In the O.T., idolatry was evidenced by graven images like that of Baal. In modern times, interestingly enough, it's images & names of sports icons which can be found on murals, posters, t-shirts, uniform tops, cards, pictures and more. Both time periods are offering the same thing, images that are to be worshipped by the people! None more obvious than the one that hung in Cleveland, until this weekend.
Sports teams are used often times by people to fill their need for community as well. They want to be connected to all those like minded people who have a similar passion. They become absolutely fanatical, from an early age (thanks to their fathers) about their teams. It's a deep connection that binds people together. If one of these fanatics sees another at a restaurant, store or even a rest stop, wearing the team's logo, even if they are complete strangers, they will exchange pleasantries or maybe even get into a deep discussion about the team! If strangers happen to be sitting next to each other at a game and their team does something fantastic they will often times high five and even hug each other.
Likewise there is a need for many people to have a sports hero or two. Someone who is GREAT and better than all the rest. This gives an individual someone to hold up, follow and revere. Both become part of an individual's worship experience. That which was meant for Christ through the body of believers to be found through the local church is discovered in the sports sanctuaries called stadiums all across our country. The headlines in one Miami newspaper last week pictured Wade, Bosc and James under the headline, "THE NEW KINGDOM." Man oh man, that just feels eerily wrong to me.
Has our love for sports gone too far? Yes, along time ago. I should know. I'm a recovering addict. Due to emotional needs I became addicted to the praises of men and many other sicknesses early on. I overdosed on sports time and time again. I was the worst of the worst of addicts! Yet, my life was spared! This sports junkie who fell in love with God has learned the error of his ways (and there have been many) and little by little, day by day, I have discovered the joy of recovery and consequently, the place sports should occupy in my life as a father, coach and fan.
Here are five lessons learned: 1. What a great platform sports is for teaching our kids about righteousness and training them up in the way they should go. 2. Parents must first adopt a kingdom perspective toward their kids' participation in sports to maximize these teaching opportunities. 3. What a great avenue for fathers to unpack their own emotional issues from past sports experiences, unfulfilled athletic dreams and their relationship to their own father through sports, so that they won't live vicariously through their children's sports experiences and/or pass on some of the same patterns of sin to their children 4. Find the right balance between spending time in prayer, alone with God, the study of the scriptures and ministry service involvement, and watching sports on TV (and/or playing). 5. Those who become coaches at any level should be focused first on being positive "Life Influencers" than on winning games. It's not an either/or, but a priority order.
I could go on and on with the lessons I've learned, the branches that have been cut off and the ones that have been pruned with regards to my involvement in sports as an athlete, coach, father, fan and sports minister. I've fallen oh, so short too many times. And as I've stood back and watched the recent Lebron signing circus, the Woods debacle, the USC sanctions, the cheating in soccer that has just become part of the game, the youth sports environment, and so much more I've come to this conclusion: we desperately need Christians who find themselves in the environment of competitive sports, whether they be athletes, coaches, or parents, to accept the challenge of living out the righteousness of God, by abiding in Him, so that we can be the salt & light to a lost, lost world that is looking for a SAVIOR to WORSHIP and A COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF. We have the opportunity to join the work of Christ, and He has already left the GREATEST LEGACY ever left on this earth!
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