Posted on 12/27/2004 7:32:07 AM PST by malakhi
Reggie White's deep interest in religion appeared to go in a different direction after his playing days ended.
ESPN's Andrea Kremer had spoken with White several times recently about his interest in studying Hebrew. Kremer was planning to tape interviews with White about the subject next week.
"There were some things that he came to question in Christianity," Kremer said yesterday from Los Angeles. "He wanted to learn for himself how to read the scripture, and the only way to do that is study Hebrew.
"Reggie is someone who is true to his word. He didn't want to be taking other people's word for stuff. He told me he hadn't been in church in 4 years. He was on this journey to find out what religion is all about."
When CBS's Shannon Sharpe recently asked White if he was still in the ministry, White replied, "Shannon, I moved away from Christianity and started studying Hebrew because I need to know for myself what my life holds for me."
(Excerpt) Read more at philly.com ...
II gave me a heads-up on this story; this article gives a little more information than the one-line mention on ESPN.
Link requires registration.
I heard about this yesterday on ONE report, then didn't hear it anymore. Interesting.....
ESPN need's to just concentrate on Sports.
If I can find a link from a source that doesn't require registration, I'll post it.
There's an MSNBC article that says very much the same thing. Of course, the author (Mike Celizic) spins it into an anti-conservative, anti-Christian rant, but that's what Mike Celizic does.
}:-)4
Kremer, a graduate of Friends Select School and the University of Pennsylvania, recalled an interview she did with White the day after he helped Green Bay beat Carolina for the NFC Championship after the 1996 season.
"He knew how people felt about his preaching and his constant references to religion," Kremer said. "He said, 'You know what? I'm going to the Super Bowl. They're going to have to listen to me.' "
Kremer, a graduate of Friends Select School and the University of Pennsylvania, recalled an interview she did with White the day after he helped Green Bay beat Carolina for the NFC Championship after the 1996 season.
"He knew how people felt about his preaching and his constant references to religion," Kremer said. "He said, 'You know what? I'm going to the Super Bowl. They're going to have to listen to me.' "
White's faith was part of who he was. Why would this not be of interest?
This has been mentioned in at least a few newspapers already, so it isn't simply an ESPN story.
I would like to hear more about this. I doubt that he turned away from Christ. It sounds more like he wanted to learn more about the OT. And from there have a deeper understanding of the NT and what Christ did for us.
Many Christians find their way by different routes. There is a lot that can be troubling to a sincere believer; for example the differences in denominations that say they get all their beliefs from the Bible.
I struggled for years until I found my answer.
Just because Reggie had questions and wanted to learn how to read Hebrew doesn't mean he has forsaken Christianity. There are many answers in the Hebrew to questions that one might have. In fact, one of the great Jewish Christians, can't remember his name, studies and refers to the Hebrew scripture all the time. He has a half hour program on TV. Maybe someone knows who I'm talking about.
And exactly where is that line drawn? Should they not discuss salaries and impending strikes? Should they ignore off-field legal problems? Should they never do an in-depth background piece on an athlete's past? Sounds like you would be happy to reduce them to a ticker tape.
Serious students of God's Word learn Hebrew and Greek to be able to go back to source documents in order to gain first-hand understanding versus relying on someone else's translation. Sounds like Reggie was simply fine-tuning his tools to become a better pastor. There will ALWAYS be questions this side of heaven. Today Reggie White is there!
Since it was his family's minister that made the announcement, I doubt that he turned away from Christ. It sounds to me like he just yearned for more knowledge.
If that were the case why wouldn't he have wanted to study Greek instead of Hebrew and look into the New Testament more deeply?
Every Christian pastor I know who attended seminary has studied Hebrew. None of them was planning to convert to Judaism.
Many Christian ministers study both Hebrew and Greek for a greater understanding of Scripture.
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