Do You Kneel Before the Sport’s God?

Has sports become your golden calf? - Clint Decker

Is Sunday football a casual interest or something more? Does your love for sports go beyond a form of entertainment, recreation or exercise to an obsession? (Image by freepik)

Thousands of years ago the people of Israel escaped their Egyptian slave masters for freedom. As they fled, Moses often spent time with God seeking Him for guidance in governing the people. Once he was alone with God for 40 days, and as the time passed the people began to doubt if Moses would return, so they looked to Aaron, Moses’ brother. He became their new leader, and they sought his help in finding a new god. He led them to craft a golden calf, where the leaders of the people said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:4).

Israel replaced the Lord God with a golden calf because of their impatience. What they once looked to God for, they quickly cast aside for something of their own creation.

This illustrates the human condition. Without realizing it, we are constantly looking to somewhere, something or someone else besides the Lord God, to satisfy us and give us what only God can provide.

Sometimes sports can become one of those replacements. It is a multi-billion-dollar world-wide industry that is a deep part of the fabric of our culture. This is evidenced by how much time and money it consumes for millions of families. From a form of entertainment to passionate participation, from sports gambling to investing in it as a business, or having it the centerpiece of an entire community.

Has sports become our golden calf?

Do you look to sports for happiness, success, financial gain or meaning? The answer can be different for each person. Let me clarify, it is not about sports itself, but the attitude with which you view it. Similarly, the problem was not the golden calf itself, but how the people of Israel viewed it. They looked to it as a god, to give themselves what only the Lord God could give. The golden calf, like sports, is a creation of this world. We built the games. We built the teams. We built the industry. The Bible says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17)

There is a difference between enjoying and loving. Loving refers to a dangerous obsession, where something becomes like a god to us. Have you crossed that line with sports?

The Scripture says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 16:25) The things of this world deceive us. They draw us along into thinking that what we need is found in them. However, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6) Though we may find short-term happiness in our team winning or success in sports betting. True life, the kind we were created for, is only found in Jesus.

He came to suffer, die and rise again to show us where life is. It is found in Christ. Every other way outside of Him is a fake, and cheap replacement, no matter if it is sports or something else. Today, experience forgiveness for all the wrongs you have done, and discover who you were made for. Jesus.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray that you will examine our hearts. Show us if we have a misplaced priority of sports in our life. May we seek you for forgiveness if we do, and may Jesus become our consuming passion. Whether our teams win or lose or our child excels or not, may our eyes always be fixed on you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A World Seeking God in the Face of Evil

Why would someone kill another person just because he did not like their ideas? - Clint Decker

“What do think about what happened to Charlie Kirk?”, I asked an employee of the venue where I had just spoken. And to my surprise, his eyes immediately began to swell up with tears as he quietly spoke, “How could someone do that? He was a husband and father. Just because they disagreed with him?” (Photo by Kevin Luke on Unsplash)

Charlie was a globally known figure whose death happened before an audience of thousands of college students that was also live-streamed and video recorded. Rarely, if ever, has a person been killed in cold blood as millions watched. Even as time has passed since his tragic death, it does not remove the questions. Why would someone kill another person because he did not like their ideas? Why would multitudes celebrate his death? How could this be done to someone so young, just 31, and married a few years with young children? A husband and a father. It has left millions shocked, horrified, grieved and angered, leading to genuine soul-searching. What does someone’s atheism, agnosticism or lukewarm Christianity have to say about this? The gruesome tragedy has left people searching for answers.

God declares murder a violation of His holy law. He also states that, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil.” (1 John 3:8) The assassination of Charlie Kirk was a sinful evil act that was of the devil.

Death, suffering, unexplainable tragedy and appalling evil, there is a mystery to it all where we are left with unanswered questions. In light of this God says, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:6-9)

This is what scores of people are doing following Charlie’s death. In the face of incomprehensible evil, they are turning to seek the Lord while He may be found. One taxi driver told a passenger, “After learning about what happened to Charlie Kirk, it was a wake-up call. I’m getting baptized this Sunday.” Today, come to Jesus and turn from your disobedient ways. Put away the pornography, alcohol and drugs. Put away the pursuit of riches and success at the expense of your family. Put away selfishness and pride. Then turn to Christ with all your heart. For He died a sacrificial death for you. He took all your failures and destructive choices upon Himself. Then He triumphantly rose from the dead, defeating death, sin and evil. Because of that, you can be pardoned and set free from chains that have entangled you. Jesus is ready to have compassion on you. He is ready to show you grace and mercy. Come to Him by faith!

When you do, He has a mission awaiting. He changes you to send you. He says, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15) Why was Charlie on the Utah campus when he was killed? Doing just that. He was sent by God to share His glorious gospel with those precious college students through debating ideas. Do you know what his first question was about? Christianity versus another religion. Before he was killed on the second question, he shared the good news of Jesus Christ on the first.

Be courageous like Charlie. Go and share the truth of God’s Word. Stand for what is wise, right and good at school, work, in the church, in government and among friends and family.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for those who are left searching for answers following Charlie’s death. Help them to forsake their ways and come to the foot of Jesus’ cross for your forgiveness.

Charlie Kirk’s Death: Will The Church Rise Up?

Church leaders, Charlie Kirk's death has affected your congregation and community. Will you rise up to capture this moment for the furtherance of the gospel? – Clint Decker

Experts say on average, approximately 150,000 people die daily across the world. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was just one of those thousands that were lost. However, the evidence is overwhelming that the impact of his death rises to monumental levels like that of 9/11 or the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King, Jr. Before I began my message on Sunday I asked the church, “How many of you have heard of Charlie Kirk?” Nearly every hand went up. However, prior to September 10th, just a few in the church knew who he was. Pastors, this current event has affected your congregation and community. Are you capturing this moment for the furtherance of the gospel? Are you providing a pastoral and biblical response to the tragedy? (image from Charlie Kirk's funeral where the gospel was preached)

When Jesus began His public ministry, every day He worked at getting His message out through preaching, teaching and doing signs and wonders that people might believe and follow Him. However, as He went about each day, there always seemed to be interruptions.

On one occasion we see where Jesus was given the news about a terrible event, “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.’” (Luke. 13:1-5) Jesus did not ignore the event, but directly addressed it, along with a second one. Look at how He did it. He rose above the politics, which they may have been trying to draw Him into, and spoke to the spiritual side, using it as an opportunity to preach the gospel. We see this repeatedly in Jesus’ ministry.

Church leaders, prayerfully observe the impact of Charlie Kirk’s death. Take some time. When you do, you will see the hot embers of revival and awakening are there. Do not miss this moment to preach the gospel and strengthen the church through it.

Yes, Charlie was deeply involved in politics. Yes, he took strong positions on a number of moral, cultural and political issues. For that alone, some church leaders may steer clear of him, but please do not be among those. He was also a committed Christian that publicly and privately lived for Christ and openly talked about Him before college students and powerful politicians.

Read these comments from just a few people, which are all over social media by the thousands, “I am 40 years old, and have five kids ages 20 to two and haven’t been to church in six years. This past Sunday we all went and will be going every Sunday from now on.” “I'm a 14-year-old girl and Charlie changed my life.” “I came off my faith, but the day he died I turned to Jesus.” “I think Jesus is knocking at my heart after Charlie's death.” “God has not been spoken so much in my house before Charlie died. His sacrifice has re-ignited in our household a love for God.”

Sarah Holliday, from The Washington Stand, succinctly wrote about Charlie’s death, “Across social media and news outlets, a groundswell is emerging. People are confessing ‘I’ve never been to church, but I’m feeling a pull to attend a Sunday service.’ Friends and family have shared with me that their churches were overflowing…a phenomenon echoed nationwide. Alongside this, lifelong atheists and skeptics are turning to prayer and seeking out Bibles…” Additionally, over 200,000 people attended Charlie’s funeral with over 100 million watching around the world, where the gospel message was given repeatedly with a call to Christ.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray for church leaders that you would open their eyes to see how the fields of people’s souls are ripe for harvest. May you give them wisdom and courage to embrace this moment for the sake of the Kingdom of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.