Lee Roy Selmon and his character

Sports fans would know who this guy is. He was the first draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976, I think it was. He is the only Buccaneer in the football hall of fame and was the instrument for starting up the Univ. of South Florida football program.

This past Friday he had a stroke and on Sunday? He passed away. I say this because if you listen to any sports shows and read any sporting editorials about Lee Roy Selmon nobody can say a bad thing about him. Seems nearly everybody would have some kind of baggage in their lives that might be touched upon but Lee Roy is an exception.

Even yesterday while going home I had a sports talk shows host, who is a mans man and doesn't like 'stupid' people. He was in tears because he said he knew that when he was in this guy's presence he was in the presence of greatness.
He seems to get more praise than Tony Dungy which is incredible.

I bring this up as a sort of lesson of what his life was like vs that of a christian. It is more a compare and contrast type of thing. I don't know if Lee Roy was a christian. It is possible but I do understand that he touched so many lives that to hear people tell it they stood in the Presence of true greatness or never had a negative thing to stay to anyone. What causes such a character to happen?

The one who is truly Great, Jesus Christ, was despised by the world. If we follow in His footsteps, we should not expect the world to praise us.

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me."
(John 15:18-21)

In Christ Jesus,
Renoncer

KK

You hit it AGAIN!!! Especially on that last line.
religious christians have a tendency to be so scripturally minded that they can't accept anything that isn't Jesus.

Renouncer
My original post was done to give awareness of a man who the secular media doesn't have a bad thing to say unlike some in the church. I don't know if the guy was a christian or not but he is from Oklahoma and the last time I checked it seems there are a number of christian colleges and missionary outfits out there. Good chance he might be. It comes down to the power of an individuals life. In the case of Lee Roy it was football but then it extended outside of football to all the people he had contact with. I have heard statements that some people would be shocked to know if Lee Roy ever lost his temper. Do you suppose there is something all of us can learn from this individual? I think there is something to learn from. And, if he happened to be a christian, well, then what? The reality of a lived well lived is my aim in this post.

KrispyKrittr,
I understand that there is a way in which we must "walk properly before outsiders" (1 Thessalonians 4:12), and keep our conduct among the pagans honorable, so that when they speak against us as evildoers, they may see our good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12).

However, it is dangerous to start asking the question: "What can we do to win the approval of men?"
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

Are we greater than our Master? The fact remains that Jesus said: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they WILL ALSO persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of My name, because they do not know Him who sent Me."
(John 15:18-21)

Let's put everything in its proper perspective, or else we'll go down a slippery slope. I won't argue against my Master. I'll look up to Him, and seek to follow Him.

Love in Christ,
Renoncer

Renoncer

It appears to me that from your comments that we should be celebrate anyones life no matter how praiseworthy it was because only Jesus should get the glory. Would this be correct?

DEADn,

Test everything. Hold on to the good. Abstain from every form of evil. For the days will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine. Instead, they will heap up unto themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. Have nothing to do with them. Their conscience has been seared as with a hot iron. They proclaim freedom, but they themselves are slaves of depravity. Their teachings are mere human rules. They have exchanged the truth of God for the commandments of men. Their destruction is well deserved. You, however, must not even eat with such men.

Renoncer

I am not sure what your post has to do with my post. If anything I detect more religiousity behind it then I do a genuine post.

DEADn wrote, I don't know if Lee Roy was a christian. It is possible but I do understand that he touched so many lives that to hear people tell it they stood in the Presence of true greatness or never had a negative thing to stay to anyone. What causes such a character to happen?

The answer is yes he was a professing christian.

rdg

Renoncer

Sounds to me like you will find nothing praiseworthy of any man who passes away? Are you a strict fundamentalist by chance?

DEADn,

Everything has already been said (including my post to KrispyKrittr). I do not have an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind, though I used to. Such was I, but I was washed, I was sanctified, I was justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Peace be upon you.
In Christ,
Renoncer