No, it's not. It's not even good biblical theology for the more sola scriptura minded among us. We always do well to remember Paul's admonition:

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thess. 5:18

After all, maybe God's grace will do something with our losses and failures, too!

It could be taken as an example of lamentation, which is often a perfectly acceptable form of prayer, except the subject is far too trivial.

Bill,

Good point. The Psalms are full of such examples, for starters. . .though, as you say, loss of a game hardly compares with the loss of one's home!

It seems that Twitter gives new meaning to the "excited utterance" exception to the hearsay rule. As explained by the New York Court of Appeals: "An out-of-court statement is properly admissible under the excited utterance exception when made under the stress of excitement caused by an external event, and not the product of studied reflection and possible fabrication. 'Underlying this exception is the assumption that a person under the influence of the excitement precipitated by an external startling event will lack the reflective capacity essential for fabrication and, accordingly, any utterance he makes will be spontaneous and trustworthy' (People v Edwards, 47 NY2d 493, 497 [1979]). Accordingly, 'under certain circumstances of physical shock, a stress of nervous excitement may be produced which stills the reflective faculties and removes their control. . . . [An excited] utterance is made under the immediate and uncontrolled domination of the senses, and during the brief period when considerations of self-interest could not have been brought fully to bear by reasoned reflection' (People v Marks, 6 NY2d 67, 71 [1959], quoting 6 Wigmore, Evidence § 1747 [I] [3d ed])." People v. Johnson, 1 N.Y.3d 302, 306 (N.Y. 2003).

While broadcasting one's "excited utterances" via Twitter may not produce the kinds of expressions (or silence) one might hope would come from "reasoned reflection," this one did explosively utter the truth of what many of us think and feel when things go terribly wrong. Was it a poetic or insightful "lamentation"? Maybe not, but was it really trivial? To us non-athletes, it seems silly, at best, to invoke God at all in what, after all, is "just" a game, a sporting event or spectacle for people to watch in their leisure time. But for the athlete, especially someone who has trained and performed at a highly competitive level most of his or her life, it is not "play." If one has worked hard for something, and when suddenly everything clicks and one is playing at or near one's best and the rest of team is in sync and success is just a split second or seconds away, and it all just as suddenly ends with a quick and bitter defeat, is it trivial or even immature to feel devastated and at a loss for understanding how one can seem to be riding the tide of seemingly miraculous good fortune and then have it snatched away? It's one thing if one's disappointment as a fan or spectator turns angry and ugly, losing all perspective on the signifcance of what is, in fact, just a game. But as a participant, a key player and, for better or for worse, a star, it is something one has actually lived, run, stretched and put out every bit of mental and physical and emotional energy one has to achieve something.

I would agree with Richard that it should make no difference whether one is winning or losing, but only in that praising God or, during deep disappointment, blaming or cursing Him, is much the same whether one is an athlete, a salesperson, a musician, farmer, or day laborer. It's just that for an athlete, the highs and lows rush together in ways that few of the rest of us experience on a daily or weekly basis. While I don't condone making a public spectacle of cursing at God, as this Twittered utterance inevitably was, not only do I understand it, but having lived with and watched athletes go through similar highs and lows, I am loath to assume that I am somehow better than that or have not, albeit in a more restrained and private way, uttered some of the same thoughts when what I loved most was snatched away from me for what seemed like no reason at all, only blind misfortune.

Nor do I think that loss of a game for a professional athlete is so utterly trivial that it cannot be compared with loss of a home. Some athletes are wealthy in terms of monetary riches (though often for only a very short time), but the best live for the game -- not because it is a game or despite it being "just" a game, but because it is their life's work and, for the pros, their livelihood. There are not many opportunities for a touchdown winning pass in one's professional career, and the result is not "just" a win for the team but the joy and satisfaction of reaching and stretching for the goal, of skill, determination, and fortune-luck-providence all coming together in a moment. Those kinds of sudden highs and lows are the stuff of many kinds of work -- courtroom lawyering, soldiering, firefighting, police work, even car sales. We are all tempted to place too much emphasis on momentary success or failure, but some work necessarily revolves around it, and it is very hard for those who work like that to stay sane, sober, let alone ready to utter "mature" expressions of faith in the wake of defeat. Perhaps we would learn more from this latest scandalous Twitter by putting ourselves in Steve Johnson's shoes or at least remembering those moments when our worlds were shaken and our faith, as well.

I like that, though--Adventures in Bad Theology--could be a blog of its own. And I volunteer to be a contributor.

Jonathan Greiser

Kathryn,

Points very well taken. The heart of faithful prayer is relationship -- and sometimes the best we can do is swear and be angry with God about what has happened. But the words themselves show relationship, and that's what really matters in our pilgrimage.

The tone of his tweet reminds me of the old Good Friday Reproaches. That being said, I agree with Kathryn that the loss of a game isn't necessarily trivial for a professional athlete. This is his livelihood, after all. I also think it's good that he is able to express his anger at God (even though I'm not convinced that He micromanages our lives to quite that extent).

By the way, I don't believe the excited utterance hearsay exception is applicable here. The statement isn't being offered for the truth of the matter asserted, so it isn't hearsay, after all.

I must confess that when I first read this story, I reacted much the same way some of you did. I also enjoyed the wit of the "Adventures in Bad Theology" series.

Then I recalled a day many years ago when I did the unthinkable -- seriously prayed during a tense moment in a soccer game, and, it seemed, my prayers were answered by a miraculously wide shot on a penalty kick that missed the goal (which my daughter was guarding) entirely. Many years later (just a month or so ago), I found myself at another tournament finals game and wistfully wished for a similar "miracle" (though this time she was playing offense, given the top spot for the last five minutes of the game). I didn't pray this time (though it is hard to say whether it was because of my greater spiritual maturity or simply the fact that I had seen way too many soccer games by then to even think about praying for anything but all the players' physical safety). As it turned out, the "miracle" never came, and our team lost. The players shed some tears but were fine by the team dinner that night. This was College D-III and young women who had other lives and loves to pursue. But in those early moments following the loss, their hopes and dreams, built up after one of their best seasons ever, were broken and in pieces.

After I read this story about Steve Johnson, it suddenly came to me how easily those prayers can fly out and how devastating a loss or a missed golden opportunity can be in sports. I don't know what Steve really thinks and feels about God or football, but I do know that athletes have an understandably tough time living in the dramas we set them up to play, not ever being able to depend on a particular outcome, no matter how hard they train and practice, no matter how much skill, heart, and mental effort goes into their play. No wonder they pray!

[@Paul - Thanks for the catch on the hearsay rule. Evidence was not my best subject - just loved some of the terminology, like "excited utterances." The only "truth" here was the speaker's assertion that God no longer was real to him. But it was true to and of him, and no doubt was not intended as theology. Who knows, the young, and not-yet-saintly, Augustine may well have uttered something similar had he not had years to reflect on his youth before writing.]

Anyone who is so bold to think he/she praises God 24/7 probably needs some down time for serious soul-searching and self-assessment. Even the greatest saints, who gave up all, suffered much and made deserts their habitation in singleminded pursuit of God, shrank back from making such a claim. Some even died with enough humble self-realization to say they hadn't even made a decent start at praising God!

If Johnson thinks God is treating him shoddily by not completing his football moves as he would like, he should think just how bad Jesus had it! God's own Son, sent by his heavenly Father to be betrayed, spat on, beaten and brutally murdered by the very hands and hearts he created, all for only doing good and showing love selflessly! And without a lucrative contract, to boot!

Once again, God is not a deux ex machina, a cosmic ATM or an eternal Santa Claus, existing to cater to our every whim. And at a limit of 140 characters, Twitter is a terrible forum for attempting anything theological, spiritual, pithy or profound.

A sincere thanks to all the commenters. You've certainly gone beyond my shallow reaction upon first reading of the tweet.

Bad theology? How about this: Don't stand next to Johnson in a lightning storm.

My thought was, People are always thanking God for favorable happenings. Why not ask What Happened? when the outcome is not desired.

It seems to me that a heavy dose of the study of Wisdom literature should be in store for Steve Johnson - Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and also Job...specifically the last few chapters of Job...

Peter Carey+

Jim,

I'm too busy giggling at your incredibly clever title to really respond. What are the odds of the Browns picking up this Jesus guy in Free Agency? With our secondary, we could use him!

Adam

Jim,

I'm too busy giggling at your incredibly clever title to really respond. What are the odds of the Browns picking up this Jesus guy in Free Agency? With our secondary, we could use him!

Adam