LeBron and Roupp: What They Got Right—And What One Got Wrong
I could just hear die‑hard San Francisco Giants fans shouting, “Just shut up and pitch!” at Landen Roupp, a starting pitcher whose rough outing led to a loss against the Chicago Cubs last Friday. And that’s essentially what people told LeBron James back in 2019—well, not exactly. The phrase was “shut up and dribble,” but the spirit was the same.
LeBron heard that because he defended China—where the NBA has business interests—after then–Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters (“Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong”).
What about Roupp? He faced backlash, including a warning from the MLB commissioner, because of what he wrote on his cap on a night when the Giants wore rainbow‑themed caps for Pride Night. Roupp, a believer, inscribed Genesis 9:12–16 next to the rainbow logo. He wasn’t choosing a random verse. He was making a theological point about the meaning of the rainbow. In that passage, the LORD declares that the rainbow will remind humanity that “never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life”—a judgment that came in response to “how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become” (Gen. 6:5a).
Considering this, Roupp may be arguing that the gay rights movement has usurped a biblical symbol that has nothing to do with promoting homosexuality.
Both moments raise the same question: should athletes be allowed to speak their convictions publicly—whether political or religious? Speaking for myself, yes. It’s perfectly okay, especially when expressed peacefully; in fact, everyone has that privilege. But that doesn’t mean we must agree with their views.
As much as I respect LeBron James as a player and family man, I completely disagree with his claim that Morey was “misinformed.” Actually, it was the reverse. By ignoring China’s inhumane treatment of the Muslim Uyghurs and its organ‑harvesting industry that targets Falun Gong practitioners (a bipartisan bill addressing this is currently in the Senate), LeBron put the NBA’s profit over truth and failed to stand with the truly oppressed.
And while I understand why the Left would call Roupp’s action hateful, I, as a fellow believer, agree with what he did. Scripture repeatedly exhorts believers to stand against darkness—one example being Ephesians 5:11, 14: “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them … for it is light that makes everything visible.”
These moments don’t just reveal something about athletes—they reveal something about us. They highlight something I’ve long observed in the church: believers often hesitate to speak clearly on moral issues, especially those that clash with cultural expectations.
Given the academic background of many who attend AMI churches—graduates of universities where, in the social sciences and humanities, ten liberal/progressive professors exist for every conservative one—many hesitate to let co‑workers know where AMI stands, or say things like, “Homosexuality is a sin, but I’m for gay marriage.” I told one person who said that to me that it’s nonsensical.
A personal note: since I haven’t pastored a church since 1999, when AMI Lead Pastors talk about the daily grind of ministry, I usually keep to myself. But I’ve often wondered why pastors in general are silent on important social issues with clear biblical implications. Once, I asked an AMI pastor about this, and he said his people weren’t ready. Since he knew “the condition of [his] flocks” (Prov. 27:23) and I didn’t, I took that to mean his congregants were still spiritual infants who could only handle “milk, not solid food” (Heb. 5:12). That’s wise, pastorally—and perhaps necessary before believers mature into those “who … have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14).
But if pastors remain silent indefinitely because their congregations “aren’t ready,” that silence can also stunt maturity. To put it differently, wisdom may call for restraint, but fear cannot become a permanent strategy. Perhaps that’s what enabled Roupp to take a stand against misrepresenting the rainbow sign, fully aware of the backlash he might receive.
In closing, remember that sexual practice is a matter of holiness (1 Thess. 4:3). Sex outside of marriage or homosexuality is not part of God’s blueprint for humankind. Neither is endorsed in Scripture. But we must separate the practice from the practitioner. Scripture declares that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). That unconditional and unmerited love extends to all sinners, whether homosexual or heterosexual.
Our responsibility is to show Christ’s atoning death as the ultimate expression of that love through the forgiveness of sins, and then support people as God’s family to overcome the power of sin that continues to defile our lives. That’s the job of the family of God—otherwise known as the church.
Clear teaching on holiness must always be paired with clear teaching on God’s love.
LeBron heard that because he defended China—where the NBA has business interests—after then–Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters (“Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong”).
What about Roupp? He faced backlash, including a warning from the MLB commissioner, because of what he wrote on his cap on a night when the Giants wore rainbow‑themed caps for Pride Night. Roupp, a believer, inscribed Genesis 9:12–16 next to the rainbow logo. He wasn’t choosing a random verse. He was making a theological point about the meaning of the rainbow. In that passage, the LORD declares that the rainbow will remind humanity that “never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life”—a judgment that came in response to “how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become” (Gen. 6:5a).
Considering this, Roupp may be arguing that the gay rights movement has usurped a biblical symbol that has nothing to do with promoting homosexuality.
Both moments raise the same question: should athletes be allowed to speak their convictions publicly—whether political or religious? Speaking for myself, yes. It’s perfectly okay, especially when expressed peacefully; in fact, everyone has that privilege. But that doesn’t mean we must agree with their views.
As much as I respect LeBron James as a player and family man, I completely disagree with his claim that Morey was “misinformed.” Actually, it was the reverse. By ignoring China’s inhumane treatment of the Muslim Uyghurs and its organ‑harvesting industry that targets Falun Gong practitioners (a bipartisan bill addressing this is currently in the Senate), LeBron put the NBA’s profit over truth and failed to stand with the truly oppressed.
And while I understand why the Left would call Roupp’s action hateful, I, as a fellow believer, agree with what he did. Scripture repeatedly exhorts believers to stand against darkness—one example being Ephesians 5:11, 14: “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them … for it is light that makes everything visible.”
These moments don’t just reveal something about athletes—they reveal something about us. They highlight something I’ve long observed in the church: believers often hesitate to speak clearly on moral issues, especially those that clash with cultural expectations.
Given the academic background of many who attend AMI churches—graduates of universities where, in the social sciences and humanities, ten liberal/progressive professors exist for every conservative one—many hesitate to let co‑workers know where AMI stands, or say things like, “Homosexuality is a sin, but I’m for gay marriage.” I told one person who said that to me that it’s nonsensical.
A personal note: since I haven’t pastored a church since 1999, when AMI Lead Pastors talk about the daily grind of ministry, I usually keep to myself. But I’ve often wondered why pastors in general are silent on important social issues with clear biblical implications. Once, I asked an AMI pastor about this, and he said his people weren’t ready. Since he knew “the condition of [his] flocks” (Prov. 27:23) and I didn’t, I took that to mean his congregants were still spiritual infants who could only handle “milk, not solid food” (Heb. 5:12). That’s wise, pastorally—and perhaps necessary before believers mature into those “who … have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14).
But if pastors remain silent indefinitely because their congregations “aren’t ready,” that silence can also stunt maturity. To put it differently, wisdom may call for restraint, but fear cannot become a permanent strategy. Perhaps that’s what enabled Roupp to take a stand against misrepresenting the rainbow sign, fully aware of the backlash he might receive.
In closing, remember that sexual practice is a matter of holiness (1 Thess. 4:3). Sex outside of marriage or homosexuality is not part of God’s blueprint for humankind. Neither is endorsed in Scripture. But we must separate the practice from the practitioner. Scripture declares that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39). That unconditional and unmerited love extends to all sinners, whether homosexual or heterosexual.
Our responsibility is to show Christ’s atoning death as the ultimate expression of that love through the forgiveness of sins, and then support people as God’s family to overcome the power of sin that continues to defile our lives. That’s the job of the family of God—otherwise known as the church.
Clear teaching on holiness must always be paired with clear teaching on God’s love.
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