Zach Johnson Comments
Apr 11th, 2007 by Nathan White
As a follow-up to the controversial post here yesterday, I wanted to note that Baptist Press wrote an article on Masters Champion Zach Johnson. Among the quotes from Johnson include:
“Being Easter, my goal was the glorify God and hopefully I did that today,”
“On the 18th green, seeing my wife and our new baby, my parents and brother, I started to get emotional,” Johnson said. “I tried to stay in the moment and just started praying.”
“Because it’s Easter today, I want to say, ‘Thank You, Jesus.’”
“I don’t even know what I shot, but I know I had a lot of people giving me some good words of wisdom last week including my coach and the PGA Tour chaplain (Moody). Being Easter Sunday, I feel very blessed and honored and I feel like there was a power that was walking with me and guiding me. So that’s where things stand. You know, I feel very blessed and honored to be here.”
Thanks for the clarification Nathan. My read of the above mentioned article, brings me to a different understanding of his comments. Who knows…I am just confused now…
Nathan, I was wondering about your beliefs on these thoughts that relate to this current subject.
We believe that God ONLY answer prayers that directly bring Him glory, right? In other words, when God actively does anything or answers prayers, it is ALWAYS done soley for His glory and His name.
And we also believe that God ONLy gets glory when His divine attributes are magnified and His Name is loved and exalted, right?
So, the question is: “Can [does] God get glory in answering prayers relating to sports, games, entertainment?” I mean, does God really care about the outcome of a stupid Atlanta Braves Game? (I’m being crude to make a point). The point is, should I pray that God would help me beat someone in a video game, or help me make a touch down, or that God would make the Atlanta Braves win the World Series? Does God get glory in answering prayers like those? It just seems that these things really have no bearing on the exaltation of Christ, and therefore, have no place in our prayers. I’m not saying their evil; I’m just saying that they really don’t matter. Correct me, brother, or anybody, if you think I’m wrong.
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3)
You are not wrong.
You may add that to the already overly long list of foolish things Christians fall prey too. It ranks right up there with a lawn sign that I saw in the fall of 2004 which stated: “Who would God vote for?”.
Many Christians have proven themselves to be among the most gullible of people in this country. That is one reason the GOP has made so great an inroad with them.
Barry
Okay, these comments from Johnson are enlightening. Now I get what you’ve been talking about, Nathan. That bit about walking around with extra power…yikes.
Brothers and sisters, I find this hyper-analysis of Mr. Johnson’s comments unnecessary and inappropriate in a forum of believers.
Everyone is at a different level of maturity in the faith. Only the Lord knows each man’s heart and motives. Who are we to find some kind of fault with a man who was obviously trying to give credit where it was due? His intent was obviously to glorify God. We don’t know where he is in his walk but for for all we know he could be a quiet theological giant who doesn’t normally find himself talking to millions of people. That he was able to say anything at all coherent about his faith at such a moment is to be appreciated.
I remember all the statements I have made in an earlier time in my walk that could have been equally picked apart by more mature saints. I can probably come out with something equally stupid now after years in the faith if I find myself responding without time to fully think.
We can all stand to show more grace in the same way we have received it.