Jonathan Isaac is a forward on the Orlando Magic who stood for the national anthem and did not wear a Black Lives Matter t-shirt for the July 31, 2020 game against the Brooklyn Nets. Jonathan Isaac was the first NBA player inside the bubble to do so. After the game, he was asked about his choice and gave his heartfelt answers.
More from @JJudahIsaac after his decision to stand for the national anthem and not to wear a #BlackLivesMatter shirt for the first Magic game inside the #NBABubble
— Daren Stoltzfus (@DarenStoltzfus) July 31, 2020
“I’m black. I grew up black. I have a black little brother that lives in America. I’m not for racism.” pic.twitter.com/rsyqXh7Zws
“Absolutely [I believe] that Black lives matter,” Isaac said. “A lot went into my decision and part of it is my thought that kneeling or wearing a black lives matter t-shirt don’t go hand in hand with supporting black lives.”
“My life has been supported by the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Isaac continued. “Everyone is made in the image of God and we all share in His glory. Each and everyone of us each and every day do things we shouldn’t do. We say things we shouldn’t say. We hate and dislike people that we shouldn’t hate and dislike. And sometimes it gets to the point where we point fingers about whose evil is worse, and sometimes it comes down to simply whose evil is most visible. I felt like I wanted just take a stand on — I felt like we all make mistakes but I think the gospel of Jesus Christ is that there’s grace for us. And that Jesus came and died for our sins. And that we all will come to an understanding of that and that God wants to have a relationship with us. That we can get past . . . get past all the things in our world that are messed up, jacked up. I think when you look around, racism isn’t the only thing that plagues our society, that plagues our world and I feel like, you know, coming together on that message that we want to get past, not only racism but everything that, that, that, plagues our society. I feel that the answer to it is, is the gospel.”
Isaac believes that the gospel is what will get Americans past not just racism, but the rest of the plague the United States as a society.
Tim Reynolds of the AP further elaborated on Jonathan Isaac:
Jonathan Isaac is an ordained minister, someone who gave money to make sure kids got fed when COVID closed schools, led a drive to support Hurricane Dorian victims and donates to Central Florida literacy programs.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 31, 2020
And as he stood during the anthem today, he prayed.
Steelers defensive end, Stephon Tuitt earlier this week, explained why he’d stand for the national anthem.
Also I’m not kneeling for the flag and screw anybody who have a problem with that. My grandmother was a immigrant from the Carribean and age worked her ass off to bring 20 people over the right way. She had no money and educated herself to be a nurse. She living good now.
— stephon tuitt (@DOCnation_7) July 27, 2020
Giants relief pitcher Sam Coonrod is also a Christian and as just as Jonathan Isaac, Sam did not believe kneeling was in line with his Christian faith.
“I’m a Christian,” said the 27-year-old relief pitcher Sam Coonrod. “So I just believe that I can’t kneel before anything besides God.”
Read original article on Outkick.com
