Listening To Aaron Rodgers
Challenging People Of Faith To Live Authentically
by Eric Elkin
Confession from a life-long Viking fan, I like Aaron Rodgers. I've listened to him be interviewed several times. Two times, though, he said something I wanted everyone to hear. The first time was a comment he made about summer camp. If you are a parent of a child still in school, you should listen to Aaron Rodgers on this one.
Rodgers was asked about any regrets from high school. He said he had one regret, not going to summer camp after his sophomore year in high school. All of his friends were planning to spend a week at a Young Life camp. He really wanted to join them. When he asked the football coach permission to go, the coach told him if he went, he would lose his job as starting quarterback. Going to camp, in the coach's mind, was a lack of commitment.
Aaron decided not to go to the camp. It was his one regret. The interviewer asked, "What would you have done if you lost the starting job?" He replied, "I wasn't going to lose my position. I was the best player on the team, and he knew it." I think about him every time a child passes up some valuable experience because a coach or instructor threatens demotion.
The other day, Aaron's words were once again making the rounds on social media. This time with a little less positive twist. In an interview with his girlfriend, Danica Patrick, for her podcast, "Pretty Intense," Aaron talked about religion. He was quoted as saying, "I Don't Know How You Can Believe in a God."
Sports talk show hosts jumped on the story. They all talked about how Aaron Rodgers condemned religion. How his words drove a deeper divide between him and his family. They wondered how Packer fans would be able to continue to embrace him.
The conversation sparked an interest in me. How did Aaron's current views relate to his one regret in life? I decided to search out the interview and listen for myself. What I heard was different than what I was told was in the interview.
What Aaron did say was really enlightening. If you want to hear what the world thinks of religion, you need to listen to Aaron Rodgers. His thoughts reflect what many under the age of 40 think about church. It is why that population is not often present on Sunday mornings. His words, though, were more challenging than condemning.
Those reporting on the interview were not listening to Aaron Rodgers. If they had, they would have learned something profound. Aaron was not rejecting religion, per se. He was telling us how religion formed him and where he finds spiritual meaning. What Aaron Rodgers loved about religion was service to others and the joy of community. He appreciated the acceptance of Young Life. Acceptance was huge to him, whether that be accepting another person or an idea. Ultimately, he believes in love and grace.
The funniest thing, in listening to Aaron Rodgers, I don't hear anything that conflicts with my belief as a pastor. His thoughts reflect the words of Micah 6:8, "He has told you…what is good…to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.” Actually, like a prophet, Aaron Rodgers is challenging people of faith to live authentically.
By the way, the headline that caught all the world's attention was a comment cut in half. Aaron Rodgers' comment was, "I Don't Know How You Can Believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet to a fiery hell." Neither do I, Aaron. Neither do I.
Click to read Micah 6: 1-8
Reflection Questions:
What formed you in the faith?
Where do you struggle to experience these formational events?
How would you reform the Church for the next generation?
Where do you place your hope?