Inmates - talk about Bad Timing

Bob McNair’s quote is all over the Internet. “We can’t have inmates running the prison.” Wow. Just, wow. Ok, so let’s take this into perspective. There are more than three sides to this story, but we’ll look at three.

First up is Bob McNair since he’s the one who said it. In more recent comments McNair, who is worth a reported $3.8Billion (yes, that’s a “B” made from power and real estate), has said his comment was directed at the owners, not the players. He said the intent was to relay that owners couldn’t and shouldn’t set policy in the NFL; rather, that is the duty of the Commissioner and the League. Others have defended McNair that his analogy was poorly chosen, but his sentiment was honest – players shouldn’t run the league, they should play the game. Regardless of intent, Bob McNair made a foolish statement at a time when everyone is angry and hate needs no solid ground upon which to stand.

Next up is the players. Richard Sherman, that bastion of responsibility, added flames to the fire by rejecting McNair’s apology, “Don’t apologize! You meant what you said. Showing true colors allows (people) to see you for who you are.” DeAndre Hopkins skipped Texans’ practice he was so incensed by the comment. Coach O’Brien actually had to tell reporters that the Texans would play this weekend. Imagine that, players so offended by one man’s analogy that they would forego hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary to make their point – wait, O’Brien said they WOULD show up to play.

Finally, in this triumvirate of the offended, is the viewership of football. Those of us not making millions of dollars every week to play a game are left watching what could be better described as a very long, drawn out season of Real Lives of the NFL (insert town here). This unscripted drama plays on prejudices and emotional battle lines, yet ignores the fact that NFL players and the average viewer cannot relate one to the other. We don’t earn millions for playing a game for 4 hours on Sunday. We earn thousands for working 40 – 80-hour weeks. We don’t stand in front of a podium each week wearing clothing we are paid to wear and complain about the calls made by guys who earn less than $200,000 a year officiating violent beasts who earn that much in a single 4-hour game. We stand in front of a cash register avoiding sneezing customers while hoping our check covers the heating bill this winter. We don’t kneel during the anthem and decry police brutality, all the while NFL domestic violence arrests occur over 3 times more frequently than similarly compensated households outside football. We thank officers for their dedication to duty and for keeping us safe when they are writing that ticket – because we broke the law and deserved it.

Just one aside – owners. Players have called for the NFL to stop using the term “owners” calling it insensitive in such a troubling time. Get a grip! They own the team, not the players. Who is overly sensitive here?

But as Christians, what do we take away from this week’s episode of Real Lives of the NFL? God calls us to choose our words wisely. Why – because “inmates running the prison” never brings people closer. Instead, the Bible is replete with instruction on minding one’s tongue.

“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue form evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” (1 Peter 3:10, NIV)

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Col 4:6, NIV)

“What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” (Matt 5:11, NIV)

“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.” (Prov 26:20, NKJV)

“Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.” (Titus 3:1-2, NASB)

Why, you may ask, is all of this important enough for God to give us dozens of scriptures about being considerate of speech and selective of our words carefully? Because He made us – He knows us – He sees us for who we are: We’re sensitive, angry, and selfish and we humans would rather do what is easy than what is right most days. If we can claim insensitivity, maybe we can get something for ourselves that we didn’t earn!

If Bob McNair had understood scripture and chosen his words more wisely, he may have avoided adding fuel to the fire. Instead, his conversation has defiled him. He might actually be guilty of causing others to sin. (1 Cor. 10:31-33) That’s on Mr. McNair, but our lesson is in the grace we can give, not just to McNair and the players of the game, but to each other every day. Don’t just choose your own words wisely, but listen with mature ears to the meaning of what others say – and don’t be fooled by hate.

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” (James 1:26)