Bad Examples

I was recently reading a copy of "The Commission" (a Southern Baptist magazine on missions). In it was an article about a young eastern european convert who had a possibility to play for his national soccer team. After he converted he decided that soccer was his idol and that in order to really follow Christ he was going to have to give up his chances at a professional career. I do not know this individual and it may be that in his case that that was a great decision. That is why I have not directly quoted and have been vague about the event. I am not interested in criticizing that particular person for his decision that I know nothing (directly) about.

However, the attitude that if you really love Jesus, something that you are really good at and takes up a lot (or even most) of your time is a bad thing or an idol... that is garbage. If you are good at something and you like it, well, there just is not much of a decision (again we are not concerned with the above mentioned individual case). What I do not like is when people hold this sort of example up as an example for others to follow. "... but G-d made me fast..." comes to mind (from "Chariots of Fire") as a more appropriate response.

Every believer should understand that G-d does not need them in the strictest sense. So He does not need a professional soccer player- and He does not need another missionary- and He does not need another Christian. Everyone of us was made a certain way and if you have certain talents and desires, you should think twice before you throw them to the wind.