serious.spirit

God and Sportsmanship

By Bob Walters

Christianity embodies the ultimate in sportsmanship: loving one’s enemy.

Sportsmanship is also about fidelity to team, obeisance to rules, abhorrence of cheating, discipline of preparation, trying one’s best, reveling in competition, respecting rival competitors, overcoming obstacles, sharing success, perseverance. Lots of stuff.

In a perfect world, that would all describe the community of Christ.

So … central Indiana … how did you feel a year and a half ago when you heard Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was out for the season with a knee injury? Or during the recent AFC Championship game? How do you feel today about the (NFL) Saints? Charitable? At peace? Faithful? Fulfilled?

Send Brady a get-well card did you? Hoping New Orleans has a pleasant and sportsmanship-filled experience vs. our Colts at Super Bowl XLIV?

Sporting endeavor has many faces.

Remember Jake Porter and the “viral video” from late 2006? Jake, a mentally retarded (inherited Chromosomal Fragile-X) high school senior from southern Ohio, scored a late, uncontested touchdown when his team, Northwest, was trailing 42-0 to Waverly, which stood aside as Jake happily ran 40 yards into the end zone.

Loved the moment. Felt warm inside. It’s a righteous world where things like that happen. But, c’mon. Unless one is a class-A jerk, it’s easy to be a sportsman when one is easily winning. The true test of humanity, and of faith, is when times are challenging, not when we’re up 42-0.

Remember the “Cobra-kai’s” whacko sensei in The Karate Kid? Don’t you hate that guy? “Sweep the leg!” Would you ever possibly pray for that guy? How about the opposing coach in Remember the Titans who called Denzel Washington’s character a monkey? Kill the racist with kindness? Or just kill him.

Striving and struggle and decency. Humility and grace. That’s sportsmanship. Winning at all costs for earthly reward and renown … that’s soulless idolatry.

God loves to see his kids play, and “running the race” (Hebrews 12:1) is a vibrant Biblical picture of living our lives for God’s glory. Let’s keep a firm handle on the fleeting, temporary, and earthly glory of sports achievement.

Whether one has just lost a game or won the championship, lost a job or won the lottery, the challenge of eternal victory is equally great.

The best win – a forever kind of win – is when Christ wins our heart.

Be sure Christ has a sporting chance in your life.

Walters is a Christian lay person who as a youth grew up in the Episcopal church, became a journalist and public relations executive while taking a 30-year "break" from religion, and now writes, edits, serves and occasionally teaches as a baptized believer in Christ since the fall of 2001. http://believerbob.blogspot.com/