After a historic career, Ben Roethlisberger says good Lord blessed him
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger thanked fans, teammates and gave credit to the good Lord for his successful NFL career.
“The good Lord has blessed me in so many ways,” said Roethlisberger who has not been shy in the past about his Christian faith nor his struggles with sin.
“The good Lord has blessed me in so many ways.”@steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger plays his final game in Pittsburgh. @_BigBen7 #steelers pic.twitter.com/yMdElnnq2l
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) January 4, 2022
In 2020 he spoke at ManUp Pittsburgh and shared about his marriage, children, and how he was raised in the faith. In his college years he wasn’t as strong in his faith but it’s something that has always been with him.
“Well, I grew up in the church. I went to church every Sunday with my family. I have great parents who are great Christian people. Still are to this day. They are awesome. I grew up with it. In middle school I gave my life to Christ.”
In college Roethlisberger strayed from faith
But in college, Roethlisberger explains he veered from the straight and narrow when he went to college.
“Like so many people when you go to college you kind of walk a line, you can stay on the path or you just simply don’t go to church because it’s not convenient.
When I went to college I didn’t stop believing but you just don’t sharpen your skills. I was still praying but I wasn’t as strong as a Christian in college like my wife was. I am jealous of her.”
Three years ago, however, he made a commitment to Christ that caused him to be baptized and really focus on growing in the faith.
Three years ago now I made the decision to be baptized because I just felt that I needed to do that. I wanted to have a closer walk, a better relationship with Jesus, with my wife and my children.”
“Jesus brought me back to him and I am so thankful for it. I feel I am a better Christian, husband, and father because of his forgiveness of me.”
“Jesus brought me back to him and I am so thankful for it. I feel I am a better Christian, husband, and father because of his forgiveness of me.”
When asked what happened when you gave yourself completely to Christ, “joy, happiness, truly a new life. I am so grateful for the guys we have our team…now more than ever it’s cool to be a Christian. That’s one of the things I want to tell guys out there. I can be a really good athlete and a Christian. It’s not one or the other. It’s cool to be a Christian and an athlete. Go ahead and be the best athlete you can be and try to be a better Christian. You can do both. I want that to be known to the young men out there. Go ahead and be the
Roethlisberger Overcame Sin Issues
admitted he has struggled with sin and hasn’t always lived up to the faith he now professes. “People don’t realize all the time that we athletes, we’re human. We sin like everybody else. I am no different. We make mistakes. We get addicted to things. We sin. We’re human. I think sometimes we get put on this pedestal where we can’t make mistakes.
Ben shared about his own struggle with alcohol and pornography, “I’ve fallen as short as anybody. I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve been addicted to pornography, which makes me then not the best husband, not the best father, not the best Christian I can be.”
Editorial credit: Joy Fera / Shutterstock.com
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