ABOUT FAITH & FREEDOM

Friday, February 26, 2016

NIKE On Christianity: "Don't Do It"

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NIKE has built a multi-billion dollar brand by putting the names of highly skilled and famous athletes on their sneakers---and other items.

NIKE has also famously and successfully marketed the slogan, "Just Do It."

However, when it comes to Christianity, NIKE is saying, "Don't Do It."

Their moral logic is not only inconsistent, but as tattered as a worn-out pair of sneakers.


Anyone who follows professional basketball is well aware of 26 year old point guard Stephen Curry who plays for the Golden State Warriors.

Curry, chosen in the 2009 NBA draft, was runner-up for Rookie of the Year, and has been setting records since.

He is a very good basketball player. He is also a devout Christian.

Based on his professional success, Nike, of course, offered him an endorsement deal. When Curry expressed interest in identifying his Christian faith on products bearing his name, Nike said no.

Curry then signed a deal with Under Armour.

The "Curry" shoe is currently being released to the public. He and Under Armour are promoting the athletic shoe with a tagline that says, "Charged with belief."

Curry says, "'Charged with belief ' has a lot of meaning. It matches with the Under Armour story, being an underdog and having to build from the ground up. It is also about my faith and the belief in my game, despite what others might say."

And what does the "4:13" on the tongue of the shoe mean, the reporters asked.

Curry says that refers to a Scripture verse---Philippians 4:13--"I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me."

At a time when kids---particularly minorities, but all kids need role models, Nike shows no interest if there is any link to Christianity.

Ironically, however, Nike is not timid in making moral judgments---even expressing righteous indignation.

Manny Pacquiano is one of the great boxers in the world today. He is a Christian. He also has an endorsement deal with Nike---at least he "did" have a deal with Nike.

Nike has dropped him.

Manny, while appearing on a local Philippines TV station, was asked about his Christian faith. The discussion led the TV person to ask Manny what he thought about homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

Manny's response was direct. He said he didn't believe in it, adding, "It's common sense. Do you see animals mating with the same sex? Animals are better because they can distinguish male from female. If men mate with men and women mate with women they are worse than animals."

Boom!

Within hours, Manny made this sincere public apology: "I'm sorry for hurting people by comparing homosexuals to animals. Please forgive me for those I've hurt. I still stand on my belief that I'm against same-sex marriage because of what the Bible says, but I'm not condemning LGBT. I love you all with the love of the Lord. God bless you all and I'm praying for you."

Faster than a 4-minute mile, Nike responded with a global statement: "We find Manny Pacquiano's comments abhorrent. Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community. We no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiano."

Fired.

But if Nike's decision is moral as they claim, how do they justify "not firing Tiger Woods?"

Dr. Michael Brown is asking the same question.

Brown says in contrast, "Nike never dropped Tiger Woods despite the revelations of his serial adulteries, even though those led to the destruction of his marriage and world wide shame."

He asks, "Does Nike believe that it is far worse to make a passing, extremely derogatory comment about homosexuals---one for which Manny quickly apologized and asked forgiveness---than to betray one's children and cheat on one's wife, sleeping with a bevy of different women over a period of years (including several porn stars)?"

"Or," Dr. Brown wonders, "could it be that because Tiger is still worth more money, his transgressions are more forgivable?"

Secular progressivism leads to a confused state of mind.

Right looks wrong---Wrong looks right. Vice is called Virtue.

The great Apostle Paul understood that life is not always fair for the Christian.

He wrote, "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (II Corinthians 4:8,9).

He also wrote, "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ" (2:14).

Be Thankful. Be Triumphal. Be Blessed.