September 15, 1999
EDITORIAL: Go ahead
and pray at ball games
___Thank the Lord for high school football. Just don't do it over a loudspeaker.
___A 5th U.S. Circuit Court ruling has silenced pre-game prayers in stadiums across Texas. The court turned off the microphones on an enduring Lone Star tradition.
___Predictably, the ruling kicked off a scrimmage of protest. After all, pregame prayers have been as much a part of Texas football tradition as marching bands, perky cheerleaders and crunching tackles.
___In an effort to set aside state sponsorship of religion, the court ruled against public prayers at ball games. The games are products of the schools, which are operated by the government and funded by taxes. Therefore, the judges' reasoning followed, the government, through its schools, should not sponsor the prayers spoken over public-address systems at games.
___All high school football fans know the ruling did not end prayer at ball games. As long as mamas watch their sons don helmets and run headlong into boys twice their size, prayers will be said at football games. As long as boys dream of gridiron glory, prayers will be said at football games. As long as coaches' careers are on the line, prayers will be said at football games.
___Still, the judges threw the flag on public prayers at football games. You can understand the outrage that ensued. Many Texans love two things--football and Jesus, not necessarily in that order. Praying at ball games comes naturally. Given the concerns for our schools and young people in this troubled age, prayer seems more important than ever before.
___While the court's decision is no more popular than rooting for the arch-rivals, it is correct.
___First, that stadium microphone is sponsored by the government, and the U.S. Constitution forbids government establishment of religion. Of course, a benign public-address prayer is far from tax support for Anglican preachers in colonial Virginia. Still, support and endorsement of a particular religion is forbidden by the Constitution's Establishment Clause.
___Second, Baptists enjoy a rich heritage of standing up for minorities. We're not the minority in many Texas stadiums, but we have Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Mormon friends who are. They should be welcome at every game--at all the proceedings of every game--and their consciences should not be violated, especially at an official school function. Some may protest, "They're not required to attend ball games." But band members, cheerleaders, drill team members and football players are required to be present. Besides, all students should be welcome at all school functions, without consequence to conscience.
___Third, true Baptists don't favor namby-pamby prayers. Have you ever listened to a "to whom it may concern" ball game prayer? What a waste of breath. Prayers like that fit the description my old coach, Hoss Byerly, used to give for a tie ball game: "It's kind of like kissing your sister. It doesn't really hurt. It doesn't help at all. And it's sure no fun."
___Agreement with the court does not mean we do not care for our schools, the children or even Texas football tradition. To the contrary, we care so much we don't want to mislead non-believers with ho-hum, one-size-fits-all prayers. Think about it: If all some non-Christians know of our faith is "non-sectarian, non-proselytizing" football prayers, why would they even want to bother with Christianity? From an evangelistic standpoint, these prayers can do more harm than good.
___Two suggestions:
___Seek to reach non-Christian students in your community. Befriend them, live a loving Christian life before them, share your faith with them. If your children have non-Christian friends, make sure you get to know them. Love them into God's kingdom.
___And pray. Whether or not the ball game features a moment of silence, pray. Pray for safety, sportsmanship and school spirit, of course. But more than that, pray for every person--teacher, student and staff--in both schools. Your fervent prayer will do more good than a thousand "Dear Whoever" prayers. Pray like hell is real and heaven is waiting. They are.
___ --Marv Knox
Email the editor at marvknox@baptiststandard.com.
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