While I respect these two athletes, I am appalled how the words Christian as become synonymous with the word good (or moral.) I'm not going to start my anti-religion debates here obviously but I just want to make people think about the fact that being Christians only believe what they do because they born into a certain family. If you had been born in another area/time you might believe in Zeus, Thor, Allah, Buddha, Vishnu, etc.
In our society, faith is a virtue. There is nothing positive about believing something that cannot be proven through reason and evidence. While these are two great athletes I believe things likes this simply further divide people based on religion and inherently suggests that being Christian is intrinsically good. I mean, after you ver read the bible? Most of it's messages either make no sense or are horrifyingly immoral. There's countless famous atheists such as Dawkins or Hitchens (R.I.P.) or Harris that can articulate the point much better and more thoroughly than I and again this isn't the place to argue this but just some food for though I want to throw out there to stimulate some speculation. Good luck at UF to Tyler and Sarah.
Nick out.
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nickpal
I am a Christian, but not because my I came from a Christian family. I was made to go to church all the way growing up, but I did not like and was not a Christian. It was not until I was 17 that I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. It figures that the moment someone puts something that has to with Christianity on this web site, that someone starts bashing it.
It is called FAITH! Whether atheists beleive it or not, it takes faith to believe in atheism. You are choosing to believe that God does not exist.
As far as the Bible, have you ever read it? Neither of those things you said are true.
I think you are reading way too much into the article Todd posted. These are two great athletes who many of us followed in their high school careers, and are now following that they are in college. Maybe Todd thought we would want to follow what they are now doing, and that it would stimulate those of us who are Christian coaches on the web site.
Andy Holmes
Seffner CHRISTIAN Academy XC
P.S. Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath said in his heart there is no God"
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nickpal
Let me chime in here before this gets out of control. First of all, I am a Christian... but I am one of those Christians that some others in a certain segment of the religion dislike. I am one of those hippy, liberal types that want to be accepting of everyone, even if their beliefs differ from my own.
So with that said, Todd and I had a lot of discussion before posting this piece. (Todd is Jewish, by the way) We wanted to focus on hey here are two well known runners who are showing some initiative and trying to do something positive and encouraging. Regardless of your faith (or lack thereof) these are two good kids trying to do something positive.
If someone else was doing related to a Jewish or Muslim faith (or not faith-based at all) that was positive or relevant then we should also celebrate that. Not taking a religious position here, just trying to celebrate good kids doing good things.
Not a Christian. Applaud what these two are doing, and Jason and Todd for making everyone aware of it.
Two responses to the issues of faith and its relevance:
What so ever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do upon me.
What would Jesus do?
In this regard, guidance under any circumstance should be welcomed, and then evaluated and chosen or disregarded. Such the nature of free will.
Let's face it, guys. Florida isn't a religiously diverse state. Jason, the chances of you or Todd posting about such hypothetical religious organization as "Allah Runner's Outreach" and "Runners for Moses" are extremely slim to none. In the event that such an organization did exist, I highly doubt that either one of you would feel so compelled to post on here touting its accomplishments for fear of being met with criticism for supporting religions other than Christianity. Such a harsh truth, however, does not make it right to post about and support solely Christian athletic organizations. I find this appalling, especially at a website that has maintained a high degree of professional decorum. As opponents of Tim Tebow have so vehemently voiced, sport and religion should not coincide.
I agree with Andy Holmes comments in his earlier post and thanks to Todd Grasley for posting the article. I am a Christian and the father of a Wiregrass Ranch High School runner. We put Christ FIRST in our lives and give all of our achievements to Him. These two athletes happen to have the same beliefs and would like to share their faith, experiences and lives with others so that they may benefit from them and have a forum for questions and comments.
I just don't understand how anyone could have a problem with this story. If you don't share their beliefs, don't click on the link. Don't go to their website. Nobody is forcing you to read it. What scarred some of you so deeply that you are so bothered by these athletes being open with their faith. It literally has ZERO affect on your everyday life.
What this all comes down to is that God gave us a gift. If you are an atheist, you are pushing God away when He has already pleaded with you with open arms. I'm a born-again believer (the way Jesus once termed "a Christian"), and I am because I made a choice. I can either believe what Jesus was saying or deny it. If I denied it though, what hope would I have? If God didn't come to earth to save us from our sin problem, then what hope do we have? We could say we have no sin, but even a little child could reprove us of thinking something so ridiculous. There is right and wrong in the world. Jesus came to save us from the "wrong." People ultimately have to either have to accept Jesus or hope that He was wrong (which is hard to hope for because He backed it up with miracles and never sinned Himself and because His word firmly shows the explanation of the beginning of the world as well as many life-changing truths and guidelines for a successful life leaving little reason beyond one's own desire to doubt the truthfulness of God's word) It appears to me Tyler and Sarah accepted God's help to save them from hell. Praise God for that. Also, praise God that they are causing it to come into other people's lives.
Ok few things.....
#1 there are extremes in every faith, denomination, or lack-there-of. We can't let those people distroy our faith that all people are inherently good and kind-hearted. I am a Christian and one of my best friends is an atheist. She is one of the kindest and sweetest people I've ever known. Her beliefs do not define the type of person she is. Do I wish she would convert to christianity and open her heart to God? Absolutly! But I respect her right to choose and follow her own beliefs. Not believing in God does not make you an immoral person. Yes there are good and bad Christians, just like every faith. In my personal opinion, there are certain people that do not deserve to call themselves Christian, or Muslim, or jewish, or etc... Our religions are ment to be peaceful and tolerant of all others, not hateful or extreme.
#2 I love that this article highlights student athletes doing something positive so that it can be share with the rest of the running community. I am willing to bet there are many athletes here that wil visit the site. That being said, I am 1000000000% positive that of there were a similar web site started for otter faiths Jason or Todd would write up an equally awesome article for them. Out of the 7 or 8 years that I have been coming to this site I have NEVER seen any article that was offesive in any way. If you are going to sit here and complain about fairness then go and make a web site for your faith like these two athletes have done and share it with Jason yourself. I guarantee that he would be more than happy to write an article for it. Let's use common sense now.... No one can write an article for something that doesn't exist. Just sayin'.
#3 To say this article is offensive is just a complete joke. This article is INFORMATIVE and in NO way does it criticize other faiths or imply that Christianity is better. So get over yourselves and quit being so sensitive. Seriously...... By complaining you are only making yourself seem intolerant to anyother belifs other than your own. I'm sorry I'm not trying to be rude, rather I am just calling it like it is.
#4 Like it was pointed out before....... If you don't like the article then don't read it! No one is forcing you to read about two kids that decided to do something positive in an effort to reach out to other athlete that share their same belief.
Thanks for the article! I enjoyed it. I love seeing when kids are out there trying to do something positive, no matter how they are doing it.
*Excuse the typos :) Lol I'm am typing via iPhone..... And anyone that owns one or something similar know what I'm talking about!
As one of the many runners with faith, this looks great. Thanks.
Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess!
