The Church of Ryan Church
Let’s congratulate Ryan Church on the baseball’s first ever 73/73 season. That’s 73 hits and 73 IQ points. Church, a good looking youngish OF for the Washington Nationals is in the news this week after making some interesting comments about Jews to the Washington media. I can’t promise they’ll make sense, but here they are: a
“I said, like, Jewish people, they don’t believe in Jesus. Does that mean they’re doomed? Jon nodded, like, that’s what it meant. My ex-girlfriend! I was like, man, if they only knew. Other religions don’t know any better. It’s up to us to spread the word,”
This was all in conversation with the Nationals’ team chaplain. The offender is Jon Moeller, an active FBI agent who volunteers for Baseball Chapel. That’s the Pennsylvania-based evangelical Christian group that provides unpaid ministers for many major and minor league teams. I know, it was a surprise to me too. Did anyone else know the MLB needed Christianity provided gratis? I guess I just assumed the days of team prayer were long gone.
Tony Tavares, the Nats’ president issued a statement indicating Church/Moeller’s views do not in any way represent the opinions/beliefs of the Washington franchise. I took a look at the Nationals’ front office staff-list. Here’s the link: I wouldn’t exactly call that a religiously diverse group. I’m sure they get along fine of Yom Kippur.
Now Church is 27 years old. Shouldn’t he know better? Pro-sports should really be a non-denominational venue, but it doesn’t seem that way. There are Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus etc…in almost every major professional league. But when was the last time you heard an athlete proselytizing the Buddha? When was the last time you heard someone advocating Rosh Hashana? This isn’t tongue-in-cheek. And I really don’t want to offend anyone. But does Shawn Green thank yahweh (the Jewish god) for every HR he hits?
No Ryan, it’s not up to you to go out and spread the “Word.” Everyone has their own faith and I’m sure they’re all equipped in their own way to escape that eternal damnation you were talking about.
Anyway, 73 hits, 7 HR, and 37 RBIs. Looks like you’ve got some praying to do.
Sphere: Related Content
Print This Post
