Category: A Christian Perspective

Full disclosure before I begin, of all the major sports, baseball has been my all-time passion. Major League Baseball has done a solid job over the years promoting the sport and recovering from past mistakes as the gambling scandal in 1919 World Series, racial segregation of the early 20^th century, and the steroid era of the 1990’s. But there is another misstep (and is saying it lightly) MLB has made that if not corrected will leave a longer lasting scar than any of the previous three I have mentioned. The game itself is a great game and nothing can change that. A perfect example of this is the current NCAA College World Series. The game is the game, and it unites us in ways that are unimaginable. But MLB is about to destroy all that for the sake of bowing to the political pressure of the culture.

By now if you have not heard three San Francisco Giants players were warned officially by MLB of a violation they committed and no such incident in the future would be tolerated. The three players wrote Bible verse on their ‘Pride Night Theme’ caps. “The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations,” MLB chief communications officer Pat Courtney told the Athletic and Outsports in a statement.” (1) The three players were expressing what the rainbow colors mean to them by displaying ‘Genesis 9:12-16.’ Landen Roupp, “When speaking to media postgame, Roupp said the message was meant to point people to ‘God’s covenant and the promise that He makes to us.’ (2) With that the San Francisco Giants offered an apology to their fans saying, “We understand that the choices by individual players has caused pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community and we are sorry for that.” (3) It is hard to understand that God’s covenant and His promises caused pain and anger among some of the fans, but that is what they say. I guess it didn’t matter to those ball players that wearing that cap may have caused them pain.  

I applaud these players for taking a stand and we need more of them. There has been much support in their direction, but there needs to be more. This is not going away soon. Where it goes from here is any ones guess. If MLB continues to please less than 10% of its fans by making 90% feel uncomfortable with nothing that relates to the game of baseball, this is a train heading over a cliff which they have built themselves. It is time to correct this wrong as in the past. Failure to do so will result in tearing away the very fabric that made this game what it is today. America’s National Pastime, Baseball, Hot Dogs, and Apple Pie.

(1) https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/mlb/san-francisco-giants/landen-roupp-bible-pride-warning/1943585/

(2) https://www.foxnews.com/outkick-sports/san-francisco-giants-pitcher-writes-bible-verse-hat-defiance-pride-night

(3) https://abc7news.com/post/san-francisco-giants-players-draw-backlash-writing-bible-verses-pride-night-caps/19305024

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.'” Genesis 1:27-28a NLT

God’s Word to us begins with His acts of creation. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!” (Gen.1:1,31a nlt) God made everything good and we could say even perfect. That includes Adam and Eve, our first parents. They were perfect in every way before they fell into sin when tempted by Satan. Although they now had a sin nature which is passed down to us, what remained perfect in them and in us is God’s perfect design of creating them male and female.

Through God’s perfect design the world has been populated for thousands of years. God told them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth.’ and they have. Populating the earth only happens when males and females get together having children. A very undeniable fact is that our very existence as a human race depends on heterosexuality. We would cease to exist if this were not the case. God’s perfect design for life itself.

The saying ‘opposites attract’ is seen in the wisdom of God. What is more opposite and different than a male and a female. Many married couples are direct opposites of one another. My wife would testify to that, but we complement each other. We are help mates for each other, although men need more help, for God has said concerning Adam “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” (Gen.2:18 nlt) God’s perfect and only design for marriage is male and female.

Our world today is in chaos and becoming more depraved every day due to sin. When God was finished with His entire creation, He said it was very good! Sin entered the picture and has distorted our view of God’s original design ever since. Do not get caught up and fooled with the thinking of the world today but remember God’s original intent especially ‘male and female he created them.’ God’s perfect design!

“The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. They did not keep God’s covenant but refused to walk according to his law. They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.” Psalm 78:9-11 ESV

The United States of America is indeed a nation that has been enormously blessed by God. From its conception two-hundred and fifty years ago until the present day, the nation has been guided by the hand of almighty God. But what was conceived and brought forth through the prayers and faith of our forefathers is about to go at it alone without God. America is on its way to a major re-set along with the rest of the world, forgetting the work of God throughout the brief history of the nation. It is being replaced with a Godless culture and secular society. We have seen the beginnings of this re-set emerging over the last seventy-five years.

Psalm 78 is both an instructive and a warning psalm. It is addressed to the children of Israel in the northern kingdom. It serves as instruction for them to not walk in the ways of their fathers and warnings of the consequences if they do. The children of Ephraim, the Ephraimites, are called out primarily due to their size as they were the largest tribe in the northern kingdom. The psalmist writes, “The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle.” (Ps. 78:9 esv) They did not turn back because of cowardice, they were anything but that, turning back signifies their refusing to obey God’s law, and forgetting His works in the past and going their own way.

Let us pray for America to not continue down this path of forgetting God’s blessings towards us as a nation and to welcome Him back into our culture and society. But on the other hand, what about each of us individually? Have we also turned our back on God? Have we forgotten the work God has done for each one of us? Do we ignore His commandments and the truth of His Word? Are we placing our wants and desires above having a relationship with Him? Are we willfully going at it alone without His help?

Forgetting the work of God in the past will lead to destruction in the future for us individually and the United States as a nation. May we not forget, but remember.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom paid a visit to America this past week. It was the first visit of a Royal English Monarch since Queen Elizabeth was invited by President George W. Bush in May of 2007. There were many notable moments from the afternoon tea with President Trump and first lady Melania, to the State Dinner, King Charles’ speech to a joint session of congress, the visit to New York city, and wrapping up in the state of Virginia, one of the original thirteen colonies. There were jabs made in jest of America’s independence from England about to celebrate 250 years, but heart-warming respect for the alliance both countries now share and have shared for over two hundred years. It was refreshing to see two heads of State and two powerful countries coming together in unity.

It is ironic for both countries that unity is missing within both the United Kingdom and the United States. The divide in the United States is far greater than in the UK, admitting I am writing from my experience as an American but it sure seems that way. Political theater has become just that in the United States, entertaining. It is said, ‘you can’t make this stuff up’ when the hypocrisy is ridiculously exposed. A case in point became known this week with a visit by a king. There have been countless rallies across America called ‘No Kings Rallies’ in opposition to President Trump. Half of America do not want a king, or a president they see as ruling as a king, but they welcomed a foreign king to their soil and honored him. In fact half of the joint session of congress stood and applauded King Charles with the man they accuse of being a king is in the same chamber. No, you can’t make this stuff up!

There is no problem with honoring King Charles III and Queen Camilla. It is the right thing to do. The manner and structure of government, although similar in some ways, is different between the two countries. The king of England serves as the Head of State performing constitutional duties and remains neutral in governing. His position ensures a well-functioned parliamentary democracy.

With all that said, what should a Christian’s perspective of kings and presidents look like? First, we are to pray for all in authority whether kings or presidents and second, there is only one king, King Jesus, who is coming back and not only for a visit but to rule the earth with peace and justice. In that day there will not be any ‘No Kings Rallies.’