Disclaimer: It is not our role to determine whether or not somebody is a Christian. We just use our discernment based on the evidence we have found on the internet to come to a likely or best-guess answer. Our answers do not actually determine who is or is not a Christian and it is ultimately between the person and God. Not us.
American basketball player, Christopher Emmanuel Paul, nicknamed ‘CP3’ is a professional player for Phoenix Suns of the NBA. Paul was born in May 1985 to Charles Paul and Robin Jones in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Chris Paul is regarded as the greatest point guard of all time, following his immense contribution to sports and his community. He has won awards like; 12× NBA All-Star, NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player, 4x All-NBA First Team, 5x NBA Assist Leader, ACC Rookie of the Year, 6x NBA Steals Leader, and NBA Rookie of the Year among others.
Paul currently plays for Phoenix Suns but before now, he had played for top basketball teams like; New Orleans Hornet, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, and Oklahoma City Thunder. Chris Paul played basketball at West Forsyth High School, Clemmons, and led his school to the semi-finals of State-organized basketball competition. Following this feat, he also led Winston-Salem-based “Kappa Magic” to the National U-17 AAU honors and earned MVP honors in the tournament. The Charlotte Observer named Chris “Mr. Basketball” while he was still playing for his high school team.
Chris Paul was drafted by the New Orleans Hornet in the 2005 NBA Draft after putting up an impressive performance at Wake Forest University, where he played for three years. He was named ACC Rookie of the Year, First Team Consensus All-America, and ESPN’S Academic All-America Team between 2003 and 2005. In 2011, Wake Forest retired his Jersey number and was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021.
Paul has often been associated with religion and fans are questioning his religious stand. Many are asking if Chris Paul is a Christian and it’s what this article seeks to answer.
Is Chris Paul Religious?
Over 89% of the world’s population subscribe to one religion or the other yet, the term “religion” does not still have a universally accepted definition. Religion is difficult to define because it can be seen from different angles and could mean different things to different groups of people.
However, some sources have made attempts at defining religion. For instance, KJV Dictionary defines religion as “a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man’s obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and man’s accountability to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties.”
The Christian Bible has also made attempts at conceptualizing religion. For instance, James 1:27 describes religion as “External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.”
Similarly, it is also difficult to describe a religious person but, James 1:26 has stated, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religious service is worthless (futile, barren).”
Generally, a religious person is described as someone that holds strong beliefs in God or gods. Religious people are often labeled as people who are devoted to the public worship of God or gods, consistent in prayer and good deeds, and inwardly and outwardly portray the beliefs of their religion.
Chris Paul hasn’t made so many comments on religion but has admitted he’s a Christian and is grateful to his parents for grooming him as one. Phoenix Suns point guard has been listed on many Christian websites as one of the top and most active Christian basketball players.
After defeating Los Angeles Clippers with his team in an impressive 130-102 win to be crowned Western Conference Champions in 2021, an electrified Chris said in a post-game interview that he played with so much courage because he was inspired by a gospel song from Mary Mary’s 2000 debut studio album “Thankful.” Chris writes the title of the song “Can’t Give up Now” on his shoes which he mentioned that it keeps him motivated.
Speaking to Get Up! Morning, Chris said “I listened to it the day I got traded to OKC, that’s why I write it on my shoes every game. Straight up.”
Paul has mentioned that he is devoted to his faith and if he does not have practice on Sundays, he is in church worshipping God.
Does Chris Paul believe in God?
Chris Paul adheres to Christianity and as a code of conduct, Christians are expected to believe in God. Christianity is monotheistic and Christians believe that there is only one God who is the creator of heaven and earth. Christians believe that God exists in three persons; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit which is popularly referred to as the Holy Trinity.
Christians believe in God because he is timeless and eternal, the giver and taker of life, and is regarded as the supreme being. They believe that God created everything in the world (Genesis 1) and is still involved in the world in mysterious ways.
Is Chris Paul a Christian?
The Bible teaches that a true Christian is someone that has put his faith in Jesus Christ and his work including his death on the cross as payment for sins, and his resurrection on the third day. John 1:12 says, “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.” What this verse means is that those who have accepted Jesus Christ and welcomed him into their lives are the true sons of God and can be addressed as true Christians.
Christianity requires that true Christians be God-fearing, and humble and should possess the fruits of the holy spirit as highlighted in the book of Galatians 5:22-23. The portion says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Chris Paul was born into a Christian family and it is speculated that the basketball player attends a Baptist Church. Paul does not make news often for religious reasons but the few times he has, he proudly defends his faith.
While some NBA players fail to open up about their faith, Chris is one of the many that have opened up about faith irrespective of the controversies that may follow. Some might be Christians but choose to practice it privately. In a 2008 interview, he said:
“I am a Christian. I grew up in the church and still go to church every Sunday if we don’t have practice. It’s always something that my parents instilled in me. I’ve grown to be pretty devout in my faith. I am so thankful that my parents raised me and my brother, C.J. to depend on God’s guidance and our faith in Him and to always be thankful for what we receive. As I went through the past year, I just kept trying to have fun, knowing that I was playing basketball at the highest level, and remain humble, keeping in mind that all this [I have received] could be taken away from me as fast as it was happening.”
Paul grew up attending Dreamland Park Baptist Church in Lewisville. The player is prayerful and hinted to the public that he prays before his games which is a positive Christian value. His parents groomed him to love God and they are usually proud of their son’s strong faith in God.
In 2008, Winston-Salem Journal reported that Chris Paul’s parents were proud of their son and his dad publicly said, “My wife and I give all the credit to God because God is the one that gave us Chris and gave us the chance. As Chris says, he was allowed to play basketball, so we’re grateful for how God has blessed us.”
Is Chris Paul Baptized?
Baptism is an obligatory Christian rite that portrays an identification with Christ’s death and resurrection. For Christians, baptism is beyond a ritualistic ceremony of immersing a person in the water. It depicts an outward acknowledgment of a person’s past sins and desire to change, to be cleansed from all guilt, and to become a member of the church and a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Baptism is an act of faith and obedience to the directions of Jesus Christ. Jesus in Matthew 28:19 directed the disciples to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost”
Chris Paul belongs to a Christian congregation and has been a Christian since birth, so the basketball player might be baptized.
What did Chris Paul say about Jesus Christ?
Christians are charged to declare Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the masses. Chris Paul is a Christian but rarely airs his religious views. So, we’ve not found any public comment about Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Chris Paul is of African and American ethnicity and subscribes to Christianity. He is married to his college sweetheart, Jada Crawley and the duo have two kids together. Paul does not speak much of his personal life but has admitted that he is a Christian.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!