Michael Vick and Second Chances
A Sports Talk radio station in Chicago (670 The Score) polled its listeners today. They asked what has been the most compelling story in the young NFL season thus far. Over 67% of responders indicated that Michael Vick’s comeback for the Philadelphia Eagles was their top choice.
For those who have been off-planet or are not football fans, Michael Vick was an incredibly talented young quarterback whose
career and life took a horrible turn. His conviction for involvement in the illegal and dreadful world of dogfighting led to an eighteen-month jail sentence. Now released, expressing remorse, and speaking to young people about the evils of his past ways, Vick’s has revived his career in Philadelphia.
Not everyone is happy, including Debbie Sanville who is a season-ticket holder who has refused to attend a game since Vick signed. She believes Vick only regrets getting caught and has no remorse for his dogfighting past (Are Eagles’ Fans Ready to Embrace Vick?).
Not Redemption, but a Second Chance
Listening to callers on The Score, I was not surprised to hear them use words like “redemption” and “resurrection” (“He’s experienced a redemption.” “Vick has resurrected his career.”) Of course, they are using theologically-loaded words with no theological intent. Our society does that frequently.
I have no clue where Vick is spiritually or whether he has found spiritual redemption through the new life that comes by faith in Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection. Nor would I dare, like Sanville did, to judge the thoughts and intents of Vick’s heart. That’s a role not for my spirit but for the Holy Spirit.
However, I was disappointed by some callers who determined that Vick never should have been allowed back in the NFL. Apparently for them, there is no such thing as a second chance, even after a person has been tried, punished, and done his time according to the justice system. I wonder if the callers believe that someone who has been convicted should be sentenced to a life without any future chance at employment.
None of this is meant to minimize the horrors of the dogfighting world. And, of course, some crimes should lead to some occupations being off-limits.
Role Models: You’re Kidding, Right?
The logic, if you could call it that, of some callers went like this. Professional athletes are role models, therefore, if they commit a crime, even if they do the time, they should never be allowed back on such an influential platform.
Please. Doctors are role models. Firefighters are role models. Nurses are role models. Teachers are role models. Pastors are role models. Mill workers are role models. Most importantly, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are role models. But professional athletes like professional actors—they’ve proven long ago that though they are talented in their fields, they have not risen to the pinnacle of success because of their character.
Should they be role models? Could they be role models? Sure. But we ought to be teaching young people that character is what counts, not talent.
A Christian Approach: A Second Chance Because Of Redemption
As a follower of Christ, my ultimate prayer and longing for someone like Michael Vick is spiritual redemption—new life in Christ. Perhaps he has already experienced that; I do not know.
But also as a Christian, I would stand up for Michael Vick’s right to a second chance to use his talents in his career as a professional football player. Not simply on the basis of some humanitarian impulse, but on the foundation of theological principles such as forgiveness, grace, and yes, even “redemption.” While some may flippantly use this term, the spiritual ramifications of redemption ought to play out vocationally and relationally.
I forgive a brother when he sins against me on the basis of my having received forgiveness in Christ. I reconcile with a sister when we have had a dispute on the basis of having been reconciled to God through Christ. I give an employee a second chance because the father pursued the prodigal, Christ forgave the woman caught in adultery, and He gave the woman at the well a fifth chance (the man you are with now—your fifth man…).
Spiritual redemption in Christ should have practical implications relationally and vocationally. In fact, maybe we could view these comebacks, these second chances in life, as a small taste, a tiny glimpse of that ultimate spiritual redemption. Your act of grace toward me may be part of the Spirit’s work in bringing me to conviction and repentance.
Join the Conversation
Where do you stand? What is your attitude toward Michael Vick’s comeback?
I can’t remember who said it but it has been said that “Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving another.” I think that Michael Vick has indeed done wrong but has paid his debt and is ultimately begging to be forgiven. If humanity could just see that they too stand in need of forgiveness and grace then maybe they would just dial down the temperature on all the rhetoric about not letting Vick back in the NFL etc. Each week I see an incredibly talented athlete just saying to the world “yes” but “how long” and “how much more”. It is time we learn that God’s grace is for all, not just for the “good” people but for All who reside on this sin cursed planet and continually grieve the heart of a loving Father.
What Michael Vick did outside of football (all that was involved with the dogfighting) was dealt with by our justice system. He committed a crime for which he paid a price (incarceration). As a society, we will not forget what he did. It was wrong and we will remember it just as we remember many other crimes. We can choose to recognize, however, that he paid the penalty for his crime in full as prescribed by our justice system. In other words, justice has been done. This means that we have nothing left to hold against him. Will it influence how we view him? That will be different for every person and organization. The NFL has chosen to accept his payment as “Paid in Full” and allowed him to rejoin their league as a player with certain stipulations. That is their rightful choice and each individual has their own rightful choice as well.
As for me, I accept that his penalty has been paid in full. I hope that he truly has experienced genuine remorse and repentance. Based on the word of a man like Tony Dungee I will assume that he has and I will pray for his success in living a life of godliness as he is discipled by a great man like Tony. However, I am not ready to make him a hero or become a Vick fan(atic). I will give him plenty of room to validate his profession. Everyone deserves a real opportunity to prove that they have experienced a real inner change.