In his commencement speech, one of the NFL’s top placekickers urged graduates to prioritize their faith over their careers, to resist the lies society tells them about gender, and to believe in God rather than a work-based lifestyle. “We should move closer and closer to the will of God,” he said. life. Harrison Butker, a three-time Super Bowl champion and an outspoken Catholic, made the comments during his commencement address May 11 at Benedictine College, a Catholic school in Atchison, Kansas. .
“The cost of living should not be the only deciding factor, because life without God is not life,” he says. “And the price of salvation is worth more than any career.”
Butker criticized “those who push dangerous gender ideologies on America’s youth,” noting that many of them identify as Catholics. At the beginning of his speech, he criticized President Biden, without naming him, for once making the “sign of the cross during a pro-abortion rally.”
“This is an important reminder that just being Catholic doesn’t help,” Butker said.
“If we want to be men and women at this time in history, we have to stop acting like a nice church is a winning proposition,” he said. “We must always speak and act in a charitable way, but we must never mistake charity for sleaze.”
Christians, he said, must tell the truth even when it is uncomfortable.
“The world around us tells us that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves whenever they go against the tyranny of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are afraid to speak because, unfortunately, the truth is now in the minority…We are asking bishops to put aside their personal comforts, embrace the cross, and speak out about the teachings of the Church. Our bishops are shepherds, not politicians, so they too need to stay in their own lane and lead instead of trying to fit in. is.”
He argued that there is an unbiblical view of the difference between men and women in the world. “Women have told the most diabolical lies,” he told the women in the audience.
“How many of you who are sitting here right now, about to cross the stage, are thinking about all the promotions and titles you will get in your career? Some people may continue to send ,” he said. “But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into the world.
“My beautiful wife Isabelle will be the first to say that her life truly began when she began fulfilling her calling as a wife and mother,” he said. “The reason I am able to stand on stage today and be the person I am today is because of my wife who is committed to her calling. I am blessed with many talents that God has given me. , that all my success was made possible because a girl I met in band class in middle school converted to the faith, became my wife, and accepted one of my most important titles: housewife. It is no exaggeration.”
After a while, Butker addressed the men in the crowd.
“Part of what plagues our society is the lie that we don’t need men in our families and communities,” Butker said. “As men, we set the tone for our culture, and when that is lacking, disorder, dysfunction, and chaos set in. The absence of men in this household plays a huge role in the violence we see across the country. Other countries don’t have nearly the same rates of father absence as they do here in the U.S. We also see a correlation with significantly lower rates of violence.
“Fight the cultural evisceration of men without degrading your own masculinity. Do the hard things. Never settle for the easy things you don’t always enjoy. You may have a talent for it, but if it glorifies God, maybe you should lean into it more than what you think is better for you. I speak from experience of being an amateur speaker and finding myself an entrepreneur now, but when I got my degree in industrial engineering I never thought I would become one.”
The path is bright for America’s youth, he said, because young and old are “embracing the tradition.” He noted that enrollment at Benedictine College, a conservative Catholic school, has doubled in the past 20 years.
“The Associated Press reporters could not imagine that an attempt to rebuke and embarrass a place and people like here at Benedictine would be met with excitement and pride rather than anger. “It’s not a deadly kind of pride, but it’s true God-centered pride that works with the Holy Spirit to glorify God.” he said.
The NFL star also encouraged college graduates to surround themselves with people of faith.
“I always say, iron sharpens iron. This is a great reminder that the people closest to us are supposed to make us better,” he said. Told. “If you’re dating someone who doesn’t share your faith, how do you expect that person to help you become a saint?” If you’re full of people who only care about what to do and don’t want to have difficult conversations, how will they help you hone as you prepare to enter the workforce?
Butker said a life of faith is essential for joy.
“I have seen with my own eyes how happy people can be when they ignore the outside noise and move closer and closer to God’s will for their lives.”
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Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years.His story is published below baptist press, Christianity Today, christian post, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star And that Knoxville News Sentinel.
