Penn State and the Moral Outrage

Last September, the ACLU of Nebraska reportedly threatened school districts who invited University of Nebraska assistant coach Ron Brown to speak at public schools in the state.  Why?   You can guess this - because Brown, in his message, shared principles of Christianity, and was charged with trying to violate the religious rights of parents.   Brown was not intimidated...he said, according to NebraskaStatePaper.com:

“I don’t have a secular school speech and a Christian school speech, or a football speech or a church speech,” he said. “It’s all the same to me. I’m not a chameleon. I don’t change colors with the crowd.”

But the coach tells the schools to make his talks optional. He also said he’s within his 1st Amendment rights to cite what he thinks is the authority on why kids shouldn’t use drugs and alcohol.

“Who says lying is wrong?” Brown asked rhetorically. “Who says cheating is wrong? Who says stealing is wrong? Who says doing drugs and alcohol is wrong? There’s a source. There’s a final say. And I believe that is the Lord God.”

Brown has a history of being outspoken about his faith in Christ.  He returned to the Cornhuskers' coaching staff in 2008, after serving for 4 years as the state director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.   According to Huskers.com: 

Brown and former Husker Stan Parker are co-founders and co-directors of a statewide Christian ministry called Mission Nebraska. This ministry stewards numerous Christian radio stations and translators across Nebraska, along with facilitating a host of other endeavors that are near to Brown's heart. One such passion was the several I CAN CAMPS that minister to low-income children throughout Nebraska.

The 54-year-old Brown spent the four years prior to his return to coaching serving as the Nebraska State Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. While he relinquished that duty to return to the Cornhuskers, he continues as a regular columnist for FCA's National Magazine "Sharing the Victory." Brown also hosts a national weekly one-minute sports feature called, "I Got Jesus, Who You Got."

Ron Brown, a graduate of Brown University, has been featured regularly on Sports Spectrum on Faith Radio.    So why are we talking about Coach Brown today?    Let's go back to this past Saturday - it was the first football game at Penn State since the announcement of the charges against a former assistant coach that he abused a number of young boys.    The resignation of Joe Paterno had taken place, the now-assistant coach who had witnessed a locker room incident was put on administrative leave for his own protection, and the football team and the rabid Nittany Lions fan base was hurting...enter Ron Brown.






Here is the transcript of the prayer...
“Every one of these young men that was called to this platform today - Lord, we know, we know we don’t have control of all of the events that took place this week but we do know that you are bigger than it all. And we give you the glory that you are going to protect this stadium today and this town and these university sponsors and these students, that you would give great sense to all of them, Lord. Remove the foolishness and that your common sense will reign and shine. Well, God, there are a lot of little boys around the country today watching this game and they’re trying to figure out what the definition of manhood is all about. Father, this is it right here. I pray that this game will be a training ground for what manhood looks like. That we would compete with fierce intensity. With the honors, the gifts, and the talents that you have given us. And may we be reminded, Lord, that as it says in your word in John 1:14 that Jesus is full of grace, and truth. May the truth be known. May justice be known. Would you protect the victims (tough to understand over crowd claps)? Would you say grace and forgiveness for the lives of all of those involved? (More parts tough to understand over crowd). Now give us a great game, a game that honors you, and in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.”

The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians chapter 1:  3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. 

Into the atmosphere of confusion and outrage, the presence of Almighty God was injected, as one man stood up and led the players in a Jesus-centered prayer.   By and large, there was moral outrage over the events that came to light this week - many were upset that sexual abuse of young boys was taking place, and it was allowed in the vicinity of the campus...and the boys were rightly called "victims".   This was sin, and it violated the communal moral conscience of a college, a community, and a nation.   

And, where sin abounded, Ron Brown pointed to a source of grace that abounded much more, taking an opportunity to display the comfort and compassion of Jesus Christ, who is near to the afflicted.    It was a moment for the ages, and a reminder that when we see tragedy, difficulty, and disappointment, that we can be agents and ambassadors for Christ to speak God's truth and life into a situation.   And, even though some columnist and commentators are expecting retaliation from the ACLU, Ron Brown used his platform to minister to thousands of people on-site and millions across the nation...did he establish a religion?   Of course not.   He prayed according to the dictates of his conscience, and we have to be careful not to confuse "establishment" with "acknowledgement" or "expression".