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| AsstEd Member Joined Aug 8, 2008 31 posts Location: Winnipeg, MB |
 Competitive sport poll question |
Posted Feb 10, 2010; 3:05 pm |
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The Herald is a bit late at going up this month (hopefully you'll see it by the end of the day), but the poll question went up this afternoon. I encourage you to wander past and place your vote in this month's question:
I think competitive sport should
be encouraged because it offers personal and social benefits
be discouraged because it promotes negative and violent behaviour
be discouraged because it often takes families away from Christian worship and fellowship
not be discussed by the Christian community because it has nothing to do with faith
Discussion, of course, is always welcome. |
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| Sudsy Member Joined Sep 23, 2003 2833 posts |
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Posted Feb 11, 2010; 10:48 am |
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Personally, I do think it is a good topic to discuss and does have something to do with our faith, if our faith is a living faith. However, I would not say competitive sports, in general, needs to be encouraged or discouraged. Some sports are very violent in nature and would not appear to me to be reflective of who Jesus is. Other sports are a good means of exercise and association with unbelievers in our mingling as Jesus did. I have been in various competitive sports throughout my life and have experienced both positive and negative things from them. Even as a senior I am quite active in golfing and curling where I get to outside the church and home walls and out where I can share my faith. I need to share more but at least it gets me into an environment where I can share and where I can reflect Christian values.
Sports also gives me opportunity to experience and win battles between the flesh (my ego) and the Spirit. My ego does not like 'turning the other cheek' in competitive sports but the Spirit enables me to do so if I rely on the Spirit. My ego does not like to lose but the Spirit gives me a proper view on winning and what value to place on it. My ego likes the recognition I receive for sport achievements and this can lead and did lead me to spending much time in developing sport skills. The Spirit convicts me of putting too much time and effort in this area. My ego takes pride in success as if my abilities were all self attained but the Spirit teaches me otherwise.
So, for me, I think competitive sports may be a very good thing in a Christian's life, if we allow the Spirit to guide and convict us as we go. It is good to give praise to someone or some team who just beat you. It is good to make a crucial mistake and lose a competition. It is good to apologize when the going gets hot and back down for the sake of peace. These things can build our character and reflect the difference Christ makes in our lives. And when we do slip and give way to the ego, when we recognize this, then openly admit that this was wrong before men. We are not perfect but forgiven.
In curling, the tradition, is to shake hands before and after the event and to be very honest and courteous during the event. After the game the winners buy the losers a refreshment. I prefer sports that try to maintain these kind of values and not make competitions into wars. What we do need today is more of what they once called 'good sportsmanship'. The opponent was not 'the enemy' but rather a fellow competitor that you respected and treated as such during and after the competition.
Yet, I once refereed a church basketball league and it was one of the worst experiences I have witnessed. IMO, Christians who are interested in competitive sports need to be taught at an early age what is most important in being involved in competitive sports. We are reflections and ambassadors of Christ in whatever we do. The world says that only losers say that 'winning is not everything' but the Christian should also be able to say the same. The prize we are working towards has far greater value than any that man can hand out. |
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