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Michael & ChristianityThis alone is the most important facet of Michael's life, soul, and well-being. Michael Chang may be a huge tennis star known throughout the world, but he refuses to let success cloud his head and steer him away from his roots. Many might be surprised to learn that Michael wasn't always tuned in to Christianity, even though he cites his faith constantly during press conferences. As a toddler, he actually did not enjoy going to church. He thought the sermons were boring, and since he was extremely shy, he couldn't talk to many people. Yet there was something about church that didn't turn Michael away completely. He did like the Old Testament stories that he learned in Sunday School, his favorite being the tale of Jonah and the big whale, because he, well, liked fish a lot. (Hey, he was only 4.) As Michael grew up, he found himself liking church less and less. He still did not enjoy the sermons, and he tried to find excuses to not attend church, saying that he was too busy with tennis practice and/or schoolwork. His grandparents gave him a Bible for his birthday, and he tossed it aside, letting it collect dust. But there were two main events in his early teenage life that led Michael to follow Jesus Christ. The first was a sermon by a lady in his church named "Aunt Betty." Aunt Betty gave an amusing fictional account of strangers trapped in a sinking boat, and their quandary about how to get ashore. The moral of the story was that everyone needs to depend on each other in times of need. Michael thought that this was one of the most interesting sermons that he had sat through, but moreover, he realized that the people in his church were there to rely and depend on each other, and he didn't feel embarrassed to approach them anymore. The second event was casual, but no less minor. One day, Michael was moping around the house and found his Bible sitting on the shelf. Bored with nothing else to do, he decided to read it, and was fascinated to discover that the stories and world-wise teachings in there were not obsolete, but very applicable to anyone during anytime. Michael discovered stories on love, friendship, how to deal with hardships, anger, and heck, the birds and the bees (I'm not making this up--I'm just putting it in a less direct way!). So slowly, but surely, Michael discovered how lucky he was to have such a loving family and happy life. He learned to appreciate the people and things around him. For example, he had always avoided his grandma around the house, but now he realized that her "naggings" were due to her love for him, and not the contrary. In October 1988, around the time that he won his first professional tournament, Michael was baptized as a member of the Chinese Christian Church in Thousand Oaks CA, which his grandfather co-founded. Michael had decided to take that extra step by declaring his faith. But did this mean that by taking this step, he didn't have to worry about Christianity anymore? Many people have criticized Michael's religious beliefs. One reporter went so far to say that the Chang Gang was a cult. Another asked Michael after his 1989 French Open victory whether Jesus had something against Stefan Edberg. In that situation, the case in point was missed: God does not "side" with people; He will watch over them and keep guard. The decision is still ultimately left up to the individual with His grace and guidance. Michael's priority, often skewed in paraphrases, often mangled in foreign language translations, is to witness what has brought him so much happiness to friends and fans. To compare it to a current situation, "it's like...if I found the cure for AIDS, then I would want to share it with the whole world so that everyone could be cured."
© 1997-2002 The Man MC |
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The answer is no. Michael, like many Christians and non-Christians,
still faces day-to-day struggles. Christianity is a life-long process
that teaches one to grow as a person and live a devout, faithful
life. Therefore, Michael knows that as a high-profile celebrity,
millions of people are following his every career move, quote, and
footstep. With this knowledge, is his desire to "touch peoples'
lives" by "portraying a Christ-like image"--that which entails humility,
respect for others, and high morals. While Michael isn't comfortable
talking on a one-on-one basis (he still is rather introverted),
he prefers to spread the Word any other chance he can get. This
is why is head is bent during changeovers and after matches, saying
prayers. This is why he praises God verbally in acceptance speeches
and interviews, after wins and losses, because both will
teach valuable lessons.
