I try not to be one of those paranoid Christians who perceive everything as an attack on the faith. (And if it is an attack on the faith, my response should not be to whine about it or launch a boycott.)

But one criticism of the church that really gets my goat is when non-Christians whine about locker room interviews in which an athlete mentions his faith.

“As if God — if he exists — cares who wins a football game!” they scoff. Bill Maher used to drone on and on about this topic on “Politically Incorrect;” I don’t get HBO, so I don’t know if he still harps on the topic.

Well, people who say this aren’t really listening to those locker room interviews, or else they don’t quite understand what’s being said. The athletes (as far as I can tell) aren’t really claiming that God wanted their team to win and the other team to lose; they are simply praising God for having had a good day in their chosen profession.

Christians believe in a God who is capable of being involved in the minute details of our lives. The Bible says that God knows how many hairs are on our head and that he knows when a sparrow falls from the sky. So, yes, he cares when you have a moment of triumph or a moment of defeat — even in something as insignificant as a football game. Although, if playing football is your profession, it becomes a little less insignificant!

WKRN-TV’s new faith and ethics correspondent, Jamey Tucker, posted this to his blog:

This week I interviewed former soccer star Kyle Rote Jr about the role of religion and Christianity on the highest level of professional sports. Kyle is founder of the largest sports agency in the south and represents many of the pro athletes we watch on tv. He says for the committed Christian athlete, the game is a form of worship. “When you see these football players in a huddle praying after the game, they’re not thanking God for a win, they’re thanking Him for the opportunity and telling Him that they give Him all the glory and honor and credit for what they accomplish. Competing, is a way they honor and worship God.”

Well said, Kyle.