Are sports biblical?

[Suhar]

[SIZE=medium]Are sports biblical?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I see it all the time. Some athlete runs the race, scores touch down and raises hands to the sky to thank God. I do not get it. What does God have to do with that? Next day that very same athlete looses to openly homosexual, cross dressing child molester and it means what exactly? Does it mean that God favors that person now? In minds of many it may.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Yes there are passages in the Bible about running the race but it is just a proverbs. Same way there are proverbs comparing peoples and nations to prostitutes but does it mean an endorsement of prostitution?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]One thing to run around, jump around for some exercise. Another thing is to beat your body up to the point of disability, like most professional sports do. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]I think Christianity is all about making oneself smaller, child-like so that God can make us great not about beating others, making ourselves greater then others the way sports do. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]Massive waste of time, effort, money…. Entertainment and distraction. Why would God have anything to do with it?[/SIZE]

 

[aspen]

I think athletes that publicly 'give the the glory to God' for their accomplishments have an immature faith. God could careless about the sanctification of a rich athlete's ego or whether a certain team wins - He cares about the condition of our true selves. Can we be vulnerable enough to love others unconditionally? The circumstances of our lives are merely crafted by God so that we can practice loving Him and others in as many different conditions as possible.

 

[John S]

The title of your thread is "Is Sports Biblical?" and then you complained about the athletes. Which is it that you are complaining about - sports or athletes?
I see nothing wrong with sports. I have no problem thinking that 10-year old Jesus Christ kicked a ball around with His playmates - or a 31-year old kicking a ball around with His 12 friends. They had to do SOMETHING to relax.

 

[FHII]

well Suhar, I'd have to say no, sports don't have anything to do with God. That doesn't make them bad. Some people use them as a profession (a small percentage, of course.... But don't just count baseball, football, basketball and hockey.... Think globally!) and a few more use them as scholarship obtaining methods. That at least is a good thing.... As a former college coach and athlete myself, I've seen many young men and women able to go to college who wouldn't be able to. Still, they are only going because they have physical talent and that leaves out many others who are just as bright (or brighter.... or in some cases, just as stupid yet without athletic talent....).

I can only apply two verses to suggest that they are Godly, and even I ain't buying my own arguement so I won't give them other than to say that sports are entertainment and serve a use in society. The other point is that yes, it is bodily exercise.

So there it is.... I'm a former athlete and coach and no.... Sports ain't got a thing to do with God. That doesn't mean Sports are always bad.

I think athletes that publicly 'give the the glory to God' for their accomplishments have an immature faith. God could careless about the sanctification of a rich athlete's ego or whether a certain team wins - He cares about the condition of our true selves. Can we be vulnerable enough to love others unconditionally? The circumstances of our lives are merely crafted by God so that we can practice loving Him and others in as many different conditions as possible.

I have seen many athletes point to the sky or do the catholic cross thingy on their head and chest after scoring a touchdown or hitting a home run. Now, I'm not going to get on a catholic rant, but I do think that's wrong cause I don't agree with the Trinity theory. Regardless, I'll agree that's giving thanks.

The problem I have is two fold... 1. What if the guy you just ran over to score that touchdown is a Christian too? What if the pitcher you just made look stupid is a Christian? You just strove against your brother in Christ and thanking God for it!!!! That's one of the reasons I don't think sports has anything to do with God. God may be a sports fan.... Don't know. I doubt it.... 2. Are you going to give thanks when you lose? I mean, if you really believe that God was telling you something in Romans 8:28, you gonna point to the sky when you drop the ball?

I do have some respect for Kurt Warner and Tim Tebow, though.... More for the former, but both these guys from what I've seen seem to thank God for the opportunity and are consistent in thanking God. There is a boxer out there whose name I can't remember who did this too, but I can't remember his name.... Whatever his name is, he deserves credit.... Well, no..... He already got it from God if he was true to it.

So yea, I see what you are saying Aspen... Thanking God for success is not the problem... But not thanking him in all things, even failure is. If any athletes are reading, my advice is to thank God for the opportunity and the physical gifts he's given you. It's ok to ask God for victory, but ask God that you get out of it with your health and ask God that everyone else is safe and escapes injury (tough to ask for, as a former wrestler!) And above all, don't forget God when you get the $$$$

 

[Suhar]

well Suhar, I'd have to say no, sports don't have anything to do with God. That doesn't make them bad.

[SIZE=large]Never met a person to whom sports is an addiction and obsession? They can go on for hours talking teams, scores, passes, statistics…. But they cannot tell you what day of the week it is. They spend every waking moment listening to sports stations and watching sports TV channels. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=16pt]They look and talk like addicts, spend tons of money on addiction to sports and that distracts them from any other useful and fruitful thought. Star players are like idols and sports themselves as a religion.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=16pt]Massive industry building gigantic temples to worship that religion (aka sports arenas). Industry goal of which is keeping millions of minds from thinking and in that away from thinking about things that matter.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=16pt]“Christian athletes” participating in promoting that addiction. Just does not sound right to me.[/SIZE]

 

[FHII]

What you said is true, Suhar, but you do realize that could be said about almost everything else in the world of entertainment and leisure, if not everything in the world altogether. If sports didn't exist, it'd be something else, wouldn't it. I do agree that sports is the big kid on the block.... I haven't seen neon bud light signs in bars for chess or the symphony!

It is good to remind people to remember who the REAL MVP of the world is and not get too wrapped up in Labron James and his magical headband though... Though society isn't going to change, it's still proper to cry out in the wilderness if you have that urge. Still, it ain't sports that is evil in itself.

 

[Niki]

Yes there are passages in the Bible about running the race but it is just a proverbs. Same way there are proverbs comparing peoples and nations to prostitutes but does it mean an endorsement of prostitution?

Actually, Rome was very fond of sports and "The Games", and every country under their jurisdiction would have been aware.

I don't think we should just ditch all the cultural references in the Bible, do you? They help us to better understand the context and how people
perceived life and even Paul's letters during the period in which they were written.

Sports are mentioned in the Bible and Paul used the well known models to illustrate some of this letters. Check out these verses.


II Tim. 2:5

Phil 3:14

I Cor. 9:24

I Tim. 4:8

In fact, in the last verse, I Tim 4:8 (and there are others, but I guess you look them up for yourself if interested) Paul states that bodily training does have some value.

Do I personally think someone dropping to their knees during a football game is godly? I don't personally find it inspirational, but I think I would be judging the heart
of that person if I put my own bias on their actions. I think it's kind of iffy and I don't think God is taking sides. However, I would stop short of calling it sinful or
even wrong because many would disagree with me and again, my personal opinion is not necessarily biblical in this case.

The other side of this, is the hero worship involved and I would discourage that. So many famous athletes turn up in the news under infamous headings in newsprint
or the internet. Sports has, and again my opinion here, replaced godly things for many people...Sunday sports takes people away from church and some have pretty
much made a stadium their place of worship.

Even so, I would not a draw a black line through the entire culture...sports have been beneficial in getting kids off the streets and other things as well.

I guess what I am saying, is don't lump everything together and stomp on it because you personally disagree with it. Extremes, even godly ones, are usually not all that good.

 

[Suhar]

[SIZE=medium]More proverbial mentioning of sports. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=medium]The only semi-direct mentioning of sports in the Bible I can think of is in the books of Maccabees (included in some Bibles). Among all abominations in the land of Israel building of gymnasiums is mentioned.[/SIZE]

 

[Niki]

If you are referring to my post, you have entirely missed the point.

In case that is actually so, let me be clearer.

You have no case. God judges the heart...not you or anyone one of us.

I don't have the book of Maccabees in my Bible so we are understanding from very different perspectives.

Some people are not comfortable around those they perceive are not of like mind. Only you can settle that issue.

Anyway, if it is keeping you up at night, if it's any help, I doubt you are going to garner a following on this one. ;)

That's it for me in this thread.

 

[FHII]

......
I guess what I am saying, is don't lump everything together and stomp on it because you personally disagree with it. Extremes, even godly ones, are usually not all that good.

Good post Niki.... I agree. To tell you the truth, I could have tickets to a NASCAR event once a year, but I don't take it. I haven't missed a Sunday service in over 10 years and I ain't about to start now! I like sports, but it is just tarrying until I'm done here on earth.
Suhar, it seems you have an ax to grind so go ahead and grind it. But unless you spend every waking hour reading the Bible and going to Church, don't condemn others. And I doubt that anyone does, including you. I don't think Paul or Jesus spent all their time reading and studying either. Jesus made friends with publicans and sinners.... He must've been somewhere doing something they were a part of.

 

[laid renard]

As others have said here, extremism in anything is not good. I was at a church once where they ended service early so everyone could go home and watch the big game. Needless to say, I never went back to that church.