How the “Everyone Gets a Trophy” Culture Conditions People to Reject the Gospel

I want everyone to feel valued, especially kids, and nothing makes a kid feel more valued that receiving a nice shiny trophy. 

Win or lose…show up or just signed up… everyone gets a trophy no matter how they played or whether they even tried; but, everyone is happy so that’s good, right?

Looking from the perspective of the kid, there doesn’t seem to be any harm. But, what if we are wrong. What if we are sending the message that it’s ok to not do well thus creating the mindset that EVERYTHING is acceptable and praiseworthy and good. 

And what if by having that mindset we are unknowingly conditioning people to reject the gospel? 

Everyone gets a trophy seems nice and loving and even a bit “Christian;” but what it’s really doing is conditioning us to think that no matter how far off course we are, we are still ok because we at least showed up.

Subpar is the new par.

This not only reeks havoc on our society with our self-serving lifestyles and ultimate laziness; but it is damaging to the gospel. 

“Everyone gets a trophy” ultimately conditions us to think that our God will let everyone into Heaven. Like, at the last minute, He’s going to abandon His sovereign plan and call for Holiness because, well, at least everyone tried and, really, we aren’t THAT bad, right?

The urgency to accept Christ is lessened because we ultimately feel in our heart of hearts that God will let us into His perfect world if we just “aren’t that bad.”  

God IS nice…in fact, He’s loving and that’s why He went through the extent He did to provided the WAY for everyone to go to Heaven through His Son Jesus. The Bible says, 

John 14:6 (NET)

“Jesus replied, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Not everyone gets the prize…only those who believe and trust in the saving grace of Jesus Christ. 

Ok, I know this one was a bit preachy, sorry about that. And, for the record, I’m not anti-trophies. This is just something I’ve been thinking about.

Thanks for hanging with me.

I’d love to know your thoughts.