Peyton Manning and Christianity

Peyton Manning drinks Budweiser, doesn’t point to God after scoring a touchdown, and never prays to win a football game.

He’s also a Christian (stay with me here).

Manning accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of thirteen, and since then, his faith has been his number one priority. He grew up in a Bible-believing home, and he tries to be the best man he can be…but there’s an important reason why you don’t really hear much about that side of him.

He would rather his actions outshine his words.

Often times, we squish Christianity into this little box of do’s and don’t‘s, stuffing an infinite God into the puny confines of our own minds. We think we know what following Christ looks like, but in his book Manning that Peyton co-wrote with his dad Archie, Peyton reveals how his Christian walk may not look the same as anyone else’s””but it is no greater, and no lesser.

And this is exactly what he means…

Transcript via Minding the Truth:

"Like my dad, I make it a point when I speak to groups to talk about priorities, and when it’s schoolkids, I rank those priorities as: faith, family, and education, then football. For me generally it had always been the big four: faith, family, friends, and football. And I tell all of them that as important as football is to me, it can never be higher than fourth. My faith has been number one since I was thirteen years old and heard from the pulpit on a Sunday morning in New Orleans a simple question: "If you died today, are you one hundred percent sure you’d go to heaven?” Cooper was there and Eli [Peyton’s two brothers] but it didn’t hit them at the time the way it did me. It was a big church, and I felt very small, but my heart was pounding. The minister invited those who would like that assurance through Jesus Christ to raise their hands, and I did. Then he invited us to come forward, to take a stand, and my heart really started pounding. And from where we sat, it looked like a mile to the front.

But I got up and did it. And I committed my life to Christ, and that faith has been most important to me ever since. Some players get more vocal about it””the Reggie Whites, for example””and some point to Heaven after scoring a touchdown and praise God after games. I have no problem with that. But I don’t do it, and don’t think it makes me any less a Christian. I just want my actions to speak louder, and I don’t want to be more of a target for criticism than I already am. Somebody sees you drinking a beer, which I do, and they think, "Hmmmm, Peyton says he’s this, that, or the other, and there he is drinking alcohol. What’s that all about?”

Christians drink beer. So do non-Christians. Christians also make mistakes, just as non-Christians do. My faith doesn’t make me perfect, it makes me forgiven, and provides me the assurance I looked for half my life ago. I think God answered our prayers with Cooper, and that was a test of our faith. But I also think I’ve been blessed””having so little go wrong in my life, and being given so much. I pray every night, sometimes long prayers about a lot of things and a lot of people, but I don’t talk about it or brag about it because that’s between God and me, and I’m no better than anybody else in God’s sight.

But I consider myself fortunate to be able to go to Him for guidance, and I hope (and pray) I don’t do too many things that displease Him before I get to Heaven myself. I believe, too, that life is much better and freer when you’re committed to God in that way. I find being with others whose faith is the same has made me stronger. J.C. Watts and Steve Largent, for example. They’re both in Congress now. We had voluntary pregame chapel at Tennessee, and I attend chapel every Sunday with players on the team in Indianapolis. I have spoken to church youth groups, and at Christian high schools. And then simply as a Christian, and not as good a one as I’d like to be.

How do I justify football in the context of "love your enemy?” I say to kids, well, football is most definitely a "collision sport,” and I can’t deny it jars your teeth and at the extreme can break your bones. But I’ve never seen it as a "violent game,” there are rules to prevent that, and I know I don’t have to hate anybody on the other side to play as hard as I can within the rules. I think you’d have to get inside my head to appreciate it, but I do love football. And, yes, I’d play it for nothing if that was the only way, even now when I’m no longer a child. I find no contradiction in football and my faith.

Ah, but do I "pray for victory?” No, except as a generic thing. I pray to keep both teams injury free, and personally, that I use whatever talent I have to the best of my ability. But I don’t think God really cares about who wins football games, except as winning might influence the character of some person or group. Besides. If the Colts were playing the Cowboys and I prayed for the Colts and Troy Aikman prayed for the Cowboys, wouldn’t that make it a standoff?

I do feel this way about it. Dad says it can take twenty years to make a reputation, and five minutes to ruin it. I want my reputation to be able to make it through whatever five-minute crises I run into. And I’m a lot more comfortable knowing where my help is.” (Manning, pp. 362-364)

http://www.faithit.com/peyton-manning-shares-the-shocking-reason-why-he-loves-jesus-drinks-beer-wont-pray-to-win-entertainment/#.VryYgqk7ZLA.facebook

Christians drink beer. So do non-Christians. Christians also make mistakes, just as non-Christians do. My faith doesn’t make me perfect, it makes me forgiven, and provides me the assurance I looked for half my life ago.

Many professing Christians today say that they are not perfect but just forgiven. It’s a common cliché. But is that really the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ? That we are just forgiven? What about the truth of 2 Cor. 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation…”? What about the truth that when the Holy Ghost truly comes to a soul He will convict of sin, righteousness and judgment (Jn. 16:8)? When a professing Christian tries to justify his sins by saying he/she is not perfect but just forgiven, I get concerned for their soul. It reveals that they do not have the conviction of the Holy Spirit at work in their hearts and lives.

Hate to say it but sadly, this "Christian testimony” sounds like another sad product of the modern altar call, sinner’s prayer, easy-believism gospel.

Also, many times a false convert does not want to be that vocal about Christ because he/she is ashamed of Him and His words, and because they know that they are not truly seeking to walk as Christ walked. So at some level there is some conviction deep down in their conscience but not the type that accompanies true conversion.

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."-Mark 8:38

I am also reminded of Rev 12:11

11"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

At some points Christians have to be vocal about their faith even if it isn't until the day they die.

O-

You seem to be jumping to the conclusion that him drinking a beer is sinning. I am not saying that drinking a beer is never sinning, but I have seen no evidence of him being prone to drunkenness.

T-

Within the context of the US, considering that drinking alcohol is such a huge stumbling block to so many, I would argue that drinking beer is sinning for that simple reason. Manning seems to have absolutely no concern about the issue of stumbling so many as a public figure. It would be comparable to a pastor who chooses to drink beer despite the huge ramifications of stumbling others. A true shepherd would not do that to Christ's flock just to keep his little pleasure. Now, if we were talking about places like Germany it would be different.

This "church” has what they call "Beer & Hymns” in order to attract the lost. It’s part of this newer, progressive, emergent church culture. Imo it's apostasy at its finest on display in this vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSHyG8BReHA

It always cracks me up to read these threads! Same song ... next verse. :-)

Me thinks some folks may not have a full knowledge of the history of alcohol in the church. Just as a few examples ....

Martin Luther - As you may, or may not, be aware Luther loved to partake of alcohol. In his own words he preferred a good wine and malt liquors over beers but had a definite fondness for them both. Another poster stated earlier that

This "church” has what they call "Beer & Hymns” in order to attract the lost. It’s part of this newer, progressive, emergent church culture. Imo it's apostasy at its finest on display:

Melangthon - The great "mind" and theologian of the Reformation had wine nightly.

John Calvin - He enjoyed wine a great deal. In fact part of his ministerial salary in service to Geneva was paid out in barrels of wine. This was to the tune of 250 gallons per year! He of course also entertained guests with this amount .... but still!

The Pilgrims - The night before setting sail upon the Mayflower and heading to Plymouth Rock in America they had a send off dinner. Including, in their own words, "pudding and wine". Among the supplies they brought for their American journey they had casks of beer and pipes of gin and brandy. The Puritan Pilgrims aboard the Arabella brought to America with them 42 tuns of beer and 10,000 gallons of wine. A tun of beer is a wooden barrel used to measure. It is equal to 252 gallons. Do the math with the beer the Pilgrims brought that day! They also brought 7,560 gallons of malt to set up alcohol brewing services as soon as they reached the new land! This was just the public supply. Each family also normally brought their own personal backup barrels. The historic record also purports them to have distilled wine to brandy on the journey from England.

The Apostle Paul At Corinth - Granted that Paul instructed the Corinthians to quit coming to The Lords Supper and engaging in bouts of gluttony and drunkenness. He did indeed advise them not to cause those who are weak and immature in conscience to "stumble". However, this other ditty seems to be missed by most. Consider this ..... - Paul never in any way advised them to stop drinking wine! He told them to do it at home if they were going to drink these larger quantities. Let that sink in. Paul never told them to quit drinking alcohol! This was the time to do it if he was going to. He simply told them to be wise in the use of it. True, he said weaker consciences among the immature would mean never drinking in their presence. He did however allow them to continue in the use of alcohol in the Lords Supper there. However, Paul himself indicates that he is more than happy to drink wine if those with immature and weaker consciences are not around. When in their presence I will try to not cause them to stumble ... if they are not around then I am not bound by their immature and weak conscience.

I could continue ... but the story is the same throughout.

The thing that amazes me is that there are SO INCREDIBLY MANY professing believers that are still living under a very weak and immature baby conscience. It is AMAZING to me how many people are never allowed to enjoy their God given liberties so that the immature, weak, and babyish are not offended. How in the world is it that we have so many immature baby believers that would stumble at this?!?!!? When do they ever plan to grow up?!?!?! Many of them have been, "immature baby christians with a weak conscience" for decades!!
Perhaps they do not realize they are spiritual babies and immature.

Psalm 104 puts it succinctly -

14 HE (GOD) MAKES grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate””
bringing forth food from the earth:
15 WINE THAT GLADDENS HUMAN HEARTS,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
(CAPS mine for emphasis)

Pretty clear where wine comes from. One of the things God brings forth from the earth is wine to gladden human hearts! One translation says, "He gave wine to make glad the hearts of men".

The more mature of the faith continue to not enjoy the freedom Christ has given them to protect the baby immature weak conscienced believers. The problem with that is a great many are not actually immature believers .... they are simply religious Pharisees that have seized upon this as the topic to try and establish their works superiority upon.

As a Bama fan, I never liked a Manning.

As a football fan, I never disliked one.

As a Christian, I pray for Peyton M. that he will know God richly, deeply and firmly rooted in Christ. My opinions of his sin notwithstanding. And I have opinions.

Solomon101,

While I've never been a big drinker of alcohol, (but I do enjoy a drink from time to time) I do tend to agree with the general thrust of your response. It's a sad thing to see Saints yoking one another with cultural criticisms. Also its well known our dear brother Spurgeon liked to smoke... allot!
Wouldn't it be interesting to have him a present day participant here on SI and get attacked for his cigars... Now that would be a rich discussion ha!

Brother Tim, RTR!

Peyton Manning is not a Christian. He is a Mormon. That is an unbiblical heretical cult. That makes the whole discussion "off".

Towards Spurgeon, he eventually quit smoking cigars because the Holy Spirit convicted him of causing others to stumble.

Again, in certain countries drinking and smoking may be the norm even for Christians as long as they don't get drunk or high. But here it's obviously different and that's why Christians cannot smoke and drink and be involved in ministry in many solid Christian circles, and with good reason.

There is a big push these days within much of Christendom to stifle and eliminate conviction of sin and to compromise and lower the standard. But we mustn't fall for the traps of the enemy to our own peril. We must take a firm stand and not compromise or stifle the convictions of the Holy Spirit.

Where in the world did you get the idea that he's a Mormon?

I will need some proof and not gossip about that.

Also, I wouldn't use Luther as a good example of godly character. Good doctrine, yes, godly character, no.

Towards Calvin, he too was a fallible man.

Our standard must be Christ and His Word. But I can hear the objection, "Didn't Jesus turn the water into wine at the wedding in John 2?" Yes, but a careful study shows that in those days wine was not nearly as fermented or strong as is the case today with beer and wine. In those days it was recommended that people drink wine instead of water due to the amount of contamination in their water.

Warning. Off topic.

I shared this on a forum I have been part of since 2004. This was posted by me in 2011 after my "conversion" to teetotalism. It explains for me why.

"First, let me agree with you 100%, TW. I don't like it at all. As you all may or may not know, the convenience store business my family is in has, since September, 2010, sold beer and wine. I hate it. I despise it. I'm not alone in it, and my say-so is the least of "say-sos" and the minority say-so. In fact, every one of us involved in the business voted against legalizing sales in our town, but it passed and we determined as a matter of business necessity that we had no choice but to sell them. We are now the #6 retailer of beer in north Alabama in less than 1 year. We sell more than Wal-Mart. And, do you know who is most responsible for the operational side of that in the family business?

You guessed it.

I see it, handle it, smell it, sell it, tape 'em up, put 'em up, stack 'em, stock 'em, and pretty much handle the inventory control of all the beer and wine coolers that come into the store. And, let me reiterate that it is a bunch.

There was a time when I would carry the argument here about the lack of a Biblical abstinence-only view of alcohol consumption. I'm not carrying that argument anymore because I'm so completely and utterly sick of booze. I detest it. Not only do I absolutely not so much as taste it now and then, I am done...with....it. That has been a blessing, Here's why.

I've always thought it was a poor excuse for argument that we could look to the abuses of alcohol and the fallout of alcoholism as a point in favor of an abstinence only view of alcohol, biblically speaking. I'm still of that mind -- that we can't rely on THAT truth to constitute a biblical truth that simply is not expressed in the bible. HOWEVER, there are many particular forms of evil that have no exact example in the Bible. For instance, there is no instance of an HIV positive man raping a six month old child as I read about this weekend, but the bible thoroughly and pointedly makes that an abomination (adultery, harming a child, hatred-as-murder, perversion, etc.).

Here's why I bring that instance up: I have learned in the last 9 months that more people drink way more than I ever knew. I'm 44 years old now. My hair is graying fast, lines are taking over my forehead and eyes. I grew up in an alcohol-ridden home. I should have known better but didn't. I had sequestered myself much more than I ever knew, as an adult, away from the booze culture. My dalliances in it were too brief to open my eyes to what is actually happening. Now, they're wide open. Alcohol is, just like the illegal drugs that infect our society, a beast and a monster that devours people and spits them out. They are enamored with the thing that destroys them. As I read the Bible, and as I view now through lenses of experience that I've never had, I can say without equivocation that alcohol -- like all other substances people use illicitly, whether legal or not -- is an idol of the people. For that, the Bible is crystal clear that there shall be NO other gods before Him. If that is not an abstinence position, I do not know what is.

If a Christian can manage to drink alcohol without the slightest encroachment of idolatry into the heart while committing or defending the act, then praise God for the grace of God that fills that person's heart. I haven't seen that, and I cannot do it myself, even with no more of it than I would allow myself to consume. As I reflect on it, giving myself the greatest benefit of the doubt in the matter in the past, the most generous view of my actions would amount (in my view) to failing to abstain from drinking blood or from meats sacrificed to idols in a culture where failing to abstain would harm the witness of Christ and reduce Him in the eyes of the lost or of the weaker believer to an object no different from an idol.

So, with all that in mind, and agreeing with you, TW 100% (and, by the way, great to hear from you again!!), I am just laying it out there that I have a changed heart and mind and renewed and improved understanding of the Scriptures on this issue."

Paul never in any way advised them to stop drinking wine! He told them to do it at home if they were going to drink these larger quantities. Let that sink in. Paul never told them to quit drinking alcohol!

Luther? Good doctrine???????????????????????

Luther's venomous doctrinal position towards the Jewish people was used by Hitler to great advantage. More wicked religious doctrine than his would be difficult to imagine.

I was not referring to that aspect. I was referring to the good aspects, such as rejecting and opposing Romanism and declaring salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and standing on Scripture alone instead of the traditions of Rome.

His being anti-Semitic is part of what I was referring to as "ungodly character".

Brother Oracio,

I'm copy/pasting this from Spurgeon.org

Note: Because we get so many requests for information about Mr. Spurgeon's use of cigars, we provide the following vignettes from some early Spurgeon biographies. It is important to note that Mr. Spurgeon's love for cigars was not an addiction, and he deliberately kept it from becoming an addiction, as is clearly shown in the anecdotes related by William Williams (below).
Furthermore, we fully agree with Mr. Spurgeon that smoking cigars per se is not a sinful activity. Cigars, unlike cigarettes, are properly smoked without inhaling, minimizing the risk of lung damage. Nor does cigar smoking normally involve the kind of addictive behavior associated with cigarette use. By all accounts, Mr. Spurgeon's smoking was occasional, and never much more than a cigar a day or so””which, again, suggests that this was no addiction with him.
There are no doubt health risks associated with cigars, but this is also true of cream cheese, or coffee, or almost anything when consumed without moderation. There is no real evidence that cigars in any way hastened Mr. Spurgeon's death.
Mr. Spurgeon's smoking was a historical fact, and the cause of truth cannot be served by denying it or inventing myths that suggest he finally "repented" of this activity. The fact is that he did not regard smoking cigars as a sinful activity, and he evidently held that opinion until the end of his life.