I’ve seen a few videos of people burning their gear this morning after the announcement from Nike that they are going to make a controversial athlete the face of their new ad campaign and make billions of dollars and garner thousands of free ads from…well, people posting videos of them burning their Nike gear.
But wait! Before you throw those Kyrie 4’s your mom bought you for JV basketball last year into the backyard firepit, I have some alternatives.
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Go and sell your Nikes and give the proceeds to the poor. After all, Jesus promises you will have treasure in heaven which, I can’t guarantee but I’m pretty sure, will be better than the dozen Facebook likes your backyard bonfire might get (Matthew 19:21).
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Maybe Jesus is using this whole Nike thing to show you you need to give your gear to clothe the poor. I’m sure there is a local homeless person in your town who would be through the roof to receive socks, shoes, shorts, sweat pants, tees, and jackets from you. Jesus says you will inherit the kingdom. Pretty neat. (Matthew 25:34-40)
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You could gain a new appreciation for your shoes. Until yesterday, you took those Nikes for granted. But now, because a photo was released with the check mark super-imposed over a certain person’s face, all you can think about today is your Air Maxes. Use this as an opportunity to thank God that you’ve never had to be anxious about your clothing. You’ve never wandered the streets shoeless in your life! Isn’t he a great God? (Matthew 6:28-30).
- Talk to your black neighbors instead. If you insist on burning your Nikes, at least invite them over for a marshmallow roast. Ask them why they aren’t interested in throwing their shoes into the fire with yours. Listen before you get heated just this once. Who knows, you might just learn something from them. At worst, you will get some good S’mores out of it (James 1:19).
