Thinking Biblically About Terrell Owens
Erik Raymond of Irish Calvinist has written an excellent commentary on the alleged suicide attempt by (in)famous NFL wide receiver, Terrell Owens. Read the introduction below, then follow the link for the rest. (HT: Between Two Worlds)
Thinking Biblically About Terrell Owens
by Erik Raymond, IrishCalvinist.comNFL Pro-Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens (T.O.) has reportedly attempted suicide. Reports also indicate that the flamboyant Dallas Cowboys star recently confided in friends that he was depressed. The depression had apparently come to a head late Tuesday as Owens reportedly intentionally overdosed on his pain medicine.
As I read the reports and heard the ESPN guys trying to make sense of this scenario they kept on asking why? Why would T.O. attempt suicide? What would push him to such extremes? After all, this is the guy who is arguably the most dominant man on the planet at his position, the man who has an extraordinary physique, unlimited potential, a $25 million contract, numerous promotional deals and the ear of all of the media every time he speaks. Why is he so behaving so ‘irrationally’?
September 28th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
The more I think about it, the more sad I become. These people have so much - they’re doing the thing they’ve always wanted to do, they have media attention, more than enough money, endless support and encouragement from fans, family, etc., and so much more. Yet why are they so depressed, discouraged, and hopeless? The answer is easy:
They don’t have hope cause they don’t have Jesus.
How could they possible be living a happy, content life if they don’t have anything to look forward to at the end of their lives?
This example of Terrell Owens should cause all to think more. I think it’s a wonderful illustration on how little the world can do for us. Being “big” in the world, or investing our time in the things of the world will get us nowhere. Our hope and future is in Jesus Christ!
September 29th, 2006 at 8:55 pm
Thank you, very nice read.
T.O. is just wishing…his desire for more and more has ruined his chances of making a stellar carreer, one that would eclipse the one he is now getting to the end of. He is not only empty spiritually, he sees his past and knows in the back of his mind that he blew it…many times. He could have had a great carreer in Philly, but now he is under the guns of Bledsoe, not as good as Mcnabb. Big mistake. His pride of not asking for forgiveness and being humble before his former teammates has derailed his football life. Pride brought this man low. Or, rather, God’s punishment for his pride.
Now, I’m assuming he attempted suicide, which I’m not positive of (I have heard that it was a mistake, he’ll probably blame Drew Bledsoe in a press release).
Ster
September 30th, 2006 at 3:33 am
When one doesn’t have God, what is there to live for?
September 30th, 2006 at 7:54 am
It seems some people have really jumped the gun on this. Owens has denied it was a suicide attempt, and the police have now reclassified it as, I believe, an accidental overdose.
September 30th, 2006 at 8:17 am
Derek: This article was written the day Owens’ story came out and is accurate based on the information available at the time. Our linking to it was not intended to confirm or deny it as a suicide attempt. However, the article is an excellent example of Christian cultural commentary.
On the other hand, these kinds of things are always eventually classified as ”accidental” overdoses. Marilyn Monroe died of an accidental overdose. Elvis Presley died of a heart attack caused by an accidental overdose. We know that they couldn’t be suicides because these people were so rich and famous that they couldn’t possibly have been unhappy.
October 13th, 2006 at 9:26 am
[...] Alex & Brett Harris from Rebelution had some thoughts concerning the issue. I was glad to meet them through this article. I’m diggin there site and thankful for their impact in the young adult circles. I still can’t believe these guys are teenagers. Great stuff. [...]