So sometime around the big game on Sunday we'll probably see a public display of faith...after a touchdown, waiting for a game-winning fieldgoal, kneeling down on the 50 yardline after the game.  And maybe a victorious player or coach will be interviewed following the game and say something to the effect of thanking Jesus for the victory. Once again, faith and sport will mix.

It seems to me that this type of thing tends to be pretty dominated by Christians.  Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Scientologist and atheist football players tend to stay pretty quiet about God's role, or non-role in their victory.  But Arizona Cardinal quarterback Kurt Warner shouts his gratitude to Jesus into whatever microphone is presented to him.  Florida Gator Tim Tebow plays in the college football national championship game with eyeblack stickers marked "3:16" (which was the number one Google search that night, by the way.  People apparently didn't know it was short for the New Testament passage 'John 3:16'). 

Most Christians I talk to think these expressions are pretty cool testimonies of personal faith and an effective witness for Christ to nonbelievers, though some are made a little uncomfortable by such public demonstrations, or are worried about how it plays with people of other religious beliefs, or frankly don't think it's theologically proper to credit God with something as relatively trivial as the outcome of a football game. 

From a certain perspective, Christianity lends itself pretty easily to feelings of triumph and victory like those players feel after winning a game.  There is a theological tradition of seeing in the New Testament a portrayal of Christ as the "victor" who triumphs over sin and death once and for all on the cross.  A somewhat ancient name for the saints of Christ/disciples of Jesus who pass from this life to eternal life is the "Church Triumphant."  And the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians compares life on earth to an athletic contest or foot race; he keeps "straining forward" to "claim the prize" of heaven through Christ.

But does this mean that the outcome of football games have an intrinsic role to play in the outworking of God's salvation history, to the degree that God dictates the outcome of games?  Former University of Nebraska Coach and volunteer with Fellowship of Christian Athletes Ron Brown wondered aloud to reporters last week if God would glorify himself by having a faithful man like Kurt Warner, who dedicates huge amounts of time and money to nonprofit charity and ministry work, win in the Super Bowl.  Maybe he forgot that Steelers quarterback Ben Rothliesberger is also a committed evangelical Christian, if maybe a little quieter one.  I like Ron a lot, having lived in Nebraska before moving to Florida, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

To be fair, most players and coaches thank Jesus for victories out of a general attitude of thanksgiving toward God for all blessings in life, as the Bible teaches over and over, and aren't specifically crediting God with being a big fan of their particular team.  And since a Monday Night Football game against the 49ers and Giants in 1990, players from both teams (winning and losing) have knelt together after the game for prayer on the logo in the center of the field - a tradition which has continued every NFL game since then. 

But in doing so they run a risk of presenting only a very small part of Jesus' message.  Jesus wins.  But Jesus spoke of himself as one who wins for those who don't feel like winners, who have been beat down by life, left for lost, pushed to the outside, trying to be a 'winner' materialistically but coming up way short spiritually and emotionally.  Those he proclaimed as truly 'blessed' were not those basking in the triumph of their faith over the contests of life, but those who felt humble in heart, meek in spirit, and hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

And the mission of compassion and restoration of the least and last Jesus made central in his life, death and resurrection on the third day is the mission he passes on to the church.  Jesus Followers equip, encourage and challenge one another to take a quick look at the ticker tape and trophy presentations, and then walk past them to bring Jesus' love, concern and healing touch to those shuffling off the field, away from the clicking cameras, their helmets held loose at their sides, their heads bowed in defeat and discouragement.

This is what we see with a Tebow who plays with exuberant joy, and exceptional skill, on the football field but is adamant about how he puts greater stock in the third-world children he supports and visits through multiple annual mission trips.  Or when former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy gave praise to God for a Super Bowl victory three years ago, but expended the majority of his words lifting up the opposing coach and his dedication to playing the game, win or lose, "the right way," with integrity. 

The touchdowns and victory celebrations are a part of the joy of living (unless you're a Lions fan), but these faithful witnesses remind us of the really good stuff, God's greatest triumphs, the victories worth celebrating into eternity.