Discernment

I’m not much of a sports person. When I worked in an office setting, to be cordial, I made an effort to keep up with the highlights of the major sporting events but I was only really interested in Football. Since I’ve retired, I pay attention much less.

I was in grade school during the Joe Namath days on the Jets. In fact, I remember in 3rd grade we had something like trading stamps of football players and I had Joe’s stamp (for years as an adult I was afraid I misremembered the football stamps until I came across a history article discussing them).  So, the Jets were and are my overall favorite team (so I’m definitely not a winner of the day type fan). 

Anyway, I used to watch football most weekends when it was on. I always rooted for the Jets and the local team. So, in addition to the Jets, I’ve rooted for the Saints, the Packers and currently the Chiefs. I don’t remember much about rooting for the Saints but we were in Wisconsin during the Brett Favre and the Packers golden years. Since we’ve lived in Kansas, we have seen the Mahomes era arrive.

But 5 or 6 years ago, I stopped watching NFL football altogether during the Kaepernick protest period and haven’t resumed watching it. In my opinion, if he wanted to use his fame for protesting, he should do that away from his job. I certainly didn’t feel like I could protest things in front of the CFO or CEO or the Board of Directors who I considered my audience. I can also tell you that I have not bought any NIKE products since nor do I intend to ever buy any of their products because of their advertising arrangement with Mr. Kaepernick. That should give you an idea of how strongly I feel/felt about that issue.

While I’ve shared my personal convictions with others (and debated several people regarding the voracity of my position), I’ve never tried to organize a boycott or even a protest. You see, my vote is by withholding my money from the NFL (part of their audience metric) and NIKE (avoiding buying their products). This is my personal choice. I certainly don’t fault others for not agreeing with how I handle it. But this is my decision. We all have to discern and decide which issues are significant and important to us.

“When the men of the town rose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” And after they had searched and inquired, they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah beside it.” But Joash said to all who stood against him, “Will you contend for Baal? Or will you save him? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been broken down.” Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, “Let Baal contend against him,” because he broke down his altar.” - Judges 6:28-32

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18-21

“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” - Hebrews 5:11-14

Discernment is a skill like any other. It improves with practice (and learning from failure), and when done for the right reasons and under the influence of the Holy Spirit.