The magazine Playboy wanted to include him in its issue introducing the All-American team. He said, “No.” He said that he is a Christian and did not want to appear in a magazine that presents photographs of nude women.
Playboy insisted that everything would be presented tastefully and above board. There would be no bunnies involved. It would be a first-class operation. Still, Hamilton said, “It was a hard decision. It just came down to something I didn’t want to be associated with. I’ve seen the magazine and I know what it’s about. It’s not something I want to be a part of.”
He has requested that he not be a part of the group picture and that his name not even be mentioned in the magazine. He has received a lot of criticism, but has also received a lot of praise for standing up for what he believes to be right. His coach, Glen Mason, supported his decision and said, “He has unquestionable character.”
Ben Hamilton has now played for the NFL’s Denver Bronco’s for the past four years. I believe it is good to see a young man stand up for what he believes is right. It is also good to see a positive role model for young people and adults alike. Anybody can simply reflect the culture – I applaud a boy who can play and not be a playboy (Matthew 7:16)!
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 23 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
Hi Trey. Great story. My wife and I have 5 children and 3 foster children (homeschooling most of them).
There is an abundance of negative roll modlels these days, especially in the media. It can be very difficult to counter that influence and grow strong Christian kids. However, as you pointed out, good roll models do exist. I believe that our greatest job as Christian dads is to be our children’s primary roll model in reflecting our loving Father.
God bless.
Jack
Jack,
I appreciate your note and your encouragement. It sounds like you and your wife have your hands full. I have 4 boys so I can understand a little of what you are going through. A big “amen” on the dad being the children’s primary roll model.
Thanks again for stopping by. Hope you’ll stop in again. God bless,
Trey
Trey:
Found this story on your blog and thought you would appreciate this.
In 1992, my wife and I were teaching Sunday School to Jr. High kids at Eden Prairie Assembly. We were teaching on Colossians 3:17:
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
So, no matter what they would do, when they grew up, they could do it to honor God.
One wiry young lad in the back row, was quite confused.
“I don’t get it,” he protested, “If you’re going to work for God, you’ve got to be a pastor or a missionary or something.”
“No, you don’t!” I replied. “Here, let’s look at it this way… What do you want to do when you grow up?”
“I wanna be a photographer,” he replied.
“OK, then… How can you be a photographer and bring glory to God?”
“I don’t know, take pictures in church?”
“No,” I laughed, “You can do a lot more than that!”
We talked some more and added a bit of clarification. He seemed to be picking it up. Even as class finished, though, you could see him wrestling with it. How to do what he wanted to do when he grew up, and yet do it for God?
Fast forward, now, 10 years and I see a piece on the news. At 6’5″, and 285 lbs, he was unrecognizeable, but for that boyish grim. That’s right, it was that wiry young lad from our class. It was Ben.
Passing up all the fame and the national acclaim it would bring him, Ben found his way to honor God with his vocation.
Ron,
Awesome story, Ron. Thanks for what you do and thanks for sharing it.
Trey