Answer: Maybe
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.
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in February 1963. He is a well-known American professional Basketball star who also became a businessman and an actor. The National Basketball Association champion has been named the greatest Basketball player of all time.
The former basketball star was born in Brooklyn, New York City, USA to Deloris and James Jordan who later got divorced. He attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wellington, North Carolina, and went to the University of North Carolina, where he was crowned the college player of the year. His basketball career spanned from the 1980s to 2003.
Michael Jordan has come a long way in his career as a professional Basketball player in the NBA. He won six basketball titles when he played for the Chicago Bulls, some of which were; NBA Champion, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, NBA Most Valuable Player, and many other awards.
There are lots of speculations about Michael Jordan’s Christian faith. Most believe he is not a Christian, this article seeks to analyze the religious beliefs and views of Michael Jordan.
Is Michael Jordan Religious?
Michael Jordan’s parents raised him and his 4 siblings religiously. Michael and his siblings were mandated to attend church because attending church was as important as acquiring a degree.
Michael Jordan’s mother told Christian Broadcasting Network that, “Church, like education, was one of those nonnegotiable priorities in the Jordan family. Regular weekly attendance wasn’t merely expected of our children; it was required.”
His parents were of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. When his mother remarried, he was raised by his stepfather who was a Deacon in the Baptist Church
Michael Jordan kept attending church throughout his college years but along the line, the basketball star stopped attending church. Below was his reason for not going to church as he disclosed to GQ Magazine in 1998:
“When I go to church, any church I go to, it doesn’t seem like Church to me, because everybody stares. I went back to my church in Wilmington a few times since I’ve been in the pros, and it really hasn’t been the same old Church. It’s more or less ‘Well, Michael is here today, let’s have him speak for us”.
Though he still prays and believes in God, he feels awkward going to church because children stare at him and the elders always want to touch him.
Does Michael Jordan Believe in God?
There are several reports that Michael Jordan believes in God. Marcella of dvaita.org had this to say about him:
“Michael Jordan is one of the most successful athletes in history, and though he was not always religious, he does believe in God”.
Nothing much has been said about the athlete’s relationship and belief in God, but someone learned about faith through his words. A member of The High Calling said he learned about having a good attitude and high spirits from the basketball star in 1989. He said that these words from Michael Jordan changed his attitude toward life:
“I’m trying to get in the proper frame of mind for another night in our 82-game regular season schedule. The key to being Mike during a game is to live in the exact moment in time. This means that I forget about whatever just happened prior to that moment, regardless of how I felt about it, regardless of whether what I did was perceived as good or bad. When I’m able to prepare myself, when I get in this “zone,” I have some of my most spectacular performances. Not only do I not remember anything that happened, I also don’t waste any energy thinking about what might happen in the future. When I play this way, at times I surprise myself with what I’m able to accomplish by staying focused in the moment”.
Is Michael Jordan a Christian?
As earlier stated, Michael Jordan was raised in a strong Christian household and the NBA star had also said that he is a Christian even though he stopped going to Church because of the way church members gave him unnecessary attention.
A report says that a Church has been named after Michael Jordan. According to the Uncyclopedia “The Church of Michael Jordan is an organization dedicated to the promotion and acceptance of the cult religion, Jordanity, as a denomination of Christianity. All six Churches of Michael Jordan remain incorporated within separate regions across the US state of Illinois. Among its duties of promoting Jordanity, the organization also offers members discount dining and free coupons to its Michael Jordan’s Restaurant chains”.
Concerning the church a follower said, “It’s like Christianity, only Jesus is black and is mad good at basketball!”
Another follower of the Michael Jordan religion, Larry Bird said, “Good evening to all. I, Larry Bird, am establishing the Church of Michael Jordan and from this day forth, I shall become a devout Jordanite. (Abrupt Laughter).”
The Uncyclopedia describes perfectly what the Jordanites believe in. “Jordanists (colloquially referred to as Jordanites) believe that Michael Jordan is indeed the Christ or Messiah who has returned to Earth to lead only Chicago Bulls fans towards salvation towards the afterlife. To deem themselves worthy of his acceptance into the great Kingdom of Space Jamminess, Jordanists adhere to the strict morals of faith set upon them by the sacred texts of Jordanity. Unlike followers of most monotheistic religions who above all strive to follow the words of their religious doctrines and lead by example, Jordanites will “get to it when they get to it.”
Below are the six statements that are associated with the Jordanic Movement
- Jordan is God in Disguise.
- Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever. Period.
- Michael Jordan is the greatest product endorser of all time.
- Michael Jordan is the physical manifestation of the American Dream.
- Michael Jordan is the only man in this world who can buy you and sell you fifty times over.
- Michael Jordan is your best friend, so long as you pay your monthly membership fee.
They also have what they consider a sin by members of the Jordanic Religion and below are the sins listed by Uncyclopedia:
- Possessing an unclean, unshaven head.
- Sticking one’s tongue out to spite.
- Being a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knickerbockers, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz, Charlotte Hornets, or Indiana Pacers.
- Disgracing yourself in the game of basketball.
- Conforming to the belief in the unproven fact that Michael Jordan sucked at baseball.
- Dishonoring your mother and father, especially.
On symbols of the Church Uncyclopedia says, “The Church of Michael Jordan has established specific symbols of faith within the Jordanic religion to more easily identify with illiterates. The Church utilizes a free advertising technique to serve the dual purpose of gaining monetary profits and spreading its message to youths by placing the symbols on clothing they produce through its online store. The most widely recognized symbol of Jordanity according to The Church of Michael Jordan is the Jumpman logo. It features an airborne silhouette of Michael Jordan bearing a basketball in his hand with legs spread eagle in a majestic display of basketball greatness. Interpretations as to the symbol’s representation beyond its association with the Church vary. Most scholars agree that it represents an irritated Jordan in the game of basketball, displaying his unparalleled divine skills in the face of defiant infidels who seek to “keepeth the ball of the great one from the holy hoop and the salvation of mankind”.
Is Michael Jordan Baptized?
There is no public information about the baptism of Michael Jordan, but there is a possibility that he was baptized while growing up.
What did Michael Jordan say about Jesus?
Michael Jordan has been worshiped throughout the years for his extraordinary basketball skills, and as such people have worshiped and likened him to Jesus.
Jordan is known to look at himself as the Black Jesus. In a basketball game in 1988 between the Bulls and the Pacers, one of the players trash-talked him because he didn’t do well in the first half of the game. The player said to him:
“Michael, who do you think you are? The great Michael Jordan, that’s right! There’s a new kid in town!”
At the end of the game, after Michael Jordan dominated the game, he told the player, “Be sure, and be careful, you never talk to Black Jesus like that!”
Conclusion
Michael Jordan’s Christianity status is somewhat controversial because the former basketball star had said that he no longer goes to church and at the same time, there is a whole new religion named after him.
Nonetheless, we do not know if Michael Jordan is a Christian at the moment, but what we do know is that he grew up a Christian and also professed his belief in God and how prayers have led him through his life. The basketball star might still be a Christian but there are uncertainties surrounding this.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!