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.
Simone Arianne Biles is an American gymnast born March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, USA. The 26 years old became the first female U.S. gymnast to win four gold medals in a single game, and she was the first gymnast to win three consecutive World All-around titles (2013–2015). Biles is the most decorated gymnast in the history of the Gymnastics World Championships, she has won 25 world championship medals.
At the 2015 world championships, she successfully bagged a hat trick of All-around titles. Biles won the balance beam and floor exercise titles, the bronze medal in vault, and a share of the team title. She is rated and endorsed by many as the greatest gymnast of all time. Biles and her sister, Adria, were raised in Spring, Texas, in the Houston metropolitan area by their grandfather Ron and grandmother Nellie who adopted them after their mother struggled with substance abuse problems.
No doubt, the stylish gymnast has designed her imprint in sporty calligraphy with back-to-back wins bringing her career awards total to 25 world championship medals; the most ever earned by a US gymnast, male or female. She was decorated with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden in 2022. As a force to reckon with, Biles is vocal, lending her voice to social, cultural, and religious issues.
Simone Biles has constantly shared what seems like Christian messages with her followers across her social media handles during and after competitions. As an ardent gymnast, many still have doubts and have raised debates on whether Biles is a Christian or not. If you’re one of such, then brace up as this article will analyze comments, media posts, and other elements to provide answers about the status of Simone Arianne Biles as a Christian.
Is Simone Biles Religious?
The word “religion” has so many underlying meanings to various people and various contexts. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, religion is a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities. Hence, a religious person simply fulfills the outward, inward, and material requirements of their faith.
A religious person believes in and worships God or gods and openly expresses his beliefs in a particular religious group. Simone Biles was raised in the Catholic faith, she attends Sunday Mass with her parents and has been open about her faith.
While competing at the Olympic games in Rio, Biles revealed to US Magazine the contents of her gymnastics bag when a reporter noticed a white rosary that fell out. Biles explained, “My mom, Nellie, got me a rosary at church. I don’t use it to pray before a competition. I’ll just pray normally to myself, but I have it there in case.” Since she was raised by her grandparents, Biles refers to her grandmother as her mother.
Her mother revealed, “I am a very prayerful person so I encourage my children to do the same thing too, to pray. I know it doesn’t matter what situation you are ever in, you just put it in the hands of the Lord and he’s going to walk you through it.”
In a recent interview with the Houston Chronicle, Biles explained why she has been so open about her Catholicism, she said, “Kids today talk about faith, and I think it’s OK for me to share my faith so kids can see how it helps you through the whole process.”
The Olympian who does not hesitate to dish out words of encouragement to her fans with a dose of religious perspective expresses her belief and inspires her fans through some of her tweets, “In a year you’ll look back and wonder what you were so worried about. Don’t waste time, have faith.”
Does Simone Biles Believe in God?
Simone Biles does not stutter when it comes to expressing her religious beliefs. The Olympian credits all her achievements to God. In an interview with Houston Times, when she wasn’t selected for the senior Olympic Athletic Games, she noted that:
“God is the one who directs my life, I didn’t make the national team so I was super upset about that. But I knew that it was God’s way of telling me that I needed to go home, and train harder, so that next year I could make it happen so I believe that some obstacles that we’ve had always work out for the better because God knows that without those you wouldn’t be as strong as you are.”
Biles credits God and her faith for her success. In her book, “Courage to Soar,” which was published in 2016 by Zondervan, one of the world’s leading Christian publishers, Biles advised readers to stay humble in the face of success. She retorted “Be humble, God put you there”.
Is Simone Biles a Christian?
Simone Biles is a Christian of the catholic faith. A couple of times she has been seen with the rosary and attending mass. The Olympian shares Bible quotes via her social media handles, and talks about God and her Faith.
The faith of the free-willed athlete came under criticism because of her stance on the use of abortion pills. She received a series of criticism on social media. Biles put out a request on Instagram to solicit “unpopular opinions” from her followers. One of the responses she received stated: “abortion is wrong.”
The 26-year-old athlete responded: “I already know this is going to start the biggest argument & may even lose followers BUT I’m very much pro-choice, your body, your choice”. A tweet responding to Biles stated: “heartbreaking when people widely celebrated by Christians as admirable role models, come out in support of abortion.”
“So many Catholics celebrated Simone Biles, who went through the foster care system,” Biles wrote. “Today she described herself as ‘pro-choice’. Very sad & unfortunate.”
Due to her opinion on abortion, some groups have tagged her as a “Pro-choice catholic” because the Catholic Church has historically opposed abortion. Notwithstanding, the athlete who was raised in a catholic home, has also adopted catholicism and various preachers credit her as a Christian for always putting God above her success.
The Olympian has never been ashamed to identify as a Christian. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Biles adopts this teaching fervently. While being interviewed by Houston Times she hinted: “Some obstacles that we’ve had always worked out for the better because God knows that without those you wouldn’t be as strong as you are.”
Is Simone Biles baptized?
For one to be baptized means such a person is immersed in water, symbolizing initiation into a new life with God. Baptism is the first sacrament that a person receives in the Roman Catholic Church. It opens the door to all the other sacraments.
As a norm in Catholicism, infants are usually baptized because, through this Sacrament, they are freed from original Sin and are welcomed into the community of the Church, where they have access to the fullness of the means of salvation.
Simone and her sister Adria were raised by their grandparents who were devoted Catholics. As a faithful catholic, Biles follows the ordinances of the church.
Describing the day she received the sacrament of Confirmation in her 2016 autobiography ‘Courage to Soar’, Biles wrote:
“I marched into St. James the Apostle Church that Sunday in a line of teenagers with solemn faces in a way, our procession reminded me of a medal ceremony, except that no gold, silver, and bronze medals would be given out. Instead, our prize would be something much more powerful: in a few moments, each of us would bow our heads to receive the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation.”
The Holy Sacrament of Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which means that Simone Biles is baptized.
What did Simone Biles say about Jesus?
Jesus Christ is regarded by Christians as the only beloved son of God who paid the supreme price of redemption on the cross. As one of the Godheads, Jesus is regarded as the Messiah whose lifestyle Christians emulate and replicate. As earlier stated, Biles doesn’t shy away from her faith, she frequently posts about God and his son Jesus Christ. The talented Olympian tweeted, “God gives his toughest battles to his toughest soldiers” and “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with your talent is your gift back to God”.
While going through trying moments, Biles tweeted, “Tears are prayers too. They travel to God when we can’t speak’ Psalm 56:8, look back & Thank God, look forward & Trust God, I’m over this ugly phase, God please have a miracle happen” and several tweets expressing her view about Jesus.”
Conclusion
Simone Arianne Biles is a radiating gymnast who never gets timid in airing her faith. The Olympian speaks boldly of her religion. As a Catholic, she has received the sacrament of Confirmation, flaunts her rosary, prays, and attends mass. However, this view is still open to objection as different people hold different views of who a Christian is, but we think Biles might be a Christian.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!