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Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy Saturday night as the nation’s top college player. Here’s why his recognition is so unique: he plays both offense (wide receiver) and defense (cornerback) for the Colorado Buffaloes. In these roles, he earlier received the Bednarik Award, given to the top defensive player in college football, and the Biletnikoff Award, honoring the nation’s top wide receiver.
No one in history has ever won both. No wonder the Wall Street Journal calls him “the hardest working man in college football.”
Now consider another big football story in the news: linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, upset that he had been benched earlier, refused to enter the San Francisco 49ers game last Thursday night. General Manager John Lynch then went down to the sideline, confronted the linebacker, and sent him to the locker room. The team is now reportedly planning to suspend Campbell for three games, ending his season.
Let’s consider the contrast between Travis Hunter and De’Vontre Campbell as a thought experiment.
The twin temptations of our day
Football players have a unique platform in American culture, as Parker Jones shows in his recent article, “Boise State’s faith-driven journey to the College Football Playoffs.” They are visible in ways few others can match today. To be successful in the public eye, they must combine personal character with public performance.
It is this combination that points to the twin temptations American evangelicals face today.
On one hand, our theology emphasizes the sovereignty and omnipotence of God for our salvation and flourishing. We know that our works cannot save us and that all we have comes from the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8–9). As a result, we are tempted by the sin of presumption, of trusting God to do what we should be doing instead.
On the other hand, our culture emphasizes the values of self-reliance and hard work. We are told that the harder we work, the better we do. We celebrate players and people who give their all and rightly depreciate those who do not. As a result, we are tempted by the sin of self-reliance, of trusting ourselves to do what only God can do.
“If you can’t handle tension, you can’t do biblical theology”
The Bible clearly speaks to both sides of this balance. We are commanded repeatedly to give our best in what we do:
- “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
- “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor” (Proverbs 14:24).
- “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
And yet we are told:
- “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
- “Trust in the Lᴏʀᴅ with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
- “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16).
And at times we are told to do both: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
Such tension is found throughout biblical revelation. In systematic theology, the first seminary class I ever took, our professor began the semester by stating, “If you can’t handle tension, you can’t do biblical theology.” He proceeded to cite the foundational tenets of our faith: God is three and yet one; Jesus is fully divine and fully human; the Bible is divinely inspired and humanly written; God is sovereign and we are free.
In each case, the Bible affirms both sides of the apparent conflict and calls us to do the same.
“As I work, God works”
Regarding our thought experiment, Dr. Fisher Humphries gave us great wisdom some years ago in his theology textbook Thinking About God when he suggested simply: “As I work, God works.”
As we do our best, we position ourselves to experience God’s best. When we serve God fully, we fully experience God’s provident omnipotence. Then we can say with Paul, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
A passion for excellence coupled with a deep dependence on God is the path to a relationship with Christ that changes us and changes our world.
- Paul testified, “For three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears” (Acts 20:31). And yet he experienced victory over his fallen nature only “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25). His passion-driven Christ-dependence changed the world.
- Martin Luther translated the entire Bible into German, creating a unified language in the process. He wrote hymns we still sing and catalyzed a Reformation that changed history. And yet he testified: “I simply taught, preached, wrote God’s Word; otherwise I did nothing. And while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my friends Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that no prince or emperor ever inflicted such losses upon it. I did nothing; the Word did everything.
St. Augustine is credited with saying,
“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.”
How fully will you do both today?
2024-12-16 20:00:00
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