Lessons from the Minister of Defense

I had just gotten to the concession stand at the Bucs game yesterday when I heard the news: Reggie White had died unexpectedly at 43 at his home.

It was sad news, to say the least. White was dominant both on and off the field, casting a shadow that matched his huge body that seemed to be built to dominate offensive linemen. According to many, he is the greatest defensive lineman to have ever played in the NFL. Any serious fan would know the plateau you reach when you are considered better than Joe Greene, Deacon Jones, Bruce Smith, and a host of others.

He was also a giant off the field. When he signed with Green Bay, a black man playing football in rural Wisconsin, it was news. In his wake, the Packers have been able to attract many other black free agents they might not have otherwise had a shot at.

An ordained minister since 17, Reggie White was roundly praised yesterday on sports media, from people who knew him and played with him. However, the praise was not universal.

White's first retirement was short-lived. He had signed a contract with CBS Sports, which was voided when he made a series of comments about homosexuals in front of the Wisconsin state legislature. Some were about the Biblical injunctions against homosexuality, but some of his comments, along with others, could be easily construed as going beyond that.

This link from a hard-line left-wing message board lists a number of quotes, some of them rather troublesome, about homosexuality. This link indicates that Reggie White was in the process of taking a second look at many of the things he once thought.

For the record, I happen to think that homosexuality is a sin. If I were God, it might not be, but I'm not and the Bible is pretty clear on this matter. It is also clear that drinking too much is a sin, and so is gluttony, and so is not taking care of widows and orphans. So before I throw stones a gays, I must first throw them at myself.

God loves His children, regardless of who or what they are. His invitation knows no boundaries. And it is His grace that changes us, not our efforts. I am no more entitled to God's voice than a gay person. In some respects, a lot of gay people are probably more Christian than I am.

But that's another discussion for another time.

The thing I respect about Reggie White--a man I never met--is that he had the courage to challenge his core beliefs. And that his faith seems to have become deeper, richer, and more real as a result.

The freedom that God gives us allows us to challenge those base beliefs without worrying about whether God will be pleased. Odds are, He will be. It is only by challenging our own limited understanding of God that we can start to transcend our own understanding and move closer to Him.

Reggie White did that. And for that, assuming that the rest is as it is presented, I admire him greatly.