Cam Newton and the "SCC"

Cam Newton and the SCC?
As a Christian I know I could learn a thing or two from Cam Newton and his actions throughout his football career this year and in the midst of all the unwanted turmoil. I know some of you Alabama fans aren’t going to like this but that’s okay. And others of you are going to say that he may still be guilty but guilt or innocence is not the issue here, it is his actions. As a football player playing for Auburn University he is governed by the rules of the SEC (Southeastern Conference), and if he steps outside those boundaries he can be declared ineligible to play. But, Cam has displayed on and off the field a Christian boundary that I call the S.C.C. Self-control, Courage, and Commitment.

SELF-CONTROL is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and although it is listed last if you can make it first, all of the others will come much easier. (Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control) All of these fruits come to those who fellowship with God but the Spirit expects us to start somewhere as James 4:8 suggest, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” By practicing self-control and with the help of the Holy Spirit, all of the other fruits become gifts to others. Our Heisman Trophy winner is not being proclaimed as a Savior here or some super-disciple, just a man that has practiced self-control in a very adverse situation. Needless to say, the fruits from his actions have been a gift to others!

COURAGE has definitely been displayed in Cam’s action time and time again on the playing field by leading his team to victory despite what the scoreboard read. In his personal life, when all the cards looked to be stacked against him and there was nothing that he could do about it, he remained courageous. These circumstances remind me of Joshua, as he was about to lead the Israelites into the promise land just after Moses death. God said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go! I know I could use some of that Cam/Joshua courage every day of my life!

COMMITMENT is something we witness little of in today’s society. There are marriages splitting up left and right with no thought of reconciliation. There are people jumping from church to church. There are those of us proclaiming to live in accordance to God’s word, talking the talk but not walking the walk! All of the unfaithfulness arises in times of turmoil. How are my commitments? Am I living up to what I promised to do in my marriage, job, church, and my walk with Christ? I’m afraid not! Luke 14:28 says, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost of whether he has enough to complete it. I think we can all take a hard look at Cam Newton as an example and see where he counted the cost before entering in and has stayed committed.

As I said previously, I am not glorifying Mr. Newton in the category with Christ but he has certainly set some boundaries in his life that comply with the S.C.C.! Self-Control, Courage, and Commitment, if he’s following these in his life, most likely he won’t have any problems with the SEC.

BY Donald Hobbs TO and FOR Donald Hobbs