Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers discussed his Christian upbringing on his girlfriend’s podcast in 2020. “Church on Sundays was more like, ‘Make sure you dress a certain way, don’t bring that person, this person’s going to get looked at strangely if they show up,’” he says. “I think, again, it’s very black and white in a binary sense, but I don’t think it’s very welcoming. It can be a crutch,” he adds. “It can be something people have to have to make themselves feel better.” Rodgers says that ultimately, he didn’t believe in such an all-or-nothing approach to God, such as “saved and unsaved,” “heaven or hell,” or “enlightened or heathen.”

When Rodgers attended college, he didn’t feel connected with any religious organizations and began to “question things.” He also met friends with different beliefs that he enjoyed learning about. Eventually, he drifted entirely away from the church where he was raised and attended with his parents.

Hebrews 2 – Don’t Go Back!

The writer of Hebrews warns about spiritual drifting, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1). The warning uses vivid sailing language, suggesting the image of a ship whose anchor has broken loose and is dangerously drifting away. The warning is meant for the pressured church drifting farther and farther away from Christ and toward the old world of Judaism.

The book of Hebrews was written to converted Jews suffering persecution from both unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. Drifting back to their old system of Judaism would have lessened the persecution they faced. This chapter focuses on convincing them that Jesus Christ deserves their loyalty because He is superior in His person and work.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete don’t neglect spiritual matters. They pay attention to the guardrails of God’s Word so they don’t drift into a spiritual ditch.