Is Michael Jordan God?
"God Disguised as Michael Jordan"
On April 20, 1986, inside Boston Garden, Michael Jordan put on an unforgettable show.
VIDEO: Game highlights of Michael's 63-point game: RealVideo - 28.8+ | ISDN
Jordan was able to play in only 18 regular-season games in his second year in the NBA, after breaking a small bone in his foot in Chicago's third game of the year. Although he was encouraged to sit out the end of the season in order to make sure he was fully healed for the next, he insisted on coming back late in the season and led the Bulls to the 1986 NBA Playoffs.
It was in Game 2 of Chicago's first round matchup against the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics that Jordan showed just how thoroughly he had recovered. In the hallowed halls of the Boston Garden, he set a playoff record by scoring an amazing 63 points against what many considered to be one of the greatest NBA teams ever. The Celtics won the game, 135-131 in double-overtime, and went on to sweep the Bulls, but Jordan's playoff record still stands.
"Michael was doing so much and so well, I found myself just wanting to stop and watch him -- and I was playing," said teammate John Paxson.
"I didn't think anyone was capable of doing what Michael has done to us," marveled Celtics ace Larry Bird. "He is the most exciting, awesome player in the game today. I think it's just God disguised as Michael Jordan."
END
Comment from webmaster of Jesus-is-Savior.com...
Celtic's player, Larry Bird, stated ... "I think it's just God disguised as Michael Jordan." When I first heard this, I couldn't help but think of all the professional athletes who are IDOLIZED by the masses. Although few people would readily admit to recognizing their favorite athlete as a "god," the Biblical definition of idolatry goes far beyond simple statue worship. Ezekiel 14:3 states, "... these men have set up their idols IN THEIR HEART..." Jesus condemned adultery OF THE HEART (Matthew 5:28), and hatred OF THE HEART as being murder (Matthew 5:21,22). Clearly, idolatry of the heart is just as evil as bowing in worship to a pagan god. Whatever consumes most of your time, money, and devotion is your god. Professional sports is a god for many people. Some people worship their car, or their girlfriend, or their home, etc. Their mind is busy thinking about their god all day; BUT, Jesus Christ is forgotten.
Americans are guilty of worshipping professional athletes. The fact that the professional sports industry generates billions of dollars a year is proof. It is disturbing when talent is rewarded over character. It is wrong when a man who has no skills, others than his ability to play a game, makes millions of dollars per year; while a doctor who goes to school for 12 long years, makes a couple hundred thousand dollars a year. Michael Jordan, while playing basketball professionally, made more money in ONE game than the average American worker makes in a lifetime. It is crazy, and shows the extent to which Americans have the wrong priorities.
Michael Jordan is not God, he is a Hell-deserving sinner, just a man. I realize that Larry Bird probably didn't mean to say that Jordan is really God; BUT, the amount of praise, money, and attention given to Michael Jordan's talent is nothing less than IDOLATRY of the heart. Michael Jordan was worshipped as a god, by the world, for the several years that the Chicago Bulls were on top of the athletic world. Billboards promoted him. Companies sponsored him. Children idolized him. Women threw themselves at him. Yet, Jesus Christ didn't receive as much as an ounce of praise, money, or attention.
Christians need to make sure to maintain the correct priorities in their Christian life. Matthew 6:33 plainly directs us to seek God FIRST in everything. Professional sports, beer, nudity, and pornography all go together. Sports Illustrated proves my point. It is nothing less than a magazine promoting soft porn. NO Christian should read and support Sports Illustrated. I'm not against sports; BUT, I am against the elevating of ANY athlete to the place where we pay him millions of dollars a year, and idolize him. When people, like Larry Bird, start referring to their peers as a "god," then you know things have gone too far in the sports world.
