Why don't athletes praise God when they lose?

[NulliuSINverba]

Q. - Why don't athletes praise God when they lose?

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full." ~ Matthew 6:5

Setting scriptural admonitions against religious grandstanding aside, does it ever happen that an athlete on the losing side of a sporting event praises God for granting victory to the other team or another athlete?

I suppose that it might happen all the time ... but I've never seen it. It seems that praising God for granting victory in the world of sports is strictly reserved for winning scenarios.

 

[jonathan180iq]

Let's just crank it up a notch and ask why people don't praise God for the untimely death of a loved one? Or point to heaven and smile when a bus full of kids crashes and they all perish?

Wouldn't it hold true that it's all part of the plan, just God working in mysterious ways?

If God deserves praise for the absolutely mundane act of winning a game, then shouldn't he also receive praise for things much more meaningful towards the progress of humanity, like plagues and the subsequent ending of those plagues?

 

[Sees]

Even if they believe their God helps, guides, assists or allows things to take place, orchestrates even....why would they offer praise for a negative event or experience?

I understand the need to point out giving credit for this and not for that, is all over the place...depending especially on how much influence is seen to be constantly exerted by Divine will and wishes.

Believing their God caused it or pushed for it doesn't mean automatic praise and joy though.

 

[Augustus]

Richard Sherman @RSherman_25 · 13h13 hours ago
Thank you God for giving us the opportunity.... That's all you can ask for....Thank you everyone for the support all year

 

[George-ananda]

Why don't athletes praise God when they lose?

I think at a less mature stage of spirituality there is some thinking like you describe.

At a more advanced level of spirituality equanimity in the face of good/bad fortune becomes the goal. One does not attach to the transient.

 

[Jainarayan]

Even if they believe their God helps, guides, assists or allows things to take place, orchestrates even....why would they offer praise for a negative event or experience?

The only thing I can think of is that if the athlete (or warrior) gives thanks to his God(dess) for being given the strength, courage, help to come through unscathed and to help him do the best he could. That may be a stretch. I think few people think "well, it could have been worse".

 

[Jainarayan]

Richard Sherman @RSherman_25 · 13h13 hours ago
Thank you God for giving us the opportunity.... That's all you can ask for....Thank you everyone for the support all year

I think that's what I was getting at.

 

[NulliuSINverba]

Richard Sherman @RSherman_25 · 13h13 hours ago
Thank you God for giving us the opportunity.... That's all you can ask for....Thank you everyone for the support all year

You'll note that Richard Sherman did not thank God for granting victory to the other team.

Next?

 

[LuisDantas]

I feel that the act of thanking god must be above all sincere. If there is disappointment or anger, it is probably difficult or even impossible to feel sincerely thankful at that moment.

Although it is not all that unusual to feel joy at losing against a superior opponent by a narrow margin, so maybe that is not as difficult as I assume.

Come back next week when I teach gestants how to correctly deliver a baby...

 

[NulliuSINverba]

I feel that the act of thanking god must be above all sincere.

Well. That rules out professional athletes, I suppose.

If there is disappointment or anger, it is probably difficult or even impossible to feel sincerely thankful at that moment.

So God only deserves thanks when we're feeling happy ...

...or when he's operating in Celestial Santa Clause Mode?

Although it is not all that unusual to feel joy at losing against a superior opponent by a narrow margin, so maybe that is not as difficult as I assume.

Unless you're playing a team of avowed atheists, you can rely upon the almost certain knowledge that someone on the other side is going to attribute the victory to Divine Intervention.

So why not humbly proclaim that God granted victory to the superior team and use the loss as an opportunity to praise him irrespective of whether or not you personally benefit from the Divine Manipulation of Earthly Events® instead of only invoking him when you win?

"Dear God, if it be your will to end my NFL career after only a season or two, I'm perfectly happy with that. Thy will be done."

 

[LuisDantas]

Well. That rules out professional athletes, I suppose.

Why would it? Do you think they don't get angered when they lose?

So God only deserves thanks when we're feeling happy ...
...or when he's operating in Celestial Santa Clause Mode?

You got that backwards from my claim. It is a matter of how capable people are of expressing thanks, not of how deserved they are.

Unless you're playing a team of avowed atheists, you can rely upon the almost certain knowledge that someone on the other side is going to attribute the victory to Divine Intervention.

Yeah, I find that a bit silly myself, but that belief in divine intervention and being willing and able of praying to God are not the same thing. Related, I suppose, but not the same thing.

So why not humbly proclaim that God granted victory to the superior team and use the loss as an opportunity to praise him irrespective of whether or not you personally benefit from the Divine Manipulation of Earthly Events® instead of only invoking him when you win?

Because people don't find it on them, I assume. But I don't know for a fact that they don't do what you advise. Some might.

 

[NulliuSINverba]

Why would it? Do you think they don't get angered when they lose?

No. I doubt their sincerity. Even when they've won.

 

[LuisDantas]

Oh, praying is often insincere, that much is true.

Far too often people are put into situations where they must choose between insincere prayer or causing an awkward social situation instead.

 

[Smart_Guy]

I dunno about the athletes, but so many people I know and I do praise God when we get unwanted results, even deaths. We do of course get sad over it, we're humans too!

 

[Augustus]

You'll note that Richard Sherman did not thank God for granting victory to the other team.

Next?

Why would anyone do that though? People will say things like thank you for the opportunity, thank you for giving me strength, thank you for giving me challenges that I must overcome. Why would anyone say 'thank you God for letting the other team win'?

A sincere believer would thank God in either victory or defeat, but they are highly unlikely to say 'thanks for granting victory to the other team' as that's a negative. You have to frame it into a positive statement before you can sincerely offer praise for it i.e. thanks for the opportunity, thank you for humbling me so I know to work harder next time, etc.

Also if victories are rewards then defeats are part of a process, people often give meaning to this process after the fact. You might well hear a defeated athlete say 'it's just part of God's plan for me' or 12 months down the line thank God for the defeat as you learned a lesson.

To say it is hypocritical for people not to thank God directly for a defeat is just bizarre. It cannot be done with sincerity unless framed positively.

 

[BSM1]

Richard Sherman @RSherman_25 · 13h13 hours ago
Thank you God for giving us the opportunity.... That's all you can ask for....Thank you everyone for the support all year

My personal prayer--"God don't give me more than I can carry."

 

[NulliuSINverba]

Why would anyone do that though?

Because the Bible tells them so:

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." ~ Job 1:21

"... give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18

"However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." ~ 1 Peter 4:16

People will say things like thank you for the opportunity, thank you for giving me strength, thank you for giving me challenges that I must overcome. Why would anyone say 'thank you God for letting the other team win'?

"... I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." ~ Psalms 34:1

Q. - If you believe that God actually gives a rat's *** about who wins a damned football game, then aren't you obliged to conclude that the winning team was supported by God? Doesn't each victory reflect the will of God? Aren't Christians supposed to accept (and even love and cherish) the will of God?

A sincere believer would thank God in either victory or defeat, but they are highly unlikely to say 'thanks for granting victory to the other team' as that's a negative.

Q. - How can it ever be a negative if you believe that the victorious team has God's Favor? Are you saying that God promotes negative outcomes?

If you sincerely believe that the victor has God's favor, shouldn't you praise God for giving victory to the other team? It was God's Will, after all. Or is it only God's Will when your team wins?

You have to frame it into a positive statement before you can sincerely offer praise for it i.e. thanks for the opportunity, thank you for humbling me so I know to work harder next time, etc.

Try this:

"Thank you God for letting the other team gratuitously mention your name in the post-game interview for a change!"

To say it is hypocritical for people not to thank God directly for a defeat is just bizarre. It cannot be done with sincerity unless framed positively.

"You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." ~ Job 2:10

Go thou and do likewise.

 

[NulliuSINverba]

Far too often people are put into situations where they must choose between insincere prayer or causing an awkward social situation instead.

Wouldn't this be avoided altogether if people weren't expected to make a public display of their religion?

 

[Aupmanyav]

Because the Bible tells them so: ..
Go thou and do likewise.

For the simple reason that win or loose, Jesus would not want you to disregard him even for a moment. You must be completely servile. Although that did not mean a kingdom of God for him in Jerusalem that he was hoping for.

 

[LuisDantas]

Wouldn't this be avoided altogether if people weren't expected to make a public display of their religion?

Definitely. For a time I considered telling people to remember Matthews 6:5.