Los Angeles Dodgers baseball legend Clayton Kershaw is considered one of the sport’s greatest pitchers of all time.
Now he’s being applauded for taking a subtle stand for his devout Christian faith while dutifully lining up to play for his team as his club celebrated Pride Night.
The entire team wore caps with a rainbow-coloured logo during the game, but Kershaw’s cap had something extra.
Hardly anyone could see it, but it made a bold statement.
Image: Screenshot – Facebook
BIBLICAL REFERENCE TO GOD’S RAINBOW FOR NOAH
Next to the logo on his cap were the letters and numbers Gen 9:12-16.
It was a clear reference to the verses in Genesis which described how the rainbow was a sign of God’s promise to Noah that he’ll never flood the world again to destroy almost all of humanity.
This is the sign of the covenant that I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations.
As the broadcast of the game revealed the pitcher’s typically understated message, social media lit up with many thanking Kershaw for reminding everyone what the rainbow really represents.
“Major respect to Clayton Kershaw for this,” wrote one.
“God bless him,” added another.
“GOD GAVE ME AN ABILITY TO THROW A BASEBALL. I WANT TO HONOUR HIM”
CBN News reports that Kershaw openly admits that the pressures of sport often try to pull him in different directions.
But he insists he has made a clear choice to use his time and talent wisely for his Saviour.
“I didn’t do anything to deserve this gift,” he told the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Magazine.
“God gave me an ability to throw a baseball. He chose me for a reason, and I want to honour Him with that.”
“WHATEVER YOU DO, WORK AT IT WITH ALL YOUR HEART”
“You can’t control the talents He gives you, no doubt about that.”
“But you can control the effort you put forth with those talents.”
His biography on X lists one thing: Colossians 3:23:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (NIV).
‘AS LONG AS I DO MY BEST FOR GOD, I HAVE NO REGRETS”
That verse, he said, reminds him that no matter how the game goes — good or bad, win or lose — as long as he did his best for God, he has no regrets.
Kershaw doesn’t shy away from using his platform to be a beacon of light and a witness to the Gospel.
“You are not supposed to convert anybody, that’s God’s job,” he once shared.
“But at the same time, you can be His disciple and live for Him and when people ask you why are you living for Him, you can show them why and profess your faith.”
KERSHAW HAS COPPED SOME HEAT FOR STANDING UP HIS FAITH
The 37-year-old has come under some heat for standing up for his faith.
In 2023, the Dodgers stirred up controversy when they invited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an LGBT group that mocks nuns and the Catholic faith through drag performances.
Kershaw said he disagreed — not with the members’ sexuality, — but with their mockery of Christians.
“I don’t agree with making fun of other people’s religions.”
“I just don’t think that, no matter what religion you are, you should make fun of somebody else’s religion.”
DODGERS HOST CHRISTIAN FAITH AND FAMILY DAY
In the wake of that controversy, Kershaw later announced the club would be relaunching its Christian Faith and Family Day for the first time since 2019.
“I think we were always going to do Christian Faith Day this year, but I think the timing of our announcement was sped up,” Kershaw explained after announcing the event.
The team successfully hosted the faith event in 2023 and 2024.
