Broken Idols

I’m really tired of hearing people say that because a celebrity or professional athlete has made gazillions of dollars on endorsements, or won titles and tournaments that he/she owes the public intimate details about problems in their marriage, or family life. They reason that if the person receives a lot of money and publicity for their talent and endorsements, the public who buys those endorsed goods, or tickets to their events, movies, etc., is owed something. That's as crazy as reasoning an entire flight crew owes me details of their personal lives because I bought a ticket on their airline.

America’s insatiable appetite for scandal, gossip and a juicy story is defining and shaping this logic. The phrase, mind your own business (MYOB) was popular when I was a teenager. Of course that was before text messages, Facebook and Twitter when we felt this incredible need to let everyone know everything about us whether they asked for details or not.

This isn’t going to be popular but let’s get it out right now. Kobe Bryant, A-Rod, Ray Lewis, Plaxico Burress, Tiger Woods and others ARE star athletes. They ARE NOT paid to be moral examples and models. They are paid to perform in their respective sports. We can say all day long that they are supposed to be models of character and morality, but that’s just not true. Their salaries are based on their performance and skill in their respective sports, not their behavior. They are not gods. They are humans and though extraordinary in their respective sports, they sometimes fail in their behavior like you and me. They are like all of us, deeply flawed. What’s more, I can’t recall any of the aforementioned athletes claiming to be examples and models of morality.

Americans seem to remember star athletes of previous generations nostalgically and without flaw. Have we forgotten that many of the Boomer generation’s athletic heroes were seriously challenged on the moral court? Have we forgotten that baseball legend Ty Cobb once assaulted a fan, and what about Babe Ruth’s legendary love for beer and women? Later in life Mickey Mantle openly shared about his struggle with alcohol during his playing days. NBA great and lifelong bachelor, Wilt Chamberlain proudly declared that he had sex with 20,000 women during his career. And how did Magic Johnson contract AIDS? We seem to have very short and creative memories that hold each new generation to moral levels that were never achieved by previous generations. This is what makes people like Gator star Q.B. Tim Tebow so special. But at the end of the day he’s human too.

Now if their salaries and endorsements are tied to a morality clause that’s a different matter. For example, infidelity is against the governing law of the U.S. Military. Men and women in the armed services know this before they sign up. They accept it. And yet infidelity within the military seems to be just as high as it is among the general public. Mutual consent over morality does not necessarily translate into moral behavior.

This seems to be a very difficult issue to accept in a global world of instant communication and news. In the early 1990’s, NBA star, Charles Barkley was very outspoken in saying that he believed professional athletes are not role models. He even made a Nike commercial about it. His underlying message was largely missed because of the audacity of his statement. He even said, “Just because I can dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” “Sir Charles” was saying that teachers and parents should be role models for kids instead of professional athletes.

It is refreshing when an athletic, or public hero owns up to a moral failing, and publicly apologizes, or faces the legal and home consequences of their actions. However, they don’t “owe me” anything. I choose whether or not to support their games, events, and purchase products they endorse. I don’t need salacious details of their failings. As a Christ-follower, I should of all people, be understanding, empathetic and instead of talking about them, I should be praying for them. Not only that, but it should drive me to stand before God in reflection and confession of my own moral failures. There is the rub for 21st Century living---it's far easier to chew on the moral failings of others than it is to examine my own.

Years ago a very popular Christian artist admitted to infidelity. I was amazed at the number of Christ-followers who seemed bent on retribution and judgment toward this person. Instead of seeking to help the individual reconcile with God and the community of faith, people were quite free with punitive comments about the artist. The word “restore” was absent from public conversation. People seemed more interested in getting the sordid details of what happened than praying for a fallen, fellow struggler.

Many of these athletes are incredible people, but none of them have been described as King David was, “a man after God’s own heart”. And yet he failed too! I can’t ever recall telling either of my children to “Be like Mike” (as in the Nike commercial about Michael Jordan), etc. However, I can remember many times when I counseled, advised, encouraged and exhorted my kids and others to follow Jesus Christ.

Mortal idols will always crack, fail and disappoint. But the One without sin will not! Hebrews 12:2 folks: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.