#1 from david on February 16, 2010

“Why have we never asked questions about the nature of sports and the influence they have on our Christian lives? Isn’t it time we thought about it a bit?”

To answer your first question , i dont think it is suprising that many (ps i burnt my clutch out 2 years ago doing smokeshows when canucks moved into the second round) do not question the nature of sports in relation to god… when you consider the breadth of thing that are not questioned. But for me i know why i dont like to question it… because i love it. It is important to me , it entertains me , it makes me feel good. But for the bad that i so often (maybe even always…)neglect.

NOt sports in particular but the competitive nature which sports generally tend to induce(or more accurately draw out) , has been highly detrimental to me. I like everything from ufc to hockey to football (the nfl ... not the cfl..i said football not figure skating). But it enflares a sense of competitiveness in me which draws out my inherent carnality… i often times find myself gleefull when an opposing player gets injured on the field… without second thought to his well being nor what effect it will have on his family. It draws out this kill or be killed mentality…. this desire to succeed by crushing the opponents…. this base carnality. Evident when i am on a bus. No word of a lie , i will be on a bus ... and ill look around at all the the guys on it and think to myself “I could beat the crap outta everyone on this bus. Even that guy over there whos got 90lbs on me…. look at him… probably never been in a fight…. one elbow to the jaw and…. wait… am i seriously thinking about elbowing this guy in the face?”.... no word of a lie that stuff goes through my head sometimes…. no its not because of sports…. but that carnality is what sports draws outta me…. fair to say though because that is what is in me. I dont personally believe this obsession with sports stems from a christian worldview…... our sports are a few leagues removed from being the roman colisseum. Thank goodness for feigned empathy…...

#2 from Mark on February 16, 2010

This is a question I think about everyday. I completely agree that sports can have a negative effect on ones Christian life. Sports, in numerous situations, have dominated in worldly importance. As humans competitiveness is part of our nature. However, as Christians we have a responsibility to chose whether we control this competitive nature or if it controls us.

Personally, being involved in a competitive sport has opened my eyes to the importance of God in my life, in fact it’s where He revealed Himself to me and how I came to faith in Him. So many sports unfortunately are graced with deceit, drugs, alcoholism and abuse. I see my involvement in my sport as an opportunity to glorify God with the talents he has given me in a world that is so very much deprived of the joy, hope and strength I have in Christ. Instead of viewing competitive sports as a barbaric battlefield I have come to view it as a desperately needy mission field.

#3 from Nancy on February 17, 2010

I feel like I’m interrupting a guy thing. But from a woman’s perspective (at least this one) and from a woman who was a hockey mom for 10 solid years with 4:30am hockey practices…no, no, never again! And I say that why; because it became a priority and an obsession and had a negative effect on our family. I hold a different view point now of course! Everything in moderation! It’s the same as any other activity.

There is a great message written by Ray Stedman (Ray may have come and passed before your time Jeff). He says “...there are certain atmospheres you can get into as a Christian in which you are not outwardly bowing down to an idol, but you are being captured by the atmosphere. It can get so strong and so controlling that the only advice he can give you, Paul says, is that when it gets that way, get up and leave; flee it; shun idolatry…” He goes on in his sermon notes to say, “When we fall back into the place where something becomes of greater importance to us and more controlling in our life than God himself, we have succumbed again to idolatry.” This is a really good message to read on idolatry. You can find it on the Ray Stedman library at http://www.pbc.org/messages

I do agree along with Mark that sports can be a very good thing if treated with respect and held in its proper place.

#4 from Lorne Welwood on March 01, 2010

Maybe this is not a good place to post our exuberant comments about Canada’s athletes’ performances in the Olympics?

#5 from Lisa on March 20, 2010

“but I don’t ever recall thinking too deeply about how my Christian faith ought to interact with my participation in or support of a particular team.” 

I think this is the biggest problem.  We seperate our faith from sports, which is strange because we don’t normally consider it okay to separate our faith from our work, or our faith from raising kids.  So many people in our culture are involved in sports and we as Christians have the opportunity to reflect Christ in that enviorment.  Unfortuantely as has been mentioned Christians seem to consistentley reflect Christ poorly in sports.  I think a solution to this is to raise up Christian athletes and Christian parents of athletes.  Just like we send kids to Sunday School to learn about Jesus we need to send kids (and adults) to Sunday school on sports to help teach a Biblical worldview of sports.  Then we may start to see a change, because right now the sports culture has nothing to do with Christ and as a Christian in that enviorment it is very easy to get sucked in to the “win at all costs” mindset when you know no different.