Michael Vick, Redux
I wrote about Michael Vick's possible return to football several months ago, and note with interest that he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday. In reading the article on ESPN.com, I found this quote, which shocked me:"Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said he did serious 'soul searching' regarding Vick. The owner said he met with Vick for hours and is convinced he can become a force in stopping animal cruelty.
'I needed to see a lot of self-hatred in order to approve this,' Lurie said."
Wow. Lurie DEMANDED self-hatred. Is there a difference between recognizing oneself as a sinner and self-hatred? Is one the platform for forgiveness and rebirth while the other is the pit? I haven't fully processed Lurie's quote yet. Wanna help?
Labels: Celebrity, News, Nick Lannon, Sports
posted by Nick Lannon at
1:59 PM
15 Comments:
How is it that animal related violence has become an unforgivable sin for Vick versus all of the incredible other sins perpetrated by other athletes against humans that are paid for and the debt considered satisfied?
There was a good quote from the LA Times: "In a perfect world, we want our teams to win titles with a roster of saints and matinee idols. Unfortunately, none of us is pristine, including our athletic heroes."
Nick, love your take on this! Really interesting question about self-hatred vs. recognition of sin... I think you're right about self-hatred being the pit. This is purely experiential but I think self-hatred is when one cannot see the good in oneself, even on the redemption side of the cross. It can't be a platform for repentance and forgiveness, because even in the face of grace the self-hating person can't accept it for themselves. This leads to anger, I think (and violence towards animals in Vick's case?). On the other hand, recognizing oneself as a sinner hopefully comes in light of the cross and God's love for us despite our sin....
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Nick,
I heard another angle on this story today.
As I listened to ESPN radio today, i was amazed at the amount of people who were saying "well Vick was cruel to animals, i have neverbeen cruel to animals" and suggested that it was imprudent for a second chance to be given.
In terms of Law Gospel - I think about Jesus' sermon on the mount and his description of the depth of the law in the face of our perceived righteousness. I guess i must admit, we are all broken and at least Michael Vick is willing to admit it.
In AA the first step is Admitting that you got the problem and you are powerless to break the pattern. Looks like Vick has done that and I hope he is well on his way to recovery.
By the way, great post....
I've heard on Sportstalk radio that Michael is getting a lot of counseling from Tony Dungy. Down here in Tampa we respect Tony as a solid brother in Christ. I think Michael might just be okay.
"Is there a difference between recognizing oneself as a sinner and self-hatred?" I don't know if Paul in Romans 7 talks quite like this. "So it is no longer I who do it but sin dwelling in me." He seems to offer a dis-identification with that side. Though the "Who will deliver me from the body of this death?" might work with self-hatred of sorts. Lurie's statement makes sense according to a commonsense view of the nature of man. I'm just glad we're not stuck with that.
One of the other things that Lurie said in his press conference was that "there are no third chances, we know that." He seems to be distancing himself from Vick even as he supposedly welcomes him. KP, many of the things I have heard include a (usually explicit!) tone of "the KIND of person" who would hurt an animal. I think it was Jackie MacMullen on Around the Horn. The implication being, of course, not only that there ARE "kinds" of people, but that some "kinds" are worse than others. Notably, "they" are worse than "us."
Exactly Nick,
The "thing" he did is so heinous. We are good people who make mistakes he is a DOG KILLER. Just seems to me that the theology of glory never ceases to categorize sin so that the individual's ego is puffed up.
What he did was heinous, and I am as well. "This is a trustworthy saying and worthy of all men to be received, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the foremost". Don't hear much of that concerning Michael Vick.
Great question. My $0.02 is that with someone who is exhibiting symptoms of self hatred you at least know that they have taken on board the seriousness of their condition. If someone disassociates with their 'sinful side', then it might be that spiritually they become involved in the narcissism that focuses on developing the 'good in oneself' and move away from Christ and his righteousness as our grounds for hope.
This may just be a semantic non sequitur, but perhaps a term like self hatred is the only one sufficiently harsh to penetrate the pampered bubble surrounding our Oprah suckled ears. I like the sound of this coach - if Vick started prattling on about how is was just the sinful part of him that did this, it would sound like he wasn't taking ownership of the problem. Self hate is an excellent starting point for hearing the Gospel of Christ.
Great Post Nick. I really love your insights. I also have seen allot of news coverage on this and evidentally there have been huge protests outside of the stadium and people now are calling for an Eagles boycott.
I am not sure on the self loathing vs sinner, but two thing are perfectly clear: 1. contrary to popular belief, the western world is not nearly as tolerate and non-judgemental as they would like to believe. 2. I think this ties into JDK's earlier post on carbon foot printing, the western world's new religion is Earth and animal worship. Abortion o.k. but heaven forbid you drink coffee out of a styrofome cup and hurt an animal.
http://mockingbirdnyc.blogspot.com/2009/07/indulgences-of-21st-century-kind-carbon.html
While driving home last night I was tuned into NYC's WFAN radio station and the host Steve Somers was talking about the Michael Vick story (obviously because in NY we love to beat things to a pulp). Some former prisoner caller called in and was pontificating about how Vick deserves a second chance, but not in the NFL. That the caller spent 15 yrs in prison for something far less offensive than Vick (his crime was related to breaking the Rockefeller Laws in the 80s). So as it were he was going on and on about how animal cruelty is worse and that Vick will still be a thug and remain imbedded in crime because 2 years is not enough time to be in prison for that sort of crime.
So Somers asked him just what he meant in fact by saying he deserves a second, just not in the NFL. Somers pointed out his gift is being very athletic and talented at football, not in anything else. Ridiculous salaries in sports aside, why shouldn't he be allowed to get a job in the NFL?
The caller had no real reasonable response. What it comes down to is that everyone else' sins and offenses are always worse than our own. It's a Law obsessed world, ironically enough.
Hey guys. I don't follow the news much, and am not much of a sports fan; so I haven't been following any of the recent stuff about MV.
Here's my question, though: why is there all this public debate about MV's inner heart and his sin and so on. Even on this thread it seems like some of us are implicitly affirming the idea that MV's inner life is somehow our business, and that his re-entry into the world of professional sports should be contingent on appropriate inner feelings of regret.
I totally agree with what we are saying here about the Glory story and such: people want to pharasaically condemn one guy's wickedness while claiming that their violations of God's law are just "venial" sins.
But just suppose everybody got the memo here, and stopped making that distinction. I am thinking that MV's inner life would still be something that is not our business. It's God's business, and perhaps the business of a Christian confessor if MV has elected to seek one out, but it sure isn't OUR business.
What sounds like it is missing in these debates is the distinction between civil righteousness and the righteousness of keeping the law in one's heart.
The only business we have is with the former. The guy definitely violated law of the state (which governs behavior). He has paid the civil penalty for it (both in terms of US law and in terms of whatever rules may have existed in his professional association of football players).
Now Nick's original question is I think interesting. But the way I interpret it that Nick's interested in a general question about self-hatred vs. confession as a sinner and such. Great question. But we should bear in mind as we talk about it that it wasn't Lurie's business ANYWAY.
PS. My take on this by the way is that Lurie's comments are all PR. I am deeply skeptical that he actually cares about Vick's inner feelings and the state of his soul. Lurie is in fact concerned about THE PHILADEPLIA EAGLES. He realizes that football fans are (like everybody else) offenively Pharasaical and deeply interested in things that are none of their business. Lurie knows that he has to get the asses in the stadium seats. Part of his job is not to do anything to alienate fans. So he claims that he's had a long "soul searching" talk with MV and given him Tough Love and seen that Vick hates himself etc. It's necessary PR if he is going to hire the guy.
Am I offbase here?
I think Lurie used the phrase "self-hatred" rather than "repentance" reveals that he has not actually offered Vick forgiveness and grace, but continues to give him the law despite the generosity of offering him a spot on the team. The offering of a spot on a team is filled with contingencies as opposed to heavenly grace, which comes with none.
Stampdog--I realllly like your insights on this thing, and particularly the "it's not our business" approach. For most of us, me included, I am only interested in things that are NOT my business, because my business is, well, a little boring to me. Jesus tells me to forgive MY brother who comes to me for forgiveness, 70 times 7, and to love MY enemies, or "forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." He doesn't say a thing about forgiving someone in the abstract, because that is just BS "forgiveness." Vick is absolutely none of my business. He hasn't done anything to me. I don't forgive him. I don't condemn him. My grace to him is that I just let him be.
Thanks, Michael. Always love hearing what you have to say.
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