Christian Soccer Star’s Strong Stand on Faith Outweighs the Scorn of the LGBT Community

This takes strength and a core conviction that the world can’t easily strip away.

I’m speaking of Jaelene Hinkle, a defender playing for the North Carolina Courage, with the National Women’s Soccer League.

Hinkle was picked to play for the U.S. women’s national team in 2017, but it never happened. At the time, no other explanation was given, except to say she wouldn’t be playing, due to “personal reasons.”

That it didn’t happen was Hinkle’s decision, indeed.

Hinkle, a devout Christian, could not wear the jersey assigned to the teams that celebrated LGBTQ Pride Month.

Last June, Hinkle sat down to an interview with the Christian talk show, The 700 Club, and explained her reasons. In what is apparently a nod to this year’s Pride Month, the interview has been released, in a video.

“I just felt so convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear this jersey,” she said.

It’s not even about a job. For the same reason bakers and florists decline to participate in same sex weddings, Hinkle declined to be seen at her craft, sporting a jersey that celebrated a lifestyle that is expressly condemned in the Word of the one, true, unchangeable God.

Hinkle’s beliefs weren’t a secret. Back in 2015, when the Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage, she took to Instagram, converted the rainbow flag that is used as a symbol by gay activists, converted it to a cross, with this message:

“I believe with every fiber in my body that what was written 2,000 years ago in the Bible is undoubtedly true … It’s not a pick and choose what you want to believe. You either believe it, or you don’t. This world may change, but Christ and His Word NEVER will.”

She also reached out to fellow Christians with a message of encouragement.

“My heart is that as Christians we don’t begin to throw a tantrum over what has been brought into law today, but we become that much more loving. That through our love, the lost, rejected, and abandoned find Christ.”

She was right then. She’s still right.

Hinkle and the North Carolina Courage were in Portland, in a game against the Portland Thorns on Wednesday night.

While some attendees waved those gay pride flags, boos were heard in the crowd, as Hinkle’s name was announced in the starting lineup.

They won that match by a score of 4 to 1, by the way.

From what we’ve seen these days, it would be so easy for her teammates and the team management to turn against her because of the bad press.

They haven’t done that. In fact, they’ve done the exact opposite.

They’ve surrounded her with support.

“She is high on her faith, and in my honest option that’s absolutely incredible,” teammate Jessica McDonald said. “If she’s for God, then that’s fine, that’s great if that’s what keeps her going in her life and keeps positivity in her life, then let that be.”

Absolutely. Let that be. She hasn’t said a thing negative about the LGBTQABCDEFG community, other than she can’t support the lifestyle.

And for the tolerance crew, they really seem to be super-demanding that there be no individual thought on the issue.

Paul Riley, coach of the Courage, while speaking of the boos from the crowd on Wednesday:

“She’s got a good heart, and she battled through the game. It’s not an easy thing for her,” Riley said. “I give her a lot of credit to be perfectly honest. Whatever her beliefs are, whatever she believes in, that’s her. It doesn’t affect the team. It doesn’t seem to affect anybody on the team.”

And they did win.

Courage owner, Steve Malik, had his own statement, posted to Twitter on Thursday.

“Soccer welcomes everyone. Our actions clearly speak for that support. Pride and Faith Nights are not incompatible. Faith acted on in personal conviction harming no one else deserves respect just as much as creating a welcoming environment for all,” Malik wrote.

So he didn’t mention anyone or any particular cause by name, but the message was clear.

Jaelene Hinkle did not harm anyone in the gay community. She expressed her beliefs in a loving, peaceful way. She simply stepped aside.

If you’re attacking her or booing her now for that peaceful expression of her faith, then you’re really doing life wrong.

You’re definitely doing tolerance wrong, and should probably stop talking about it.

Hinkle can take heart.

John 15:18 NIV – “¹⁸ If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

John 16:33 AMP – “³³ I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]”