When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"? But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." (2 Corinthians 1:17-18, NIV)
College Football is not as big in North Carolina as it is in Alabama. That’s an understatement! College Basketball is not as big in North Carolina as college football is in Alabama. This is why Cam Newton’s front-page stories – on and off the field – have caught my attention. I was raised an Alabama fan, and we are taught to hate Auburn University. It is a rivalry! Right now, the year after Alabama won the National Championship and Mark Ingram won the Heisman, Auburn has the best team thus far this year (no apologies to Oregon) and the best player, QB Cam Newton – not good for this Alabama fan!
However, the story lines have moved from Cam Newton’s on the field success to questions of impropriety during his recruitment. It is alleged that Cam Newton’s father told Mississippi State University that potential suitors must pay $100,000 to $180,000 to gain his son’s services – a blatant violation of NCAA rules. No one knows if these allegations are true. And, it is likely that no one will know until years after this season is in the books. I hope that they are not. Cam Newton is an incredible athlete who has also tried to amend for his past. Nevertheless, trouble follows. Furthermore, the problem in college athletics is much more widespread than Newton. My favorite, Alabama, has been on probation three times in the past seventeen years and has forfeited or vacated twenty-nine wins due to impropriety. North Carolina’s football program is facing major sanctions and has already dismissed six players from this year’s team. Florida State vacated wins in ten major sports, including football, due to an academic cheating scandal.
Why am I writing about sports in this column (besides the fact that this is all I can think of at the moment)? I am writing because children are watching. Children are watching, immolating and idolizing athletes, entertainers, leaders and corporate executives. They want to be like them. They want to believe in the possibilities, cheer the team to victory, and be a part of something that simply does not happen everyday. For me, the lack of integrity is painful because I once was a child who cheered an athlete, sat under a preacher, got a coach’s autograph, and admired the Presidents. Integrity is essential because children are watching and growing. They are tomorrow’s athletes, leaders, ministers, and entertainers. They are tomorrow’s parents who must break the bad news.
When Paul wrote what is known as Second Corinthians, Paul and the church at Corinth had a major falling out. Paul had intended to visit on a journey and he was unable to make it. Not only that, but Paul had a painful relationship with the Corinthian congregation, as his first letter already indicates. Paul’s integrity was questioned, and he was compelled to defend it, or the church might lose its faith in the message because of the lack of integrity of the messenger.
I wish that I could say that all ministers are people of integrity – but we are not. We are human. But, that is really no excuse. I do not have the space to write all the reasons why people may compromise their integrity, but I can say this: our decisions, habits, attitudes and actions effect the development of children for good or ill. I have made lifestyle choices simply because I care about the people who are watching. Do we care about those whose lives are affected by the decisions we make?
Integrity is critical to the Kingdom of God and to the decisions of those who aspire to enter it. Maybe the most important thing that the church can and should offer the world is an environment of integrity.
Grace and peace,
Tim
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