(Photo courtesy of Thomas Campbell)
There is perhaps no more polarizing athlete in America today than the 2012 Heisman winner and starting QB for the Texas A&M Aggies than Johnny “Football” Manziel. Aggies, Aggie fans, and Aggie alum laud him as one of, if not the best QB that our beloved school has ever seen, and why not? He broke into the record books his freshman year by setting records not only for passing AND rushing in the SEC, but by become (as I mentioned earlier) the first freshman to win the most esteemed individual prize in all of college football, the Heisman Trophy. He is quick, he is agile, has a great arm, great pocket presence, and an excitement that anyone who watches, whether fan or foe, cannot help but to catch when watching this dynamic player take the field.
There is more to this QB than meets the eye however. He is also branded as cocky, rash, irresponsible, and even a punk in certain circles. This too it seems does not happen by accident. During the offseason he was caught up in a scandal involving the assumption of him selling autographs to fans, as well as being asked to leave a frat party at the University of Texas and the Manning QB camp. During his first game back Johnny was given a 15 yard personal foul penalty after jawing back and forth with a couple of Rice Owls players and ended it by pointing to the scoreboard which showcased the Aggie lead. He also has a cash-money sign that he throws up for his touchdown celebrations. Clearly, Johnny has earned much of his “bad-boy rep.”
This is where I start to get frustrated however. Johnny is Johnny. He has a very extroverted personality and his cockiness, it can be argued, is what gives him that competitive edge. Other college QBs and players also use the same cash-money sign after scoring (most notably, Clemson superstar Tajh Boyd). All this aside, this still doesn’t lead me to my point of frustration, that comes from other Christians.
I am a Christian. This means that I am a follower of Christ, and to take that its logical conclusion, that means even further that His attributes should far outweigh my own. We see of course the example of this in scripture when we read, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30. So if that is true for me, that is a universal truth for all believers and those who claim the name of Christ. This leads me to my point. In the last month, and especially this last week or two, I have seen and heard so much venom from people who claim to be Christians calling into question not only Manziel’s actions, but his very character. This bothers me intensely. People who do not know Manziel personally are calling into question his integrity and core. Even if there was some definitive way to prove his character or lack thereof, what do we as believers gain by being judges and accusers?
What if instead of continuing the witch hunt for the Heisman winner, we started to praying for him and those around him. What if we as Christians stopped not just at Johnny, but in general? What if the world knew us more by our love than what/who we despise? What if we started really embracing and living like the One whose name we haphazardly and casually throw on – Christ.
Please understand, the actions of Manziel are not condoned nor are they appreciated as a faithful fightin’ farmer, but my job is never to heap hate or spew rancor upon him or any other. I instead must live by a different code, the code of Almighty God who instructs me to :
- Love others – 1 John 4:7-8; John 13:34-35; 1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 16:14
- Not pass judgement – Matthew 7:1-29
- Not to hate – 1 John 3:15-16; 1 Peter 2:1-25
- And that I am emulate Christ – Ephesians 5:1-33; 1 Corinthians 2:2
I implore you fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, if you truly and sincerely adorn your name with this most holy monicker of Jesus follower, please act like it. We are to be the light of the world, not the darkness, and this is true for even the people that we dislike, hate, hate us, etc. There is no exception to loving others and showing that love, not even Johnny Football.
Bearded Manley 