Choosing Your Team

Most of us have a favorite sports team. Chances are, you didn’t choose that team; your loyalty was passed down through generations of family tradition. This is especially true in Alabama, where allegiance to our state’s college football teams is often inherited. If you were to move here, one of the first questions you’d be asked is, “Will you root for Alabama or Auburn?”

In addition to college football, there’s also a lot of enthusiasm for the Atlanta Braves here. They’re the closest Major League Baseball team, and many Alabamians have adopted them as their own. Back in the '90s, my grandfather watched every game. I remember going with him to Game 2 of the World Series when the Braves beat the Cleveland Indians. He taught us to love Chipper Jones and to dislike anyone in a Yankees uniform.

These are fun traditions to be a part of and pass down through the generations. After all, choosing a sports team has no serious consequences. However, when we approach more significant aspects of life with this same inherited mentality, we could be setting ourselves up for trouble.

I worry that too many of us do this when it comes to our faith. Just as I inherited my loyalty to the Braves, I also inherited my faith as a Southern Baptist. For much of my life, I never questioned it. My "team" was chosen for me before I was even born. But is this the way we should decide something as important as our faith?

To clarify, I’m not saying that parents shouldn’t pass down their beliefs to their children. On the contrary, I believe it’s crucial for parents to share their faith. What I’m suggesting is that those who inherit faith should seek to understand it for themselves. As you explore and study, your roots may grow deeper in the faith of your parents, or you might discover a different perspective on God. Either way, this journey will bring you closer to the truth than when you first started.