LABC Update – NBA Playoff Special
The World’s Most Visible Christians
I have long contended that the world’s most visible Christians are the Pope and the President of the United States of America. Both have great impact on the quality of life on our planet and both, on a daily basis, are observed and evaluated by people in every continent, country, county and city on this pale blue dot that we call home.
While the President of the United States does not have to be a Christian, and the US Constitution prohibits religious tests for holding office, every president has, even in some nominal way, identified with Christianity. This means that, in the eyes of billions of people, she or he is a walking, talking, living and breathing representative of my faith tradition.
Even though I am not a Roman Catholic, I profess to belong to the catholic (universal) church. As such the pope, like the president, is a walking, talking, living and breathing representative of my larger faith tradition.
While I am not enamored with the way the current president represents Christianity, I am very appreciative of the way the late Pope Francis represented me. His expansive vision, his concern for the vulnerable, his commitment to creation care, his gentle ways were laudable. With me, many are hopeful that the next pope will share his values and commitments.
Which brings me to Steph Curry. I am not suggesting that he be president or pope. I am arguing that he too is one of the world’s most visible Christians and one who represents the essential values of my faith very well.
As we are in the midst of the 2025 NBA playoffs, Curry is the focus of a monumental amount of media coverage. His play is analyzed. His health is evaluated. His demeanor is scrutinized. His comments are deconstructed. His character is dissected. In every area he comes across as skilled, honest, trustworthy, humble, confident and admirable.
My wife, Karen, is a huge Steph Curry fan and she updates me regularly about what he is saying and what is being said about him. If there is Steph news, I don’t need to search for it on the internet. It is delivered to me at the dinner table.
Steph, without being off-putting, is forthright about how his faith roots, shapes, inspires and directs him. Many know that his tattoos represent his faith and family commitments. One tattoo reads “Love never fails,” a quote from I Corinthians 13:8. Another is “TCC,” standing for Team, Commitment and Care, still another is > <, a tattoo he shares with his wife Ayesha reminding them both to stay together and stay in the moment.
What I am saying is that in these weeks when the faith expressed by the world’s two most visible Christians is very much on display, I find it important to celebrate the faith of a third very visible Christian and say that, to a large extent, I want him to speak for me.
Pastor Jim