’s a description that simply churns my stomach, and one that is found nowhere in Scripture.

No wonder so many people question Christian athletes’ aggression and intensity, when language like this abounds in Christian circles. No wonder a lot of guys don’t want to come to church, if Jesus has to be their girlfriend. And no wonder so many men have a faulty view of Christianity as “too feminine” for them. If that’s what Christianity was about, I wouldn’t want to go to church either.

Tim Ellsworth writes this column from his home in Jackson, Tenn. Write to him at timellsworth@gmail.com or visit his blog at www.timellsworth.com for additional commentary on sports, Christianity, culture and politics.