A black man and a white man kneeling

One man is kneeling in silent protest during the anthem, the other one is kneeling for a private prayer -even though nothing is private when millions are watching.

Until yesterday, my opinion about Colin Kaepernick was pretty clear. “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

They’re both Christian football players, and they’re both known for kneeling on the field, although for very different reasons. Both have made a public display of their faith. Both are prayerful and devout.

This is the tale of two Christian sports personalities, one of whom is the darling of the American church while the other is reviled. And their differences reveal much about the brand of Christianity preferred by many in the church today.

First up, there’s Tim Tebow.

He has been outspoken about his pro-life stance, and his commitment to abstinence from sex before marriage. He has preached in churches, prisons, schools, youth groups and a welter of evangelical conferences.

And he is well known for his signature move — dropping to one knee on the field, his head bowed in prayer, his arm resting on his bent knee — known throughout the world as Tebowing.

He’s clean cut, polite, gentle, respectful.

Then, there’s Colin Kaepernick.

His body is festooned with religious tattoos. When I step on the field, I always say a prayer, say I am thankful to be able to wake up that morning and go out there and try to glorify the Lord with what I do on the field.

During the offseason Kaepernick launched a GoFundMe page to fly food and water into suffering Somalia. It surpassed its $2 million goal in just four days. In March, the plane loaded with essential supplies landed in Mogadishu.

He had already pledged to donate $1 million, along with the proceeds of his jersey sales from the 2016 season, to charitable work.

This year, Meals on Wheels announced it had received $50,000 from Kaepernick.

He joined with the charitable organization 100 Suits, to pass out free suits in front of the New York State Parole office for people who have been released from prison and are looking for jobs.

But we all know why Colin Kaepernick is most famous. Beginning in 2016, he refused to stand to attention during the playing of the American national anthem.

Then, there’s Christianity on its knees.

It seems to me that Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick represent the two very different forms that American Christianity has come to.

And not just in the United States. In many parts of the world it feels as though the church is separating into two versions, one that values personal piety, gentleness, respect for cultural mores, and an emphasis on moral issues like abortion and homosexuality, and another that values social justice, community development, racial reconciliation, and political activism.

One version is kneeling in private prayer. The other is kneeling in public protest.

One is concerned with private sins like abortion. The other is concerned with public sins like racial discrimination.

One preaches a gospel of personal salvation. The other preaches a gospel of political and social transformation. (Source: The Washington Post)

Please, read the full article at the Washington Post>>>here<<< I shortened it quite a bit. Thank you, Michael Frost, for writing this beautiful piece; thank you Washington Post for calling Bullshit. Trump asked the American people to boycott the NFL, and I just don’t like being told what to think or what to do -ask my husband.

The current President of the United States of America is a divider, not a uniter, and while he can do as he pleases -within legal limits- so can we!

I am proud of all the teams who stood behind their players yesterday.  With research, my opinion about Kaepernick has changed quite a bit. “If you feel that’s what you have to do, do it,“ and now this older lady wants to go to her first NFL football game EVER.

I hope they don’t throw me out when I scream “GOALLLLLL.”