NFL star quarterback and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers discussed why he abandoned the Christian faith in 2020. In a podcast with his girlfriend, former racing star Danica Patrick, he criticized several passages in the Bible, including the Book of Revelation.

“I don’t know how you can believe in a God who wants to condemn most of the planet to a fiery hell. What type of loving, sensitive, omnipresent, omnipotent being wants to condemn most of His beautiful creation to a fiery hell at the end of all this? Religion can be a crutch; it can be something that people have to have to make themselves feel better. Because it’s set up binary, it’s us vs. them, saved and unsaved, heaven and hell, it’s enlightened and heathen, it’s holy and righteous, and sinner and filthy. I had some good friendships along the way to help me figure out exactly what I wanted to believe in. Ultimately, it was that rules and regulations, and binary systems don’t really resonate with me. It’s been a fun path to a different type of spirituality, which to me has been more meaningful. Some people just need structure, and they need tradition and stuff and that works for them,” Rodgers explained.

Revelation 16 – While There Is Still Time

Believing in what you want to believe can be a big problem, even if you’re a future NFL Hall of Famer. The truth should be what we choose to follow, not our preference for what God should be like. In Revelation, chapters 15 and 16, many people left on the earth cursed God because they blamed Him for what was happening. Though they were living in agony, they refused to acknowledge God’s holiness and turn to Him. The judgments are a sobering reminder of why belief in Jesus is so important. We should devote ourselves to helping people repent and believe in Him while there is still time.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete warn friends and teammates of the inevitable judgment to come, calling them to repent and place their faith in Jesus Christ. “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrew 4:7).