Michael Vick and Second Chances

A Sports Talk radio station in Chicago (670 The Score) polled its listeners today. They asked what has been the most compelling story in the young NFL season thus far. Over 67% of responders indicated that Michael Vick’s comeback for the Philadelphia Eagles was their top choice.

For those who have been off-planet or are not football fans, Michael Vick was an incredibly talented young quarterback whose career and life took a horrible turn. His conviction for involvement in the illegal and dreadful world of dogfighting led to an eighteen-month jail sentence. Now released, expressing remorse, and speaking to young people about the evils of his past ways, Vick’s has revived his career in Philadelphia.

Not everyone is happy, including Debbie Sanville who is a season-ticket holder who has refused to attend a game since Vick signed. She believes Vick only regrets getting caught and has no remorse for his dogfighting past (Are Eagles’ Fans Ready to Embrace Vick?).

Not Redemption, but a Second Chance

Listening to callers on The Score, I was not surprised to hear them use words like “redemption” and “resurrection” (“He’s experienced a redemption.” “Vick has resurrected his career.”) Of course, they are using theologically-loaded words with no theological intent. Our society does that frequently.

I have no clue where Vick is spiritually or whether he has found spiritual redemption through the new life that comes by faith in Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. Nor would I dare, like Sanville did, to judge the thoughts and intents of Vick’s heart. That’s a role not for my spirit but for the Holy Spirit.

However, I was disappointed by some callers who determined that Vick never should have been allowed back in the NFL. Apparently for them, there is no such thing as a second chance, even after a person has been tried, punished, and done his time according to the justice system. I wonder if the callers believe that someone who has been convicted should be sentenced to a life without any future chance at employment.

None of this is meant to minimize the horrors of the dogfighting world. And, of course, some crimes should lead to some occupations being off-limits.

Role Models: You’re Kidding, Right?

The logic, if you could call it that, of some callers went like this. Professional athletes are role models, therefore, if they commit a crime, even if they do the time, they should never be allowed back on such an influential platform.

Please. Doctors are role models. Firefighters are role models. Nurses are role models. Teachers are role models. Pastors are role models. Mill workers are role models. Most importantly, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are role models. But professional athletes like professional actors—they’ve proven long ago that though they are talented in their fields, they have not risen to the pinnacle of success because of their character.

Should they be role models? Could they be role models? Sure. But we ought to be teaching young people that character is what counts, not talent.

A Christian Approach: A Second Chance Because Of Redemption

As a follower of Christ, my ultimate prayer and longing for someone like Michael Vick is spiritual redemption—new life in Christ. Perhaps he has already experienced that; I do not know.

But also as a Christian, I would stand up for Michael Vick’s right to a second chance to use his talents in his career as a professional football player. Not simply on the basis of some humanitarian impulse, but on the foundation of theological principles such as forgiveness, grace, and yes, even “redemption.” While some may flippantly use this term, the spiritual ramifications of redemption ought to play out vocationally and relationally.

I forgive a brother when he sins against me on the basis of my having received forgiveness in Christ. I reconcile with a sister when we have had a dispute on the basis of having been reconciled to God through Christ. I give an employee a second chance because the father pursued the prodigal, Christ forgave the woman caught in adultery, and He gave the woman at the well a fifth chance (the man you are with now—your fifth man…).

Spiritual redemption in Christ should have practical implications relationally and vocationally. In fact, maybe we could view these comebacks, these second chances in life, as a small taste, a tiny glimpse of that ultimate spiritual redemption. Your act of grace toward me may be part of the Spirit’s work in bringing me to conviction and repentance.

Join the Conversation

Where do you stand? What is your attitude toward Michael Vick’s comeback?

The Anatomy of Anxiety

Part 19: Dancing to the Heartbeat of Redemption

Note: For previous posts in this blog mini-series, please visit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18.

Purpose: Does worry, doubt, or fear get the best of you sometimes? Do you wonder where anxiety comes from and how to defeat it in your life and the lives of those you love? Then we need a biblical anatomy of anxiety. We need God’s prescription for victory over anxiety.

A Discipleship Process

Let’s begin to explore the first of ten dynamic elements for victory over anxiety. As we do, please understand this principle:

Conquering enslavement to fear is a discipleship process, not an exhortation event.

Victory does not come from being exhorted to “be anxious for nothing.”

Ongoing victory over anxiety requires an ongoing process of growth in grace—just like victory in any other area of life.

And, it requires a comprehensive process of progressive sanctification in all areas of life.

The first area, the core area, is spiritual victory.

Spiritual Victory: Dancing to the Heartbeat of Redemption

Conquering fear is first and foremost a spiritual matter.

Consider Romans 8:14-17.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear (phobos, phobia, paralyzing terror), buy you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now I we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”

Acknowledge False Enslavement to Fear

Spiritually, our first “step” in overcoming fear is to confess our fear.

“Father, I acknowledge that I’ve allowed myself to become enslaved to a mood of fear.”

The emotion of fear itself is not a sin. But enslavement to fear is. Paul calls it “doulous phobos”—slaves to fear. Until we take personal responsibility for allowing ourselves to become fear’s slave, we will never experience emancipation.

Accept Grace Connection to Your Father

Putting off enslavement to fear must be combined with putting on acceptance of freedom in Christ.

“Father, by grace through faith I accept my new Spirit of adulthood, of sonship. I cling to You, Daddy, Father. I am not a fearful little kid. I am Your adult son or daughter. I replace fear with Father. I replace spiritual separation anxiety with spiritual acceptance in my Father’s forever family. I accept by faith my new identity in Christ. I am a joint heir with Jesus.”

What Paul says in Romans 8:14-17, he reiterates in 2 Timothy 1:6-7.

“Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind and self discipline.”

Christian, do you understand your birthright?

Believer, do you know who you are in Christ?

“Father, thank you for the flame of courage and boldness you implanted in me the moment I was saved and made a new creation in Christ. I commit to doing my part of fanning into flame the fire that is already lit within me. I refuse and reject the spirit of timidity. I accept and receive the spirit of power, love, wisdom, sound mind, and self discipline that now defines who I am in Christ.”

Making It Real

1. What do you fear? Write your own prayer of confession of false enslavement.

2. Do you know who you are in Christ? Write your own prayer of acceptance of your new identity in Christ.

3. Reject the old, receive the new. Consciously refuse to see yourself as a timid, fearful child. Consciously see your new image in Christ: adult, son, daughter, powerful, loving, wise, sound mind, self-disciplined.

4. Dance. Dance to the heartbeat of redemption—the new you in Christ. Anxiety and fear says, “Be shy. Sit on the sidelines. Don’t dare dance. Refuse to get in the game. Victory in Christ says, “Be bold. Get off the bench. Dare to dance. Choose to enter the game!”

The Rest of the Story

Knowing who we aren’t (the old false me) and who we are (the new me in Christ) begins our spiritual healing. But we also need to understand Who God is and His relationship to us. In our next post we explore how to apply those truths practically in our victory over anxiety.