Answer: Yes
Disclaimer: It is not our role to determine whether or not somebody is a Christian. We just use our discernment based on the evidence we have found on the internet to come to a likely or best-guess answer. Our answers do not actually determine who is or is not a Christian and it is ultimately between the person and God. Not us.
NFL placekicker, Evan Mcpherson is an American football player for Cincinnati Bengals. McPherson was born in July 1999 in Fort Payne, Alabama. He started his career at Fort Payne high school in his hometown and played for four seasons on the high school’s team. He recorded impressive statistics before moving to college to also play college football in Florida.
Evan Mcpherson participated in the 2021 NFL draft and was selected by Cincinnati Bengals as the only kicker that year. It was here his professional career began. In the 2021 Bengals’ playoff run, there was a tie between Mcpherson and Adam Vinatieri for the most field goals in a single postseason(14 goals), and he was nicknamed “Shooter.”
In just two full seasons at Cincinnati Bengals, Mcpherson has marked impressive NFL career statistics. He was part of the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2021 and has the most field goals made in a single postseason that year.
Mcpherson who is married to Gracie Groat, has been speculated to be a Christian and this is what this article aims to find out.
Is Evans McPherson Religious?
Before making a pronouncement on if McPherson is religious or not, we’ll like to first examine what it means to be religious. A simple definition by Vocabulary.com describes a religious person as “a person who manifests devotion to a deity.” A religious person believes in the supernatural and publicly expresses that belief. He or she is devoted to public worship, good deeds, prayers, and other religious rites and is conscious of every other detail in their religious practice.
The Bible in James 1:26 tries to explain who a religious person should be. According to the passage:
“If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).”
Evans McPherson has been more affiliated with Christianity and has publicly professed his beliefs in the religion. He has admitted to Christianity and various posts he uploads on his social media handles send a strong message about his religiosity.
Going through Evan McPherson’s official Instagram page @evan_mcpherson04, one will notice that the athlete concludes most of his posts with a Bible passage or quote.
In January this year after qualifying for the AFC championship, Evan uploaded some photos of Cincinnati Bengals’ field play and captioned them:
“Looks like we are going to the AFC Championship!
Matthew 7:7-8″
The Bible portion says, “Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened”
The Bible portion above, posted by McPherson shows that the athlete must have been praying and asking for this qualification and it’s finally a reality. Evan McPherson uses his social media handles to spread impactful religious quotes and messages to his fans and the number of religious messages found on his page says a lot about his religious beliefs.
Does Evan McPherson believe in God?
As someone who is outspoken about his Christian beliefs and publicly expresses his faith, it’s obvious that Evan McPherson believes in God and has publicly declared this.
Evan McPherson attributes his success to his faith and belief in God which he expresses confidently. In a 2022 interview with Sports Spectrum, before a faceoff with Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl LVI, he told the media that:
“I lean on my faith a lot when it comes to football and just my life in general, I feel like I can’t compete for my best without it. I know everything happens for a reason and I know God’s going to be there to help me throughout the ups and downs. So as long as I keep Him in my life close to me, I know there’s nothing I can’t do.”
Apart from posting Bible verses on his social media pages to share his faith or beliefs in God, Evan McPherson goes as far as wearing shirts with religious inscriptions to send a message about his beliefs.
In a February 2022 postgame press conference, after the Bengals won both playoff kicks, McPherson wore a t-shirt with the inscription “God is Good.” According to the athlete, “I just wanted to show [my faith], and one simple way to do that is to just wear a shirt and maybe post a Bible verse in my captions on Instagram”
After Evan McPherson won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month, he posted an image with the caption “Glory to God.” This was followed with a Bible passage; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, “Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].”
The evidence that Evan McPherson believes in God is glaring. The athlete acknowledges God after every win and goes to him in prayer before each game.
Is Evan McPherson a Christian?
A Christian is someone who has put his faith and trust in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross for the atonement of our sins, and his resurrection on the third day. The word “Christian” appears three times in the new testament of the Bible.
First Acts 11:26, says, “And when he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year, they assembled with and were guests of the church and instructed a large number of people, and in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians”
Acts 26:28 says, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, You think it a small task to make a Christian of me [just offhand to induce me with little ado and persuasion, at very short notice].
1 Peter 4:16 says “But if [one is ill-treated and suffers] as a Christian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is [deemed worthy to suffer] in this name.”
Christians were considered as true followers of Jesus Christ. However, the word has lost significance in today’s society, as people who go to church frequently, contribute to church projects, or live in a Christian nation and do not believe or trust in the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross and are not his followers are also categorized as Christians.
Evan McPherson was raised in a Christian home and is a Christian. He is married to Gracie who also publicly expresses her faith. Before and after games, McPherson makes posts with Bible verses to acknowledge God and portray his Christian beliefs. He wears shirts with religious inscriptions to press conferences and disclosed that these are his ways of publicly showing his faith.
In a 2022 pre-match interview with Spectrum Sports, McPherson spoke about his Christian faith when he said;
“I lean on my faith a lot, when it comes to football and just my life in general,” he said. “I feel like I can’t compete my best without it.
When Buffalo Bills’ Safety, Damar Hamlin had a cardiac arrest in 2022 during a game with the Cincinnati Bengals, players, staff and fans of both clubs gathered to pray for the victim. Following the incident, Crossroad church held a Tuesday service at her auditorium near the University of Cincinnati. McPherson was a part of this gathering and he said at the church, “We just want to take this second to realize that Damar is more than just a football player. He’s a son, he’s a teammate, he’s a friend, and last but not least, he’s a brother in Christ. He needs our prayers right now. Pray for Damar and his fight for his life.”
These various scenarios show that McPherson is a man of faith, believes in God, and upholds other principles of Christianity. He acknowledges God and attributes every achievement to his faith and belief in God.
Is Evan McPherson Baptized?
McPherson has not been intimidated to speak about his faith. He has been seen attending church services at different times but there is no public information concerning his baptism. Baptism is an important rite for Christians and is one of the prerequisites in many churches to be fully accepted into the faith. Since Evan McPherson has publicly identified with Christianity, there is every possibility that the placekicker is baptized into the Christian fold.
What did Evan McPherson say about Jesus Christ?
As someone who is devoted to his Christian faith, McPherson has referenced Jesus Christ severally, especially on his social media pages where he frequently makes posts with Bible verses at the end. After the Bengals’ won a match in January 2022, McPherson celebrated the win with a quote and a Bible verse, Psalm 34:8. The verse says:
“O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.”
After the Bengals defeated their opponents in one of their matches, he posted “John 3:30.” The portion reads:
“Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.”
Conclusion
For someone who has been very outspoken about his faith, Evan McPherson has not left any doubts about what he believes in. The athlete has publicly professed his Christian beliefs. On this note, we are convinced that Evan McPherson is a Christian.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!