Five for Friday: Open Theism and Praying for Sports Teams

By Stan Friedman

CHICAGO, IL (January 17, 2014) — Many Covenanters routinely share links to social media articles and videos with one another that Covenant News Service believes may be of interest to others. Each Friday we post five of them. Following is a sample of those submissions—their inclusion does not represent an endorsement of any views expressed.

Ask an Open Theist Greg Boyd Questions, Response

This is a two-parter. Rachel Held Evans invites her readers to ask questions of theologians and other guest interviewees. There was a huge response to the opportunity to ask Boyd about his views on open theism. This actually is a feature idea I might steal—I mean, flatter her through imitation. Who would you want to ask questions of?

The Leadership Revival

I love David Brooks. This article has no direct link to religion, but it impressed several Covenanters enough to share it. Brooks calls on leaders to “apprentice yourself to a master craftsman,” He adds, “Second, take a reality bath. Go off and become a stranger in a strange land.” Although he is talking primarily about traveling to a foreign country here, his point can be adapted to mean spending time with people who think differently than we do. His final point: “Close off your options.”

Why Am I Not Poor?

Dale Hanson Bourke proves Brook’s second point. After traveling to impoverished countries around the world, she suggests a better way to combat poverty. Instead of asking why others are poor, maybe we should consider why we’re not.

Survey: Half of American Fans See Supernatural Forces at Play in Sports

The Public Religion Institute released a survey revealing that 25 percent of fans pray for their sports teams or engage in some ritual. I confess, I’m guilty—but that doesn’t mean I pray in the same way as I do for the end of human trafficking. Nor do I seriously believe that God cares a great deal about what I want regarding my team (that the Cardinals lost to the Red Sox again is my proof). I wonder if Greg Boyd prays for his teams. I did think the study seemed a bit silly until I watched this.

Commercial with Deaf Seahawks Player Inspires

There is no religious aspect to this story, but Covenanters—especially those who are Seahawks fans—kept sharing it. The commercial is indeed inspiring. As for probably meaningless observations, Covenanters who are Seahawks fans seemed to post on Facebook a lot more about their team than did the fans of other teams. I have no idea whether they prayed more.

Picture of The Covenant Companion

The Covenant Companion

The Covenant Companion brings together stories and voices that connect, inform, and inspire. Subscribe to our print edition.
CONTINUE READING

Explore More Stories & News

Features

Am I Called?

A church-conference altar call led to years of burnout before this editor found a different definition of calling.

Arts & Culture

Every Swollen Joint

Reading Lyndsey Medford’s account of a hurricane and an autoimmune flare, Eliza Stiles found the same grief in both—and a case for why our healing and the world’s are bound together.

Arts & Culture

Pearls, Arrows, and Grace

Amy Muia’s A Desert Between Two Seas traces the ripple of one boy’s drowning across generations of afflicted, often violent characters in post-mission Baja California.

Commentary

A Burglary and a Lesson in Love

A burglary tested Mike Guerrero’s habit of helping strangers in need—but didn’t stop him from loving them.

News

Gather 2026: The Work of One Another

Last week, delegates gathered to mark fifty years of ordaining women, share stories of God’s faithfulness, welcome new churches, and ordain and commission new ministers.

News

Christine Cikanek Honored for Outstanding Lay Ministry

Christine “Chris” Cikanek of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Princeton, Illinois, received the Theodore W. Anderson Award for outstanding lay ministry at the 141st Annual Meeting.