It's not easy under stress to shoot accurately,you stop the threat to save innocent people,no matter what it takes.

Then Jesus says unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Matthew 26:52.

Hi, Ian, thanks for stopping by the channel and taking the time to comment. I’m unclear as to what your objection to Seventh-day Adventism is, though. What covenant do you believe we are trying to bring others into “bondage” to? The texts you quote do not make your objection clear. That said, my guess is that you believe we think the Ten Commandments, including the fourth which commands the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath, are still valid, and that our honoring of those commands is the “old covenant” that you believe was done away with at the cross. If that is indeed your objection, then here is my response: “The law of commandments expressed in ordinances” in Ephesians 2:15 does not refer to the Ten Commandments, but rather specifically to the commandments expressed in “ordinances.” That word “ordinances” is key: It refers to ceremonies, specifically, the ceremonial laws associated with the Old Testament sanctuary/sacrificial system. It was these laws-not the Ten Commandment law, which was given separately-that was “abolished” at the cross. Or more accurately, Christ, the One and True Lamb of God, fulfilled the ceremonial laws as the Final Sacrifice. The Seventh-day Adventist Church does not keep the ceremonial law. (For a more detailed explanation of the texts you mentioned, see my presentation at ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-slGhCSYDETY.html ). However, the Seventh-day Adventist Church does believe that the Ten Commandments are still valid. There is no indication in the Bible that the Ten Commandments in general or the seventh-day Sabbath have been done away with-no indication whatsoever. Thus, they are still very much in effect, and all Christians are called to honor them in their lives. But notice carefully: The Seventh-day Adventist Church does NOT believe that a person is saved by keeping any or all of the commandments! We are instead saved by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross; we are saved by grace, NOT by our obedience (Ephesians 2:8 & 9). And then comes the best part: Once we are saved, we are at last given the power of the cross to follow and obey God! What a gift! God’s commands, including His Sabbath command, are all given for our good, not for our destruction or to be a burden! And once we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Master, we now have His power and strength to live the life that He always dreamed we could live: a life of power, integrity, goodness, grace, strength, dignity, honor, and respect-in essence, a life of obedience to the love and law of Jesus Christ. The law of God, which used to condemn us, now becomes candy for the soul. To put it another way, we don’t obey God’s laws to BE saved, but because we HAVE ALREADY BEEN saved. Good works don’t MAKE someone a Christian; they instead show that they ARE a Christian. This is the transformation that the Bible speaks of so frequently, the transformation from darkness to light! We are saved by grace and not by obedience to the law, specifically that we might then “do good works” (Ephesians 2:10)! And why? Because it is in doing good works and obeying God’s will in our lives that we can at last come to know Him deeply, intimately (see John 17:30, and Matthew 7:21-23, 25:12). Obeying God is not legalism; it is not the “Old Covenant.” It is instead simply the Kingdom way of life, the life lived in and through Jesus Christ, by which we come to know Him better and better. May God continue to bless you, Ian, as you seek to follow Him!

Glad it was a blessing, Koa La!

Hi, Ashari, I'm sorry you're feeling upset. I would like to be of help to you. Could we talk about this outside of RU-vid? My office email is nmchurch@shentel.net if you want to contact me. I know that it can be disappointing when God says "no" to something that we really want. But the truth is that God never takes something away from us that it would be better for us to keep. He is too wise and loving for that! God can take the other skills that you have and use them to do great things for His glory - and the adventure you'll go on along the way will be better than anything else the world can offer. Don't give in to the devil's lie that says you have no good options for your future! Jesus' death on the cross proved once and for all that you are deeply loved by God; He has plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. I will be praying for you during this difficult time. And again, my office email is there, if you wish.

You're welcome, TJ, glad you enjoyed it!

Good question, saved.bylove. In my opinion, inappropriate clothing has sadly been part of the dark side of some types of pro sports (and other levels of sport, too) for a long time. But for Christians, if they take Jesus and the Bible seriously, they will not dress in a way that reveals too much or that distracts from the glory of God - and that includes when they are playing sports. However, that said, this doesn't by itself mean that a Christian female should not play volleyball. She instead might play volleyball, while choosing to wear appropriate clothing during the games she plays (as the Norwegian handball team and other female teams attempted to do this year).

You're welcome, David! Thanks for stopping by the channel.

No worries at all, and I'm definitely not mad at you. :-) Thanks for posting the comment! In answer to your thoughts, I don't have any direct personal experience with the Special Olympics. But based on what I do know, it seems to me that the Special Olympics are different than most professional sports and do not have the same negative aspects that pro sports do. Instead, the Special Olympics seem to be a good way for people with physical and other challenges to participate and compete publicly while making new friends, learning new skills, and inspiring thousands of others to be the best they can be. So I would not put the Special Olympics in the same category as professional sports. Thanks again for posting, I appreciate it!

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 your welcome pastor Shane explains

Hi, Noel, no worries, thanks for the question - my apologies for the delayed response. The short answer is, possibly so. What did you have in mind? You can contact me at nmchurch@shentel.net.

Thanks, you too!

Good question, Anthony. I believe the answer is...maybe, but probably not. The truth is that playing on Sabbath is a requirement for nearly every professional sport that's out there. It's one of the two days that fans are most likely to show up for a game, and team owners know that if they're going to make $$$, Saturday is one of the biggest days to do it on. So in addition to the negative parts of playing professional sports that I mention in the video, the odds of finding a pro sports team that would allow one of its players to not play on Sabbath - particularly in a playoff or championship situation - are extremely low.

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 So is playing on the sabbath a sin?

​@@nathanandjaydensyoutube8123 Excellent question! People have debated for thousands of years what's right and wrong to do on the Sabbath day. But generally speaking, it's actually pretty simple. The Sabbath is God's special gift to every human being, and is a day to spend with Him, getting to know Him better, learning to hear His voice in our lives better, etc. According to the Bible, the Sabbath day starts Friday at sundown and ends on Saturday at sundown. The fourth commandment is the commandment that tells us much about how to keep the Sabbath day holy (you can find the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15). More information about Sabbath keeping can also be found in places like Ezekiel 20:12 & 20, Matthew 12:9-12, Luke 4:16-21, Acts 13:14, 15, 42-44, etc. The basic idea these Bible verses give is this: If an activity helps to remind us that God is our Creator, Redeemer, and the One that grows us to become like Him, then that activity is okay to do on the Sabbath. This is why normal work is not to be done on Sabbath: It's not that work itself is evil, it's just that it tends to distract us from the purposes of the Sabbath if we do it on that day. And what about sports on Sabbath? Simple things like throwing a football or baseball or frisbee back and forth to play catch is probably fine for most situations, especially if it's done outside, surrounded by the amazing natural world that God made. But I'd definitely stay away from playing any actual sports games - as in, where you keep score, or go to the gym/court/field and organize teams, etc. Again, it's not because playing a sports game is evil all by itself. But it's because playing sports games on Sabbath inevitably distracts from the purposes of the Sabbath. Athletes, particularly gifted ones, can too easily focus on the game, strategy, etc., and forget what the Sabbath day is actually supposed to be about: being with Jesus. Hope that helps, and thanks again for the question.

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 So technically no christian can be pro in any sports according to what you said?

@@nathanandjaydensyoutube8123 As I said in the video, I think some Christians may be specifically called by God to minister for Him in pro sports. But because of the spiritually toxic environment that often is found in pro sports, those callings will be, in my opinion, incredibly rare.

Hi, Wezo 97, thanks for stopping by the channel. Your question is a good one - my apologies for taking so long to respond. I agree with your decision to not return to rugby; it seems clear that you're listening to God's will for your life, and that rugby is not part of His plan for you. Thanks for taking a stand for that! I have talked with other high-level athletes who have decided to quit their particular sport, and they've shared with me that it can definitely be challenging to find out what else God wants them to do. You might find one of my other videos helpful on how to find the right direction for you. It's at ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AnN6KAeanzc.html . Keep trusting in God and His Word. Take the next step you believe He wants you to take, and don't stop just because you can't see exactly where He's leading you, yet. Step by step, over time, I believe He will guide you to the right way to provide for your family and your future.

LOL! Thanks for riding the plane till it landed.

These are stuff on Earth, not just sports, it’s about who you are

Hi, Ramen Studios1051, good question, and somehow I missed it when you posted it months ago - sorry about that. Newman (he posted about the same time that you did) asked a very similar question, and this is what I shared with him : "Hi, Newman, you are asking the right question. I would suggest three things. First, take seriously what I mention in the video. Professional sports can definitely be exciting, but they also have some very real negative things about them - things that can cost a person their salvation. Be sure that you take those negative aspects seriously, and avoid thinking, 'Well, those things would never happen to me.' Second, trust God. I know that may sound obvious! But truly, give all of yourself to Him - including your future in sports. God will never take something away from you if it is best for you to keep it! He is too loving and too wise for that to happen. Instead, He will only take something away from you if it would be harmful to you. Lastly, I would recommend doing something that is hard for most of us to do: Be patient. If you put your trust in Christ each day, He will reveal His will to you, even if it takes some time to do so. If it His will that you go into professional sports as an ambassador for Him, He will make that clear. Or, if it is not His will, He will also make that clear to you, if you are patient and wait for His answer to you. May God continue to bless you as you follow Him!" Hope that's helpful, Ramen Studios1051.

I'm glad the video was a blessing, Abiola. God will continue to lead you as you put your trust in Him!

@@sanderson5222 thank you and I know he will have a Beautiful day

Hi, Newman, you are asking the right question. I would suggest three things. First, take seriously what I mention in the video. Professional sports can definitely be exciting, but they also have some very real negative things about them - things that can cost a person their salvation. Be sure that you take those negative aspects seriously, and avoid thinking, "Well, those things would never happen to me." Second, trust God. I know that may sound obvious! But truly, give all of yourself to Him - including your future in sports. God will never take something away from you if it is best for you to keep it! He is too loving and too wise for that to happen. Instead, He will only take something away from you if it would be harmful to you. Lastly, I would recommend doing something that is hard for most of us to do: Be patient. If you put your trust in Christ each day, He will reveal His will to you, even if it takes some time to do so. If it His will that you go into professional sports as an ambassador for Him, He will make that clear. Or, if it is not His will, He will also make that clear to you, if you are patient and wait for His answer to you. May God continue to bless you, Newman, as you follow Him! - Pastor Shane

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 Thank You Pastor Shane, really appreciated. -Newman

Good questions! I would say that whether it's through Russell Wilson or any other Christian in pro sports, anytime a fan is genuinely drawn to God through an athlete's witness, that's a good thing. But remember: I'm not suggesting that Christians cannot ever play pro sports, or that pro athletes cannot ever witness effectively for God. I'm instead saying that is exceptionally difficult to be a witness for God in pro sports (for the reasons I mention in the video), and that Christians should therefore avoid pro sports unless they have a very specific and clear calling from God to do so. With regard to II Timothy 2:5, I'm not sure if you had a specific question about it or not. So I'll just share what I think you might be asking (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong). I'm guessing you're asking if I think the Apostle Paul is here endorsing Christians playing pro sports. If that's your question, my answer would be...probably not. True, the fact that Paul uses the games of his era as an example for the Christian life does tell us that sports are not inherently evil, and that they instead can teach us valuable lessons if done correctly. But having said that, the sports structure of Paul's day was far less intense - and far smaller - when compared to the sports structure of today. Today, pro sports are a billion-dollar industry, with PR, training, and other scheduling demands on athletes that make Paul's day look primitive. Given the super strong temptations for pro athletes today to not follow God while in pro sports, it's my opinion that Paul, if he could have seen our day, would have counseled most Christians to stay away from pro sports, as well. Thanks for the questions!

@@pastorshaneexplains7736 pro sports is full of self righteousness and cheating. you have to think your better then the other players to be in sports which would be not denying your self like Jesus commands us to do.

@@jesusmylordsaviorking3726 Sadly, that is true in too many cases, and that again in part is why I think most Christians should not participate in pro sports.

You and me both I want to play basketball professionally and I am just starting to taking god seriously but I don’t know what to do know

@@redjacksongaming9952 Same

@@zenoZ5, my reply to Newman (see above) may be helpful to you, as he asked a similar question. Here's what I said to Him: "Hi, Newman, you are asking the right question. I would suggest three things. First, take seriously what I mention in the video. Professional sports can definitely be exciting, but they also have some very real negative things about them - things that can cost a person their salvation. Be sure that you take those negative aspects seriously, and avoid thinking, "Well, those things would never happen to me." Second, trust God. I know that may sound obvious! But truly, give all of yourself to Him - including your future in sports. God will never take something away from you if it is best for you to keep it! He is too loving and too wise for that to happen. Instead, He will only take something away from you if it would be harmful to you. Lastly, I would recommend doing something that is hard for most of us to do: Be patient. If you put your trust in Christ each day, He will reveal His will to you, even if it takes some time to do so. If it His will that you go into professional sports as an ambassador for Him, He will make that clear. Or, if it is not His will, He will also make that clear to you, if you are patient and wait for His answer to you. May God continue to bless you, Newman, as you follow Him! - Pastor Shane"

@@redjacksongaming9952 My reply to Newman (see above) may be helpful to you, as he asked a similar question. Here's what I said to Him: "Hi, Newman, you are asking the right question. I would suggest three things. First, take seriously what I mention in the video. Professional sports can definitely be exciting, but they also have some very real negative things about them - things that can cost a person their salvation. Be sure that you take those negative aspects seriously, and avoid thinking, "Well, those things would never happen to me." Second, trust God. I know that may sound obvious! But truly, give all of yourself to Him - including your future in sports. God will never take something away from you if it is best for you to keep it! He is too loving and too wise for that to happen. Instead, He will only take something away from you if it would be harmful to you. Lastly, I would recommend doing something that is hard for most of us to do: Be patient. If you put your trust in Christ each day, He will reveal His will to you, even if it takes some time to do so. If it His will that you go into professional sports as an ambassador for Him, He will make that clear. Or, if it is not His will, He will also make that clear to you, if you are patient and wait for His answer to you. May God continue to bless you, Newman, as you follow Him! - Pastor Shane"

Hi, Braylon, good question, and sorry to be so late with a reply. (A couple of people have been asking about this, and I'm assuming you and they are referring to the NFL. In other words, you're not asking about variations like flag football - if I'm wrong about that, let me know.) Strictly as a game, there's no doubt that much of the time, the sport is great exercise for the players. Few sports involve the whole body more intensely than football! The combination of strength, agility, and endless strategic possibilities can also make the game fun to play and to watch. But that said, the downsides to the NFL are pretty strong. For instance, NFL players have dramatically shorter lifespans than the general public and those that play other professional sports (if you want, you can check out a study done on this at www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/05/former-football-pros-die-faster-rate-baseball-veterans-and-reasons-are-surprising). One of the major reasons NFL players die so young is neurodegenerative disease. In other words, NFL players generally get hit in the head - and hit hard and repeatedly - leading eventually to an early death later in life. True, the NFL has been making rule changes, etc., to try to cut down on the risk of long-term injury. But I think it’s pretty difficult to play any form of tackle football with some of the largest, fastest professional athletes in the world running full speed into each other and NOT have a lot of head injuries. To my way of thinking, this places the NFL on the same level sometimes as pro boxing in terms of its destructiveness. No sport is worth dying for. The other weaknesses I point out in the video also apply to the NFL. Hope that helps! Thanks for the question, Braylon, I appreciate it. - Pastor Shane

I agree, but your profile picture seems like it is evil

Stop being religious y’all think Christians suppose to do nothing nor have money to survive like bruh if it’s meant for you to be it your gonna be it

@@getcloutorgetnothing7503 Hollywood encourages idol worship. How many people in Hollywood do you think are true Christians? Probably very very few.