Oakwood high school varsity basketball team gave up a potential chance to compete for the state championship, refusing to play a game that would go against the school's Sabbath convictions.
Their men's basketball team had advanced to the semifinals of the state tournament last week, the school's Athletic Director, Calvin Morton, told CNN Wednesday. But the regional semifinal game was set for Saturday, February 19 at 4:30 p.m., and would interfere with Sabbath, which is observed from sundown Friday to sundown on Saturday.
Morton said he emailed the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) to ask if they could play at 7:30 p.m. instead, after sunset, to meet their religious beliefs.
They were denied.
Good for them, for choosing to obey God rather than men. We can discuss the relative merits of inter-varsity sports ‘n all, but I for one, am proud of these men for forfeiting the game.
May God bless you with greater convictions and truth for the coming days.
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“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).