Sport and the Christian Life

Sport occupies a major place in modern life, whether as spectators, parents chauffeuring children to training, or participants ourselves. This article looks at how believers can enjoy sport in balance, compete as witnesses for Christ, and apply the discipline of the athlete to the race of faith.

Keeping Sport in Balance

For many people sport is a major aspect of life, and as in all areas of life we must have balance in our involvement. It is easy to devote an unreasonable amount of time and energy to training while neglecting family, friends, or our walk with God. An idol is anything that holds control over a person’s devotion and allegiance, and idols come in a multitude of forms, yet the command still remains: we are to have no idols or gods, but love and serve God and His Kingdom (Ex 20:3; Mt 6:33; Mk 12:30; 1 Jn 5:21). Paul’s wise approach was that although everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial, so he would not be mastered by anything (1 Cor 6:12). The Bible brings perspective, stating, “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim 4:8).

We are to look after the physical bodies God has given us, and participating in sport and exercise helps keep us physically in shape (1 Cor 6:19-20). Sport also provides a valuable opportunity to develop skill, teamwork and coordination, and to build persistence as we train through setbacks and keep going when results do not come easily. Fast-paced games keep the brain active, requiring concentration and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure – qualities that carry over into everyday life and help develop leadership and communication skills.

True Christianity affects all aspects of life

As believers, we must acknowledge it is God who gives us our natural ability, which we must continue to develop (Deut 8:18). Healthy competition is beneficial as it pushes us to release our potential. And sport opens doors that few other settings can: as we compete, others see us being salt and light in their world (Mt 5:13-16), and our attitude in victory and defeat, our encouragement of teammates, and our conduct with opponents often gain us natural openings to share Christ with people we might otherwise never meet.

Sportsmanship and Witness

Christian sportsmanship is simply Christian behaviour applied to competition, and it should be viewed as an extension of a believer’s daily walk with Christ. Sports people can use their faith and be a witness for Christ among fellow competitors and officials. Good conduct includes respect and goodwill for one’s opponent, playing by the rules, and accepting a referee’s verdict on a win or loss, while acknowledging the right to challenge an official’s call in a courteous way, and enjoying friendly banter with traditional rivalries. We must not resort to ungodly behaviour of cheating, violence or verbal abuse. Jesus gave us what is often called the Golden Rule – the simplest test of sporting conduct: “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Lk 6:31). Before we tackle, sledge, argue a call or celebrate a win, we can ask how we would want to be treated if the positions were reversed – the respect we hope for from an opponent is the respect we owe them first.

Winning should not result in boastful pride, nor losing be a reason for complaining or self-pity. It is natural to experience a degree of joy in winning and disappointment in losing, yet at all times our emotions should not control our responses. Our self-esteem is not dependent on the final score, but on God’s opinion of us. So while we can play hard, we must play fair, and play “for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).

Maintain a godly attitude in victory or defeat

In each situation we face we should consider what Christian virtue we can show and outwork in our life. We must continually monitor our reactions, having the desire to represent Jesus well, and if we do fail, repent and, where appropriate, apologise to those involved. Whether as players, spectators or citizens, gaining a reasonable grasp of different sports and major fixtures allows us to converse knowledgeably with those we interact with, as this can be a key outreach medium.

Discipline, Training and the Race

Participants who are serious about sport keep an eye on their lifestyle, social habits, and what they eat and drink to remain fit and not carry excess weight, besides regularly training to be in top condition. Under the watchful eye of their coach, they are self-disciplined to maintain a wholesome exercise regime. The endurance and perseverance required in athletic competition is valuable in building and strengthening character.

The Bible draws on the analogy of a race, where competitors go into strict training with the aim to win the prize (1 Cor 9:24-26). The Bible’s message to us is, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”, ensuring we are not disqualified from the goal (1 Cor 9:27; Heb 12:1).

Be a winner with Jesus

Reflection and Application:

Has sport crowded out time with God, family or church, and does anything hold my devotion more than Christ does?
Did my conduct in the last competition reflect Christ to my opponents, teammates and officials – and did I live out the Golden Rule, treating others as I would want to be treated (Lk 6:31)?
Am I as disciplined in spiritual training – prayer, Scripture and fellowship – as I am in physical training?
Is my self-esteem resting on God’s opinion of me rather than on results, rankings or the final score?