“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” – Romans 1:16
The National Hockey League (NHL) is currently engaged in an effort called the “Hockey is for Everyone” campaign. Part of this campaign involves all thirty-one NHL teams hosting an “Inclusive Night” or “Pride Night” of some form.
Teams that choose to host a “Pride Night” are laser-focused on celebrating LGBT pride. Recently, the Philadelphia Flyers organized a “Pride Night” and at this game, the Flyers were to wear a warm-up jersey that prominently displayed pride colors to show support for LGBT pride.
Ivan Provorov, who is a defenseman and alternative captain for the Flyers decided to take a courageous stand for his Christian faith by respectfully declining to wear the LGBT pride warm-up jersey. Provorov publicly said this about his decision, “My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.”
Provorov is an exemplary model of what it means to have courage and to stand strong for Biblical truth even in the face of great opposition. As a Christian, he refused to wear a jersey that promoted lifestyles that his Christian faith identifies as sinful and immoral even when the rest of his team decided to wear the warm-up jerseys that advocated for LGBT pride. It is said that “courage is contagious,” may it be so, may courage infuse American Christians throughout our nation to take bold and courageous stands for Biblical truth.
LET US PRAY…
Father, thank You for the bold and public courage of Ivan Provorov in his stand for Biblical truth. Lord, help us to be courageous advocates for Your truth as well regardless of the opposition we may face. Father, may we never be ashamed of the Gospel. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
