I have a pastor friend (at H2O church at Ohio State) who is probably the world’s greatest expert in the study of mankind’s eternal longings expressed via ESPN.
High praise, I know.
Most recently, he pointed me to this video as an illustration of the Church’s adoration of Christ:
I have to applaud Nike for this campaign…they have tapped into something very deep within the human soul. We all long for heroes. Someone to adore. Our heart cries out for a superman, someone who can conquer any foe effortlessly. We want to tell his story. We want to boast in Him. And LeBron James is the closest it gets to immortality for many.
Here’s something humbling:
LeBron James misses over half his shots.
And yet we can still get pumped by idealizing him, singing his praises. It inspires us to buy Nike products, hearing from all kinds of people from different walks of life who have caught unique glimpses of his greatness. The testimony of his witnesses makes us long to see his glory ourselves, and we believe for a moment that we might even share in it if we buy Nike.
And they’ve actually convinced me in the moment that LeBron James is something more than human. Until I watch a game, that is. Then I’m reminded that he still misses over half his shots. Like most every other professional. I wonder if that makes the people in the video feel at all silly for how great they made him sound. I wonder what it would look like if they could do the same for someone who could back up every praise, every time.
How about you? Do you dare sing the praises of someone who is actually worthy of them? Someone who will never put to shame his worshippers? I think that just maybe the testimony of his witnesses will be strong enough to make the world long to see, experience, and share in his glory.
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