Happy Talk | 2.16.11

JEREMY LIN!

He came out of nowhere to bring excitement and renewed passion in professional basketball to this baseball and football town. What Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire were brought in and paid hoards of money to do, this no name Asian kid is doing and more. Truly, this is Linsanity.

Most recently, the boxer Floyd Mayweather wondered loudly through his tweet that Lin was getting all the attention because he is Asian. He wrote, “Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he’s Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don’t get the same praise.”

I am more than happy to let the basketball pundits and CNN experts argue that one out.

For me, I am excited because this rising superstar is unafraid to talk openly about his Christian faith. Much like Tim Tebow of football, Jeremy Lin has been very open about his faith and he even talks about perhaps going into ministry to become a pastor once he retires from playing ball!

And as excited as we are with their public profession of faith, we cannot help to feel a little nervous for them. Haven't they pigeonholed themselves into a corner? Not only as celebrities, but now, as professing "Christians," won't they be scrutinized for any speck and dirt and targeted for mischief? As young men, will they be able to handle the anger of the atheist community and the media that is hungry to pull people down? Maybe they shouldn't have been so open. Maybe, like many of us, they should have hid their faith so that they can get along. You know, let their action do the talking.

But...I submit that they are being more biblical.

I will address this and more this Sunday. Yes, I am going to preach on Linsanity. "Warner, Tebow & Linsanity – What Do They Have in Common?"

Pastor Jin