During ESPN’s coverage of the highly anticipated Cotton Bowl, featuring a matchup between Ohio State and Texas, the sports network aired a pre-game prayer following backlash it received for not airing the national anthem following the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans. On Friday night, ESPN elected to televise the on-field prayer led by former chair of the Cotton Bowl Athletic Association, Fred McClure.
McClure began the petition to the Lord after a moment of silence to honor the victims of the deadly wildfires in Southern California and the act of terror that killed fourteen people on Bourbon Street at the start of the year. Many users on social media celebrated ESPN’s decision to air the prayer that brought an entire stadium together before God.
“Loving father, we seek your blessings today for all those gathered here and especially for those on the field as we come together to celebrate the 89th Cotton Bowl Classic, we lift up the young men representing the Ohio State Buckeyes and the the Texas Longhorns. Keep them safe from injury and harm. Instill within them a deep respect for one another, and reward them or their perseverance,” McClure said in the heartfelt prayer.
He continued, “We are grateful for the freedom and the privilege that we have in this nation to compete and connect through sports. Yet we are mindful of those who are unable to participate due to violence, poverty or discrimination. Lord, stir our hearts to tear down these barriers by striving to give our best, treating others with dignity and respect, and reflecting your grace and kindness in all that we do. Now receive all your glory, your power and your honor forever, amen!”
“It makes me so happy to see Christians publicly expressing their faith,” one person commented. However, some wished to hear the name of Jesus Christ, the only way to God, in the Cotton Bowl prayer. “So. They weren’t allowed to mention Jesus?” one person asked. Another person pointed out, “He left out the Mediator between God and men the Man Christ Jesus. The DEI pastor would do well to listen to the words of the Father, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I AM well pleased.”
One user suggested, “A prayer that speaks to enjoyment, blessings, and a non-specific Father deity is just inoffensive enough to not be effective. I do like prayer in public however… I remain unmoved overall.” The same user then added that the prayer was “just doublespeak and political correctness with a slight nod to Christians as if we’re homeless dogs who should forever be grateful for scraps such as this.”
Another person who took issue with the prayer pointed out, “…as we come together to celebrate the 89th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic…” This is no prayer, from start to finish: 1. He didn’t even bow his head & close his eyes in reverence 2. Read a statement 2. Gave a shameless corp. plug 3. Made multiple DEI references 4. Jesus’ Name?”
Watch the prayer below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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