"I Would Kill to Play Sports" (by Todd Clippard)
[NOTE: Today marks the 35th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision, as handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. While it is tragic that the decision was ever made, it is truly sad that the effects are still being felt thirty-five years later. While the battle has been long, Christians must not give up the fight! My friend Todd Clippard sent me the following article that ran in the bulletin of the Burleson church of Christ this past Sunday, and I wanted to share it with you. I felt it was most appropriate for today. The words to his article, entitled I Will Kill to Play Sports, follow.]
Most of you know I love sports. I played sports in high school and was fortunate to play baseball at Freed-Hardeman. I still love to play basketball and other sports even to this day (though my recovery time is lengthening!). I have a profound appreciation for those who are able to play sports at the major college and professional levels. One thing that frustrates (and sometimes angers) me is to see people waste their abilities. It disturbs me to see talented people throw away their opportunities because of bad decision-making. I’ve even been known to say, “He’s throwing away an opportunity that I would’ve killed for when I was young.” Of course I’m using hyperbole to describe my frustration.
We’ve seen what some people will do to play sports. Some take performance enhancing drugs or in other ways cheat; some try to handicap their competitors. In 1994, figure skater Tonya Harding became the most famous of these when she had her ex-husband try to break fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan’s legs. In 2006, the backup punter for Northern Colorado was sentenced to seven years in prison for stabbing the starting punter in the leg in an attempt to disable him. Unfortunately, the stories get worse.
While watching an episode of ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” last week, I saw a story that absolutely floored me. The NCAA is reviewing its rules concerning the revocation of scholarships for female athletes who get pregnant. Why? Because on Mother’s Day 2007 ESPN reported that seven women on Clemson’s Track and Field team admitted to having abortions in order to keep their scholarships. One woman admitted having two abortions during her time at Clemson, and claimed one of Clemson’s administrators encouraged her to have an abortion. She is quoted as telling ESPN:
“How could this happen?” she told ESPN. “My career was going to end. I’m not going to go to the Olympics or get to finish my four years. I was just like, ‘This is a dead-end road. You’re not going anywhere else.’ “
It should be noted that in the wake of these revelations Clemson changed their revocation policy.
Romans 1:28-32 speaks of those who, because they did not retain God in their knowledge, were given over to a reprobate mind (one void of proper judgment) to do things that ought not be done. Included in this text are some manifestations of a reprobate mind. One of these manifestations is “without natural affection.” Now, if someone can explain to me how a mother can possess natural affection and kill her baby so she can play sports or go to the Olympics, I’ll be intrigued to hear your explanation.
Incidentally, this Tuesday (January 22) marks the 35th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to make the womb the most dangerous place in America. As we enter this election year, Christians should support candidates whose positions on social issues reflect those found in the scriptures.
