Published Monday, June 9, 2025 | | SEND THIS NEWSLETTER TO A FRIEND HERE. | | |
BOB LINN
THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF BASKETBALL
with research assistance by William J. Federer
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In theologically tight and specific terms, the OKC Thunder owes its existence to the Presbyterian church. A broader perspective affirms that it is to Christianity that the NBA owes its allegiance.
The etymology of the NBA begins with Presbyterian minister, and medical doctor, Dr. James Naismith. Naismith was not just the first basketball coach for the University of Kansas; he invented the game.
Dr. James Naismith was a devout Christian who sought a way to impact culture through athletics. The quest led him to imagine a competition involving throwing a soccer ball into the opponent’s peach basket. Two peach baskets were nailed, one each above arm’s reach, at opposing walls of the gym.
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James Naismith’s creativity was spurred by the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and its focus on integrating prayer and Bible study with athletics. It was called “Muscular Christianity,” a term which was eventually called “good sportsmanship.”
On December 21, 1891, Dr. Naismith introduced the game to a group of boys. By 1893, the YMCA began promoting his game internationally. The game of basketball became an official event in the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin. Today, more than 600 million people participate in the game worldwide.
| The game yielded positive results in the lives of young people. It was, however, more than ministry. It represented fortunes for many of those involved. Basketball has produced both millionaires and billionaires. The average NBA salary is $7 million per year. | |
And, in 2010, Dr. Naismith’s little hand-written list of the original thirteen rules of basketball sold for $4.3 million.
Dr. Naismith remained single-minded. He forfeited financial gain to pursue his vision of promoting Christianity worldwide through athletics.
Naismith never cashed in on his creation. He had offers to do commercials and advertisement campaigns, but except for lending his name as endorsement for a Rawlings basketball, he declined. He said:
I am sure that no man can derive more satisfaction from money or power than I do from seeing a pair of basketball goals in some out of the way place.
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Naismith stayed committed to his mission:
To win men for the Master (Jesus) through the gym.
University of Kansas Professor, Michael Zorgy put it this way:
His approach was to put Christianity in front of people and to influence them through positive character development. YMCAs began to integrate the game into their mission trips and it is recorded that many young people were brought to Christ through these missionaries and the game of basketball.
YMCA missionaries first took the game to Canada, then overseas to Japan, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and around the globe.
| Christian missionaries brought basketball to China in 1895 beginning with a group of Chinese in Tuanjin, China. In 1935, China declared basketball a national pastime and, through the YMCA, it is one of the nation's most popular sports. | YMCA missionary T.D. Patton took basketball to India in 1893. In 1934, Indian basketball teams competed in New Delhi for their country’s National Championship. | |
Naismith said he "could best serve God by influencing young men’s characters, being convinced that, “he could better exemplify the Christian life through sports than in the pulpit.”
He believed sports provided an opportunity to develop strength to stand in faith to fight life’s battles, strength to live a fulfilled live in accordance with the Bible, and strength to serve others.
He envisioned young men who possessed:
A willingness to place the good of the team above one’s personal ambitions ... playing the game vigorously, observing the rules definitely, accepting defeat gracefully, and winning courteously.
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Tuskegee professor George W. Carver wrote to YMCA official Jack Boyd in Denver, March 1, 1927:
Keep your hand in that of the Master, walk daily by His side, so that you may lead others into the realms of true happiness, where a religion of hate, - which poisons both body and soul - will be unknown, having in its place the 'Golden Rule' way, which is the 'Jesus Way' of life, will reign supreme.
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MY PARTING THOUGHTS
Naismith was severely criticized by his sister who thought he should have occupied the pulpit. He chose instead to seek to impact international culture in a way he hoped would direct people to their Creator. Some would call this a form of harvesting the latent riches of the earth (peach baskets and leather balls) to produce a Godly culture.
Our First Parents were told their purpose was to become God’s vice regents over the affairs of the earth, expanding the tent pegs of Eden in all directions as the worldwide expression of His Kingdom. In pursuit of this mandate, they were exhorted to procreate a progeny who would, as bearers of the divine image, ensure the project was completed. You and I are that progeny and bear the burden of Adam’s task.
The work of the church, then, is not only to populate heaven. We are to populate the earth with men and women serving the Creator. The thrust of the Lord’s Prayer asks for the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. The last command of Christ to the church was to make disciples of the nations.
Naismith sought to mold young
men and lead them to Christ.
Western Civilization was built on Christian foundations. It was Christianity that birthed the scientific revolution, the explosion of classical music, and the world's most profound literature. It is the mission of the church to establish a robust God-honoring culture in which all men and women are pointed to Christ.
THANKS TO WM J FEDERER
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Much of the research behind this article came from Federer's American Minute.
Read it here.
Federer will be speaking in Tulsa this week.
Find information here.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED READING
ALL OF LAST WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
We were all pleased with our spring finale with Governor Stitt and a number of luminaries. Video clips are below.
For some time, I have needed a sabbatical to catch up on my reading, to reflect, and to think more seriously about my writing. For that reason, we are taking an extended summer break and will resume September 17 at the Oklahoma History Center.
We now have an event team who will assist in our meetings which will oversee the September 17 meeting with Our Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice. Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft will be our guest in November.
In 2026, we will conduct weekly meetings in the spring, from February to May, in an effort to provide meaningful content for our legislators.
See the full details under my picture below:
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TO A FRIEND HERE.
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MAY 21 MEETING:
GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT
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Kevin Stitt's Full Presentation here
Full Meeting here
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________
THE ARIA SINGERS
Sing God Bless America
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ARIA here
Full Meeting here
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________
JESSE LEON RODGERS
CITY ELDERS
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Jesse Rodgers here
Full Meeting here
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_______
WADE BURLESON
MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE
BOB LINN SABBATICAL
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Wade Burleson: Oklahoma and WWII here
Wade Burleson: Summer Sabbatical for Bob Linn here
Full Meeting here
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FOR THE FIRST TIME . . .
GOVERNOR KEVIN STITT
MEETS THE MAN HE PARDONED:
NATHAN GORMLEY
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The first meeting: Governor Stitt & Nathan Gormley here
Full Meeting here
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BOB LINN ANNOUNCES
FALL SCHEDULE 2025
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SEPTEMBER 17
WEDNESDAY NOON
Supreme Court Chief Justice
Justin Rowe
OCTOBER 1
WEDNESDAY NOON
State Treasurer
Todd Russ
NOVEMBER 4
TUESDAY NITE 7 PM
U.S. Attorney General
under George W. Bush
DECEMBER 3
WEDNESDAY NOON
Christmas
ARIA & the
Inspirion Singers
Special VIP Guests
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APRIL
MEETING
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
REMINISCING:
GOVERNOR KEATING
& SECRETARY PERRY
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Watch the presentation here.
Watch all the meeting here.
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Watch the presentation here.
Watch all the meeting here.
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_______
RUSSELL PERRY & DR. SWAIN
CLOSE MEETING by
ENCOURAGING YOUNG PEOPLE
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Watch the presentation here.
Watch all the meeting here.
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Watch the presentation here.
Watch all the meeting here.
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BOB LINN
Righteousness &
Justice in Politics
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I encourage each of you to support our mission.
To get started, we are suggesting:
The Century Club
To join, mail a cancelled check to:
OCPAC FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 721212
Norman, OK 73070
Your $100 per month donation will help support the development of the Foundation’s work to widen our audience and outreach capabilities with quality meetings and enhanced educational video content.
Our beginning financial goals will allow us to secure the initial permanent staff positions necessary to the function of a foundation with ambitions to change the world.
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We are in desperate need of returning
our nation and our state to Biblical foundations.
Thank you for your activism.
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