As covid lockdowns slowly peeled back the layers on the glamorous world of elite sport exposing the cutthroat industry and mismanaged athletes' mental health, the rapid decline in sports participation comes as no surprise as people argue over whether sports are still relevant today.
Fighting through red tape for the last 2.5 years before even getting to the pitch with all the ever-changing covid rules alone has taken a toll on many social and professional players. As the world opens its eyes to the negative pressures of the industry, the benefits are being swept aside.
Christians have long debated whether they should participate in sports. We are encouraged to spend our time wisely and seek eternal rewards which has led to some Christians believing there is no purpose for sport as it appears inconsequential in comparison to a life devoted in service and prayer.
However, if as Christians we hold onto the misconception that sport is not relevant to the Christian life, then we rob ourselves of an opportunity to engage in the transformation of others who are badly in need of redemption.
Yes, the world of sports is messy but so are all other areas of life. Does this mean we are not to engage in any of it? When faced with temptations of pride, encounters of adversity and unfair working conditions, are we to quit work and run and hide our heads in the sand?
No, we are to ‘Live in this world’ (John chapter 17, verse 16) a fallen world that is complicated and confusing, but we have the blessing of navigating this life with the wisdom given to us through intentional prayer and discernment.
We are reminded we are ‘Not of this world’ (John chapter 17, verse 16) so we do not need to be afraid of the actions of those who do not know the mercy and love of God, instead we have the freedom to walk in God's mercy serving as a revelation to those around us.
Holding on to an eternal perspective allows us to call out unhealthy team culture and it gives us the courage to admit fault for missed shots and illustrate compassion in situations where others would spread blame for poor results.
It is through God's grace that we have the freedom to play sport in the midst of suffering. Sport provides a space in which we mix with people from all walks of life and teaches us how to communicate and support one another as you work towards a common goal.
God commands us to love one another; playing sport teaches us how to love and gives us the opportunity to show love for our opponents and teammates.
As Christians we need to look to places that are messy and seek the lord on how we might be used to shine a light. Instead of viewing sport as sacrificing our time with the Lord, we should participate in sport as a form of worship for the gift and grace God has blessed us with.
Seeking to serve God, engaging in the opportunity to reach those who need him most. Only then will the question of whether sport is relevant to Christianity no longer need to be asked.