The rookie quarterback who led Houston to the playoffs while being open about his Christian faith told members of the media this week that he doesn't talk about Jesus to get attention or “make it look cool,” but rather that he speaks about “God.” He said this was because “he ordered me to do it.”
CJ Stroud led the Texans to a district title and a first-round playoff victory this season, setting records and making a strong case for NFL MVP before his injury. He similarly addressed his beliefs after each game, including after Houston's season-ending loss to the Baltimore Ravens over the weekend in the divisional round of the playoffs.
“I just want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” he said in Saturday's postgame press conference.
Earlier this season, Stroud said he sees soccer as a platform for the gospel.
Stroud said Monday that NFL players reached out to him to thank him for speaking out about his faith.
“I always tell people it’s not me, it’s him. [There’s] There is nothing I can do to repay what the Lord has done in my life,” Stroud told members of the media. “And I don't want to. I just want to act on what God is asking me to do. And I'm not perfect, I make mistakes every day. But at the same time, the God I serve is I also know that God is a forgiving and merciful God.”
He referenced comments from Baltimore coach John Harbaugh. 1 Chronicles 29:11 After the Ravens defeated Stroud's team.
“There are a lot of people here who love the Lord,” Stroud said. “…I'm grateful to everyone who has reached out. I'm not doing it to look cool, but I'm doing it because God told me to do it.”
The Texans finished the regular season with a record of 10 wins and 7 losses. In the previous three seasons, he was 4-12 (2020), 4-13 (2022), and 3-13-1 (2023).
After his team's loss on Saturday, Stroud said he was relying on his faith “through thick and thin.”
“When I look back on this year, I feel really blessed. To have this opportunity today to play in front of millions of people,” he said Saturday. “I'm really grateful to God [for] All the opportunities God has given me. And I'm just going to rely on God, and I also know that this is not the end for me. ”
Stroud spoke about his high school and college career at Ohio State University, saying, “I've grown in so many ways as a person and as a man of God, so I think I'm really blessed in that regard.” added.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Julio Aguilar/Stringer
Video courtesy of Fox 26 (via YouTube)
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His story was published in Baptist Press. Christianity Today, Christian Poecent, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star and of knoxville news sentinel.
Listen: Let our Bible study experts help you start your new year off right.
Have you chosen a word of the year? Whether you choose a word every year or you've never chosen a word before, I think this episode will help bring order to your life in the coming year. If you don't know what your word is, today we'll hear some of the things we're promised in Christ and that in faith you can claim for yourself into His year 2024. It might be the perfect day. Keep each of these words in mind. It takes faith.
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
Watch: 5 Bible Verses About Strength When You Feel Weak
Video stock video and music provided by SoundStripe
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
