I know some athletes have displayed their faith, but is there a real connection between the sport they play and the faith they have? Can we relate sports to faith?
I believe they are well-connected, but there’s a major difference, which I’ll get to in a bit.
Sports, no matter the level, are played out in front of a crowd. No sport is played in a vacuum.From stands with parents watching a Little League baseball game to Game 7 of the Major League World Series being watched by thousands in person, as well as millions on TV and the Internet, sports are played out where people can see.
Being a Christian and living our faith is also not done in a vacuum. We have to live our lives in the world, while not being of the world. We’re out there every day, whether at school or work or out running errands, we’re out there. We’re out there and, when people know we’re Christian we are scrutinized just like your hometown athlete who fans pull apart no matter what he does. At least that happens here in New York. What have you done for me lately is a favorite sports fan attitude around these parts!
Athletes have to train to be successful. It takes a lot of work to attain athletic success and to stay at that championship level. Diet, exercise, practice and using the right equipment as the SB SOX compression socks men to protect their bodies, day in and day out repeating things over and over again. Watching video. Researching your opponent. Analyzing. Planning. There is so much work involved day-to-day, I wonder how much fun someone at the highest level really has.
Let’s be honest, there is also not much “off season” nowadays in professional or even college sports. The season ends and maybe a month or so and the athlete is right back to it getting ready for the next season.
As Christ followers we have to train also. However, our training is reading and studying God’s word. Praying for guidance and help and forgiveness and going out into our community serving the LORD by serving others. And all this is to attain success in our lives which doesn’t look like any trophy, but success for a Christian is leading people to Christ, making them disciples, honoring God with our daily thoughts and actions. That’s success Christian style. To stay there, though, we too must train daily or we’ll become stagnant and ineffective for God. The God who loved us so much He sacrificed His own Son so we could have a restored relationship with Him and eventually go home to be with Him for all eternity. That’s better than any trophy I can think of.