May 15 2007
More tolerance for Christian beliefs?
[From Christian Post]
The wife of a professional indoor football player has accused the teamâs management of benching her husband over his religious beliefs.
Troy Vermillion, a wide receiver for the Colorado Ice and upfront Christian, had a disagreement with his coaches over a pornographic-like film that would be played during a bus road trip, which his wife Hilda said has led to his release from the team roster.
In an interview with Concerned Women for America (CWA), Hilda Vermillion said the couple feels that their rights have been violated over the incident, and that her husbandâs benching is biased.
The problem that sparked the controversy occurred during a bus trip to an away game for the Colorado Ice. According to Vermillion, the coaches on the team had brought on questionable material, including pornographic magazines. The wide receiver decided not to say anything, however, since it was their decision.
When the squad had decided to put on the uncut version of the movie Wedding Crashers, Vermillion decided to speak up since he would be forced to watch. He disagreed with the nudity in the film, and asked the coach if they could watch something else and had agreed to watch Invincible instead.
Following a break, however, the team ended up starting the Wedding Crashers DVD. The Christian football player, who was sitting in the back of the bus, then called his coach in the front twice by phone confronting him about the movie and what they had agreed on. The coach instead cussed Vermillion out.
The wide receiver then asked if he could get off the bus and catch a ride from another vehicle since they were riding in a caravan. The coach refused, however.
Read about it here.
[From Hollywood.com]
A lawsuit has been launched against a school teacher who showed Brokeback Mountain to a class of young students. Twelve-year-old Jessica Turner and her grandparents, Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking $500,000 against the Chicago Board of Education after the homosexual cowboy movie was shown at Ashburn Community Elementary School.
Read about it here.
[HT: Stuart Delony]
[From me]
I guess only Christians should be tolerant– not the other way around. Why couldn’t the coach let the player off and let him catch another ride? More hypocrisy from the Political Correctness police.
I wouldn’t want my children watching Brokeback Mountain! It is OK to watch sexual immorality but smoking cigarettes will get an “R” rating-what is up with that?
It is becoming hate speech if we tell people what the Bible says but we try to live Holy lives without sexual immorality and tolerance is out the window.
What do you think?
28 responses so far
I would think that the football issue comes with the territory. Perhaps there is a better way to witness than to sue the team with your wife. Not sure on the whole story though.
This “brokeback elementary” thing is another story. I’m not sure what I would do to some 24 year old ditzy teacher showing R rated stuff to my son or daughter (fortunately I don’t have any). It would probably be less tolerant than suing the school for only .5M.
Why does the football issue come with the territory? He didn’t force his views on the team, he asked to be let off the bus and the coach refused. That is wrong.
Kevin,
I 100% agree. As for the “Brokeback” case…it hate it that they are suing! To me it makes the parents seem that they are in it for the money. We need to take a stand, let people know, but to personally profit $500,000 from it seems like they are being a little opportunistic to me. However, I totally agree with you!
My favorite Christian T-shirt is a pink one my sons bought for me (I was told it takes a real man to wear pink.)
================
BROKEHEART MOUNTAIN
I just can’t quit you.
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I also agree with you Kevin on the football player. He was travelling to a jobsite (a game out of town presumably) in a vehicle (bus) owned or leased by his employer. Once he spoke up and notified his supervisor that he found the choice of entertainment offensive based upon his religious convictions, his immediate supervisor (coach) had an obligation to make a reasonable accomodation based on this particular player’s religious belief.
The supervisors neglect to provide a reasonable accomodation and then his response to “cuss him” in response also created a hostile work environment.
You bet I’d sue. A Christian can still seek justice.
No one has said but I’d also bet in the case against the Chicago school there is a “cap” for limiting public liability that prevents the Richardsons from seeking more in damages from the school.
In Christ
Andrew \o/
Titus 2:13
Remember that passage in 2 Timothy about the “Godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution…” That is a promise!
And it’s beginning right here in this nation. When the “hate speech” legislation passes the Senate, and some president somewhere signs it, we will get a real taste of what “persecution American-style” is all about.
We are in the “end of the end”–and we need to be sure of our Solid Rock
First of all, I want to commend the young man for doing what he could to be faithful to his wife, very good job there.
The coach was totally out of line and probably committed a crime. Christians do need to respectfully pursue their rights as set forth under Section 245 of Title 18*, of the Federal Criminal code. After all Christians ARE a protected class of people under Federal Law.
I am not overly worried over some proposed “hate speech” legislation, after all Christians (and the Church as a whole) have done quite well under the harshest of Empires in the past and present. Besides, Someone once told me to not “worry about tomorrow”.
Being a Christian will cause us to from time to time suffer perceived or very real persecution. While this was somewhat mild considering what our brothers and sisters live with in other parts of the world, it is wrong.
*http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/crim/245.htm
The reason people should sue the school district for showing an R rated movie to grade school students is that forking out cash is the only way people will learn. They are like mules, money is like a 2X4.
As for the athlete objecting to Wedding Crashers, I’m sorry, but I can’t go along with him on that. Its not like it was x-rated. It is that kind of hyper-sensitivity that makes people look down on Christians. Close your eyes, put in your ipod, and deal with it.
Jason,
You didn’t read the article. They showed the “uncut” version. I disagree with you here. I wouldn’t want to be in there. The guy was sexually abused as a child.
“Deal with it?” That is pretty insensitive to someone who deals with pornography and sexual abuse.
Paul Hoover, persecution American style is already occurring.
In topical research from the NFPA there are on average 325 church’s set ablaze by arson each year. Non residential property loss to fires cost on average $22,000 but in churches that average jumps to $36,500. Presumably because of the intent is to not merely damage but destroy. A self described “missionary for Lucifer” is serving 42 1/2 years for a string of church fires across 8 states.
There was Bob Coy, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel in Fort Lauderdale -vs-Broward County over a Christmas lights display that simply said Jesus is the reason for the season. C-mon what else would a church say? An unnamed non specific diety is the reason for the season?
In an article in World Net daily the write cites that “Christianophobia,” (is) the fear and loathing of all things Christian, coupled with a fanatic will to expunge from the public life of the West all reminders that ours was once a Christian civilization and America once a Christian country.
Also from that same article…
“Americans are among the most tolerant of peoples. No one demands that any dissenting adult or child be made to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, or join in Christmas caroling, or be forced to say a prayer before class, or go to church at Christmas. The Christian majority only asks that they be free to be themselves, to exercise their freedom to express their love of their Savior as the First Amendment has always guaranteed.
But what are we to make of Maplewood, N.J., where the Columbus High School brass ensemble was ordered not to play a single Christmas carol at their holiday concert, not even an instrumental version. Parents and students were outraged. “This is censorship at its most basic level,” said student Ryan Dahn. Correct, Ryan.
What really hit and opened my eyes… there was something that I read in the VOM (Voice of the Martyrs) newsletter a while back. A Christian in a foreign land was sufferring. He was praying for the same thing I was praying for that day.
All who desire to live Godly will suffer persecution. I’ve endured issues with people at work (at a cool faith friendly company) threatening me over my stand for Jesus. I had a boss for a very short time, come into my office, threatening to fire me over having a bible out on my desk. I had nothing but good evaluations from all my previous and subsequent bosses. He gave me a bad review. His bad review had an effect on my career for a while. Unfortunately he died of a sudden massive stroke last year.
Today in America if you are seriously passionate and following Christ Jesus you already are beginning to experience some serious persecution. If you aren’t, are you seriously following Jesus?
Colorado is an at-will employment state. Like it or not employees have little power against an employer. The team was well within its authority to release Vermillion for any reason or no reason. Every state in the union has some form of at will employment, different numbers of states accept exceptions to the rule. Being a disciple is not a recognized exception.
I suppose Vermillion could make some sort of Title VII claim, but I doubt it would go very far. Title VII has been systematically weakend since the Reagan administration. I feel pretty sure that a mainstream commercially successful movie would not rise to the level of a Title VII violation, even if OCR adopted an eggshell rule about Vermillion.
I’m not sure this is a bias against Christianity.
As for the Brokeback screening. I’d need to know more backstory. If family approached the school about the content and the school dismissed their complaint, then I don’t see any reason not to file suit. Even if a school doesn’t understand religious tenets, it does understand money.
Onelittleman,
You’ve gotta be kidding me? What more do you need to know about the Brokeback story? It was wrong to show an “R” rated movie to 12 year olds period. Plus a story about homosexual men? I really don’t get how any believer doesn’t get this one.
Brother Kevin,
Sorry I was responding mentally to ryan’s earlier comment about how the lawsuit makes the family seem opportunistic. My inclination would be to file suit and I see no Biblical prohibition to doing so. I was thinking out loud that if the family couldn’t get a solution through meeting privately with the school, then filing suit makes sense. Sorry for the confusion.
The more interesting story is Vermillion’s at any rate.
OLM,
Gottcha!
I hope I am the first to sincerely wish Mr. Falwell a speedy trip to his final destination, whatever that may be.
Geekwad,
I have no doubt he is in heaven today. I didn’t know him but heard he was a great man to be around. I have always been impressed with Liberty Grads. My prayers go out to his family.
Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world;
â In the Name of God the Father Almighty Who created you;
â In the Name of Jesus Christ Who redeemed you;
â In the Name of the Holy Spirit Who sanctifies you.
May your rest be this day in peace,
and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God.
I have dear friends who have been members of Thomas Road Baptist Church for the last thirty years…and they absolutely loved their Senior Pastor.
While Dr Falwell’s politics tended to get on my nerves, I had great admiration for his dedication to his church family, to the work of the Kingdom, and to the King Himself.
He is rejoicing at the throne of the Christ whom He loved so dearly and preached so clearly.
The interesting thought to me is to imagine Christ playing on the Colorado Ice and how He would have handled the situation. As His ambassadors today, if we were in that situation we would need to ask Him what to do. As you begin to do that, applying Kingdom principles, then I think we would have the answer as to how to bear the Kingdom well. What we don’t see or hear about from this story is whether he was being self-righteous in his attitude, but if he were that would be troubling. We must always walk in the opposite spirit of evil and walk as Jesus would have walked. Who knows, perhaps he could have just gone to sleep, read his bible, prayed quietly with a sleep mask on, had a great conversation with a teammate about Jesus and how He’s changed His life… It’s hard to really write about since none of us where there and it seems almost silly to try to second guess the best way to handle it now.
As to either incident, I don’t know that a lawsuit ever is the answer He would have chosen, but I can’t say that absolutely. I just think we are so me-focused and brainwahsed by our cultures that it is difficult to react in a way that is Jesus-centered. That is why we have to offer ourselves up daily as living sacrifices and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
It’s funny isn’t it? If I’m offended it’s “persecution” or “unjust”, but when someone else is offended it’s “political correctness”. All I can say is many Christians should thank their lucky stars Hypocrisy isn’t one of the 7 Deadly Sins.
Your claims of “persecution” are completely disingenuous and a slap in the face to people who have endured true “persecution” in this world. If this is “persecution” then maybe persecution isn’t all that bad. You’re still in here writing “freely”, thinking “freely”, no one is rounding you up and loading you into cattle cars. I know, “but they might”.
If you want to get whipped into a frenzy do it for something worthwhile, not some football player who didn’t want to watch a movie. I doubt that would be high on Jesus’ priority list.
DimStar does have a point, and interesting that we have come to the day when the Church remembers and honors the Martyrs of Sudan. They suffer true persecution, not what we perceive as persecution here.
I read both left wing and right wing blogs and see just what DimStar said:
if Iâm offended itâs âpersecutionâ or âunjustâ, but when someone else is offended itâs âpolitical correctnessâ
This is such a hard thing to see in ourselves. May Christ grant us the vision to do so.
Dimstar,
Thanks for your insight. Of course this isn’t anthing compared to the physical sufferings of many. But the guy asked to get off the bus. Why is that a problem? He wasn’t forcing his views on anyone. But his views were mocked and then he was fired. I say that is wrong.
As I stated, it comes across as disingenuous when it’s called “persecution”. That’s not persecution, not even remotely close. From what I remember about playing competitive sports that kind of par for the course. Coaches curse players out all the time, and players harass and disrespect one another.
Calling such movies “pornographic” and “sexually immoral” is purely a subjective opinion. Every religious group, sect, whatever claims they are the only ones who truly “know” the Word. Muslims who strap bombs to themselves make the same claims and have the same passion in their beliefs.
He could have put on some headphones and turned away from the movie. I sat on a 8 hour flight to Hawaii when they decided to have a miniature Jim Carey movie festival. To me his movies are “immoral” and “heinous”, but I just put on my headphones and read a book. No lawsuits, cursing, etc.
I find it interesting he plays a sport where a major component is to try and hurt other people.
Dimstar,
I would have done what you said. Before I entered the ministry I was confronted with a situation on where I just kept my mouth shut. But I wasn’t abused & don’t struggle with porn addiction like this guy.
Bryan Riley –
DimStar sort of beat me to it, but your WWJD is wonderful. The image of Jesus winning fame and riches through the spectacle of staged violence as a modern day Roman gladiator is just priceless. Then to wonder how he would react to a movie on a bus. If this Jesus had led a life that led him to that situation, I think in all likelyhood he’d call an audible to the QB for a cold Coors Lite, put back his seat, let his jaw go slack, and hyuck at the movie. Or he’d get off the bus at the next opportunity, walk to the nearest cancer ward or TB-wracked native reserve, and never return to professional sport.
The interview said that he wrote a very respectful letter to the coach. It should have been a closed issue. I haven’t read the email, but I heard the legal correspondent from CWA state that he had read all of the letters and that they were very respectful. He handled him self right. It is funny well not funny, but interesting to see that everyone blames him. But the interview said that it was some other player on the bus who turned all this in to the media. Him and his wifey seem to be playing Defense. No pun intended. He is just easy to blame. Also the interview said that it was one dvd player that controlled all tvs on the bus. I think they said ten of them. So he should wear a blind fold. Come on? Why all the hating? And if Jesus or Billy Graham or whoever was on that bus they would not watch the uncut version of that movie. be real.
He is a wide receiver not a linebacker.
The Rest of the Story:
Many of the blogs and message boards out there would have you believe that this is just about a sensitive football player and the movie The Wedding Crashers. IT IS NOT. Or itâs about performance. Yeah right. The 6â4â 220lb wide receiver who runs the 40 in 4:35. Please. He led the nation in returns and stuff. Whatever. Troy never called The Wedding Crashers âPornâ. The Porn he referred to was magazines brought onto the bus by a coach. He thought the UNCUT version of the Wedding Crashers was unprofessional and disrespectful to women. So here comes the battle cry of put on some headphones. Stop. One DVD controls all the TVâs on the bus. That day there were 8 televisions. The bus was a place of employment. So what did The Colorado Ice watch next on the next trip? The UNCUT versions of The 40 Year Old Virgin (which has a great deal of actual porn within the movie) and the Uncut version of Old School. The fact that he was abused just adds fuel to the fire. Another interesting fact: Troy or Hilda never went to media. So who did? Some cowardly, football playerâs girlfriend went to the papers because her man was too much of a weenie to urge professional behavior. The links to the actual media stories are below.
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/12927/FIELD/freedom/index.htm
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_5867937
Hello,
I am very interested in your recommendation of books by Andy Stanley. I have heard him recommended by others. Could you tell me what makes him highly recommended in summary form?
In Christ,
Pastor Jon