Opinions on people who pray to win games or contests

General
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Please share your opinions about people praying to win a game or a contest.

Recently on a TV game show for example, I saw a contestant pray that God would help him win the contest and in doing, win a large sum of money. It’s also common for athletes to pray for a win in the game they’re playing. It’s clearly presumed that they believe that God can grant their specfic prayer. It’s also presumed that if they win the game or contest after praying for victory, that God answered that specific prayer for them.

Remove motivations or reasons that would be altruistic (“I’d donate every cent I win to others”, etc) or desperate (“I need this prize to pay for heart transplant for my child”, etc). Assume not winning the game would not mean a dire outcome. It would simply be disappointing and nothing more.

What do you think about that kind of prayer for that kind of situation? Is it selfish? Does the thought make you cringe?

Compare that to undoubtedly countless people over time who have been/were in fact in dire situations (e.g. war, starvation, imminent danger, etc) and did pray for God’s help with their situation and their specific prayers were not answered.

True, an argument could be made that God provided an even better answer to those in dire straits if said people achieved Salvation over having their earthly prayer for help answered. But in how many cases? If the contestant’s prayer was “answered” (ie they win the prize) and they just use the money to pay down their debt, buy something they’ve always wanted, etc over praying that they and their family don’t starve to death….

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I have a friend, who is not a serous Christian, ask me to Pray that she wins a car give-away. I was flattered that she saw me as someone who Prays (because I do Pray a lot, but keep it between me and God most often). I told her that I would not Pray that she wins a car. I told her that I would Pray that she finds a better form of transportation (she drove a piece of crap ; )

I often think about how two teams will Pray before a sports game. I never Pray that my preferred team will win, but rather that the players on this team will have great focus, are well-rested, and avoid injury. And if this leads to victory, Praise & glory to God : )

I once saw a game show where there was a Priest or Nun, I can’t remember which. And it was fun to watch. They talked about what selfless things they would do with the money (if they win) and joked about their Bishop letting them come on the show. It was all done in good taste and I do not believe he/she was there out of greed, but out of service.

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I used to have a Peanuts comic about praying to win. The Peanuts were always losing at baseball, and one of them said they should pray to win. Another asked whether that would be fair. Still another said he prayed all the time in the outfield: he prayed that the other team wouldn’t hit the ball to him. :slight_smile:

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I supported Brazil when they lost to Germany. I watched the whole of the World Cup (despite curmudgeons around the place) and they prayed throughout.

The two top boxers in the world are Catholics. So are many folks in the sport, actually.

So are the top athletes and fastest runners in the world.

(Christianity also makes it way to music and occasionally, film).

Is it wrong? Scripture says that ‘If they are not against us, then they are for us’.

Faith in words does still bring an indirect message to people. To keep going. Keep striving. And sport brings entertainment and achievement. We can understand from them, that strong people are more often than not, faith-filled. Sport can be a communal undertaking.

‘Wrong’ is a very moral word. For those people who are praying to God, in the sport, they are presumably praying for God to be with them. Not necessarily using God, putting Him to the test, to win. God isn’t interested in humanity becoming worldly heroes (ref. Scripture).

They purposefully at times express their faith in-front of the crowds and the TV-cameras because they are aware of opposition to Christianity and indeed the seeming attempts by broadcasters at airing only atheistic programmes.

It’s not wrong, exactly, while the message can of course be misplaced. God does give grace to form His people into dynamic individuals and who can be, depending on their circumstances, very capable, while lip-service is still the case in sport because it is being there for others which is the practical apex of the faith (next after direct worship).

When Brazil lost, constantly in prayer, they did get a goal and so one could assume that it was their unrelenting attitude to being there for their fans on display in their sheer effort which had them eventually score at least one.

With the boxers, much of what they have been through getting to the point of being successful is often what they talk about in relation to God.

But yes. Winning prizes is not everything that our faith is, and this point could get misconstrued. Using God as a lucky token is not what religion is about.

I think they probably just pray, however, that they do the best they can. That fight between Tyson and Holyfield, where Holyfield just wouldn’t give up and fall over…There are moving times in sports and one can hope that the sports-people are putting their hopes in God in the right way, behind the signing of the Cross on themselves, and sometimes their belief does evidently show like that particular fight where he wouldn’t just give up. It took reserve to keep going. While the general purpose of Christianity is not really the same as a sports-event.

There is something to be said all the same for a ‘hero’ who instead of being an idol for fans across the world instead chooses to place the honour before God. While the entire message of Christianity is still not present in an explicit way, in sports or the movies or any other subject but the religiosity of the Catholic Church.

If one were attending an event which could be considered neutral in terms of Christianity, you could offer up the day and ask that God makes it as He would have it, while it is difficult to see how this applies to sports (ref.) in a particular way. God’s presence would undoubtedly be the underlying joy had between everyone, rather than an individual being given a cape. Up to God, really.

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I believe that it isn’t exactly wrong, but it can be misguided. People who do this often have faith but may not fully understand it. Now, praying for something you want to happen is normal, but you need to understand that God will act according to His plan. Praying and asking for things doesn’t offend God, but it may not be answered in the exact way you expect. He may help you, but not necessarily in the way you ask.

I would say that there are also moments where it makes sense. Someone who is really going through difficulties may pray to receive something because they need it. I think God sees that more as asking for better conditions rather than simply wanting to “win” something. Of course, it is better to ask directly for better conditions, but some people don’t do that because they don’t fully understand prayer.

We need to remember that God wants the best for His children and will always try to help, if it aligns with His will—but only He truly knows that. And it will probably not be by simply “giving” something, but by providing opportunities.

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