Football and Faith

Editor’s Note: The Football and Faith series will connect themes found in both football and Christianity. The writing series will run from September through mid-February. The writing team consists of numerous Catholic priests and a seminarian in the local area.

Recently I was listening to William Lane Craig who is a theologian and philosopher that often speaks on Christianity.

Craig shared how it is important for a Christian to be able to convey why they are in love with Jesus Christ in three minutes. In other words, to be able to say, “I am in love with Jesus Christ because…” Craig stated that people are actually engaged in listening to others when they explain their “why.”

When Peyton Manning was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2021, he gave his “why” for his love of football. He articulated how the game was passed onto him, how he learned more, how the game connected him to other people, and how football taught him values that helped him to become a better man.

Peyton Manning then said how he has a responsibility to perpetuate the game so others can participate in what helped him to become a better man.

Peyton Manning’s Hall of Fame speech is a “why.” It is a vulnerable articulation of his love of football.

The audience was captivated by the words of Peyton Manning. I think William Lane Craig is right; people enjoy hearing why people love something.

A worthwhile spiritual exercise is to write out why one is in love with Jesus Christ.

Peyton Manning played in 266 NFL games, dozens of college and high school games, and countless practices. Yet, he took the time to write out his “why” and then told others about it. William Lane Craig is onto something: us Christians need to share why we are in love with Jesus more. More people than we might think will listen.